- On p. 156, Skeeter has a realization, as if almost for the first time, of the real danger that she and Aibileen especially will be in if they are caught. On this page and the following page Skeeter begins to pick up on things she didn't use to (how Elizabeth and Hilly talk to the help). How would you describe the Skeeter we met at the beginning of the novel and the Skeeter we see now? How is she changing/why is she changing? Do you think she knew what she was getting in to? Do you think she even now realizes what she is getting in to?
- Does anyone know what sexual correction tea is? (p.156)
- Hilly offers some "gently used" items to Aibileen. How do you think Aibileen feels about this "charitable" offering? What do you think Hilly would have said if Aibileen said "No, thank you, I don't need those items." Any other thoughts or reflections on this act of charity from Hilly?
- What do you think Skeeters editor friend (Missus Stein) really thinks about the manuscript Skeeter has sent her?
- What were your reactions to Minny and Aibileen's stories in these chapters?
- What do you think is going to happen to Skeeter now that Hilly has found out how Skeeter feels about her Home Health Sanitation thing?
- Any special touches or literary devices you found intriguing?
Can't wait to hear y'all's thoughts!!!!
8 comments:
First half of my comments:
Okay, can I just say that I thought that goofy Stuart Whitworth wasn’t out of the picture. I was really wishing he’d go away, but I figured we hadn’t seen the last of him. Even though I’m a romantic, I don’t think it will end well with Stuart and Skeeter. Now, on to answering the real questions…
• On p. 156, Skeeter has a realization, as if almost for the first time, of the real danger that she and Aibileen especially will be in if they are caught. On this page and the following page Skeeter begins to pick up on things she didn't use to (how Elizabeth and Hilly talk to the help). How would you describe the Skeeter we met at the beginning of the novel and the Skeeter we see now? How is she changing/why is she changing? Do you think she knew what she was getting in to? Do you think she even now realizes what she is getting in to?
Skeeter is obviously becoming more in-tuned to what is happening around her, noticing the injustices, the patronizing and belittling undertones she couldn’t hear before. She’s really maturing into a very interesting, stronger character. She seemed a little more wide-eyed and unsuspecting earlier on in the book. She’s getting to be more critical in her thinking now and her values are changing. I don’t know how she can keep enjoying her old friendships without everyone’s thinking also changing drastically. She seemed to be more rounded in her thinking than her friends were even early on, but this more recent kind of rounding and experiencing will really rock the boat. I don’t think Skeeter really knew what she was getting into. She makes that pretty clear by all of the revelations she’s experiencing. She didn’t expect the amount of danger involved, the amount of work involved, the rejection she’d receive from so many maids, or the life-altering knowledge and experience she would gain herself.
• Does anyone know what sexual correction tea is? (p.156)
Umm… This is just my best guess, but I think it’s probably an herbal tea blend for hormones to “correct” any non-heterosexual feelings one might have, be they homosexual, bi-sexual, or a total lack of sexual feelings. Aren’t you glad you don’t know first-hand what this is!? Me too. If Shannon has any other insights, I’d love to hear them. Shannon always has great insights.:)
Second half of my comments:
• Hilly offers some "gently used" items to Aibileen. How do you think Aibileen feels about this "charitable" offering? What do you think Hilly would have said if Aibileen said "No, thank you, I don't need those items." Any other thoughts or reflections on this act of charity from Hilly?
I think Aibileen would prefer Hilly keep her “charity” to herself. Does Hilly really need another “thank-you” for the forced “kindness” she keeps tossing around? (Sorry for all of the quotation marks.) The answer to that question is of course, Yes! Hilly has an insatiable appetite for attention and gratitude and she’ll get it by any means necessary. It’s so sad that she is so manipulative. She acts like such a child. (I know this question comes later on, but I love how Skeeter notices that Hilly kind of looks like a child in her appearance and clothing too. That’s an interesting little literary detail.) If Aibileen had rejected the clothes Hilly gave her she would have pitched a fit and probably tried to ruin Aibileen’s life. She may seem childish, but her revenge has matured to adult-size. Skeeter reflects that she wonders why Hilly wouldn’t give these clothes to her own maid. I have a guess. I think there are a variety of reasons, but mostly, she doesn’t want her maid getting the wrong idea about their relationship. She wants the lines between them deep and defined. Ie. Hilly’s things are her own and her maid has no right to them. This might help stem that desire to steal that all maids have. You can’t blur these lines or else the maid will become confused as to what is off-limits. I just imagine these would be some of Hilly’s thoughts.
Also, giving her clothes away gives Hilly another opportunity to kick a maid down with forced charity, and in front of an adoring audience, too. Elizabeth remarks, “‘Oh now isn’t that nice of Miss Hilly, Aibileen?’… ‘You go on and get those clothes right after we’re done.’” (p. 157) How patronizing.
• What do you think Skeeters editor friend (Missus Stein) really thinks about the manuscript Skeeter has sent her?
I think she likes it. It strikes a chord and it is pertinent to the nation’s culture and major news stories of the time. She may be a little wary of believing in a book as unique as this, but I think she knows unique can be very good or very bad. The book may go unread if it’s published, but I think Missus Stein wants to read it.
• What were your reactions to Minny and Aibileen's stories in these chapters?
I loved that Minny throws cooking into her stories. I wish there wasn’t so much truth mixed into the messages of their stories. I know these characters are fiction, but the characterizations are too real. It’s sad.
• What do you think is going to happen to Skeeter now that Hilly has found out how Skeeter feels about her Home Health Sanitation thing?
I think Hilly will set out to make her a public enemy. It may happen more gradually than it would to a maid since Skeeter is such a good, old friend, and because she is a white woman from a good family. But I think Hilly has communicated loud and clear, “Cross me and you’ll pay, no matter who you are.” What a brat!
• Any special touches or literary devices you found intriguing?
Just the one I mentioned above about how Hilly’s appearance seems to be matching her childish behavior.
• On p. 156, Skeeter has a realization, as if almost for the first time, of the real danger that she and Aibileen especially will be in if they are caught. On this page and the following page Skeeter begins to pick up on things she didn't use to (how Elizabeth and Hilly talk to the help). How would you describe the Skeeter we met at the beginning of the novel and the Skeeter we see now? How is she changing/why is she changing? Do you think she knew what she was getting in to? Do you think she even now realizes what she is getting in to?
o I feel like the Skeeter we initially met was sort of an idealist who didn’t apply the principles she subscribed, too. I could tell at the beginning of the book that she didn’t like how the help was treated, but for the first time she is realizing the cost of breaking the status quo in regards to how the help is treated. I think that now that she is hearing stories from Aibileen and Minny from their genuine perspectives, she is realizing just how wrong it is the way white people treat them.
• Does anyone know what sexual correction tea is? (p.156)
o I tried to google this and didn’t come up with anything. I think you are probably right Jenna!
• Hilly offers some "gently used" items to Aibileen. How do you think Aibileen feels about this "charitable" offering? What do you think Hilly would have said if Aibileen said "No, thank you, I don't need those items." Any other thoughts or reflections on this act of charity from Hilly?
o I think Aibileen would rather not take the clothes, but of course knows that she cannot refuse them. Had she refused them, I’m sure she would’ve ended up black listed like Minny did when she crossed Hilly. Hilly pisses me off frequently in this book, but this act of so called mercy and charity really rubbed me the wrong way! She obviously does things like this to a) make herself like a super great person and b) to make other people think she is a super great person. She is acting as if she cares about helping the help, but really she just wants to do things that ensure they will always stay in a status lower than her.
• What do you think Skeeter’s editor friend (Missus Stein) really thinks about the manuscript Skeeter has sent her?
o I think Stein is still kind of skeptical but is willing to give Skeeter a shot. I think Stein also sounds like she likes things that are controversial.
• What were your reactions to Minny and Aibileen's stories in these chapters?
o As always, shocked by their stories! Minny’s story of getting paid vacation and coming back to work to find out the family had moved was just awful.
• What do you think is going to happen to Skeeter now that Hilly has found out how Skeeter feels about her Home Health Sanitation thing?
o I think Skeeter is skating on thin ice, and that Hilly is about to try to wreak some serious havoc on her. Hilly has shown us that she doesn’t just get mad, she gets even (and then some). I’m scared for Skeeter!!!
• Any special touches or literary devices you found intriguing?
o Jenna, I love the one you pointed out about how Hilly is described as looking like a child! I didn’t even catch that until you pointed it out, but it’s so good!
Loved you girls' answers! Sorry it took me so long to post.
• How would you describe the Skeeter we met at the beginning of the novel and the Skeeter we see now?
I have been reading a book called pedagogy of the oppressed. The book was written in part as a response to Bloom’s taxonomy, the accepted educational theory that says the zenith of learning is creating (first you remember, then you understand, then you apply, then you analyze, then criticize then create). In other words, true mastery of information is the ability to create it and criticize it. However, Pedagogy of the Opressed points out that there is some knowledge that once you begin to truly understand, you are a changed individual. For example, when you teach someone about the Holocaust, when they really begin to understand the terror the Jews endured, they understand the world around them in a different way. The book goes on to describe how to teach the oppressed and their oppressors in order to produce change. It strikes me that Skeeter is beginning to really understand the depth of the racial situation in the South and she is changing because of it. I don’t think she realizes what she’s getting into, but one day she will have an “Aha” moment and see how different she is from her family and friends.
• Does anyone know what sexual correction tea is? (p.156)
Sexual-correction tea is a wive’s tale concoction (I think it's like chamomile and peppermint) to keep Skeeter from being a sexual deviant. People in the South have crazy stuff like this. My grandmother used to make me drink a special iced tea at lunch one summer and I'm pretty sure she thought it would make me a Republican...haha
• Hilly offers some "gently used" items to Aibileen. How do you think Aibileen feels about this "charitable" offering?
This charitable offering is such a prime example of how high status individuals justify their status. Hilly “deserves” nice and new things because at least she is nice enough to give her old ones to Abileen. I’m not sure how Abileen feels about the “gifts.” She is probably offended but maybe part of her is appreciative too… I don’t really know.
• What do you think Skeeter’s editor friend (Missus Stein) really thinks about the manuscript Skeeter has sent her?
I think Ms. Stein is intrigued and a little surprised that Eugenia from Mississippi is writing something this bold. I think she is probably really skeptical that it will turn into anything of any meaning or substance but she is definitely on the hook.
• What do you think is going to happen to Skeeter now that Hilly has found out how Skeeter feels about her Home Health Sanitation thing?
I am really interested to see where the story is headed now that Hilly knows about Skeeter’s feelings. I don’t think Skeeter is quite ready for the repercussions of her ideas, and since she’s offended Hilly, there are guaranteed consequences.
Loved you girls' answers! Sorry it took me so long to post.
• How would you describe the Skeeter we met at the beginning of the novel and the Skeeter we see now?
I have been reading a book called pedagogy of the oppressed. The book was written in part as a response to Bloom’s taxonomy, the accepted educational theory that says the zenith of learning is creating (first you remember, then you understand, then you apply, then you analyze, then criticize then create). In other words, true mastery of information is the ability to create it and criticize it. However, Pedagogy of the Opressed points out that there is some knowledge that once you begin to truly understand, you are a changed individual. For example, when you teach someone about the Holocaust, when they really begin to understand the terror the Jews endured, they understand the world around them in a different way. The book goes on to describe how to teach the oppressed and their oppressors in order to produce change. It strikes me that Skeeter is beginning to really understand the depth of the racial situation in the South and she is changing because of it. I don’t think she realizes what she’s getting into, but one day she will have an “Aha” moment and see how different she is from her family and friends.
• Does anyone know what sexual correction tea is? (p.156)
Sexual-correction tea is a wive’s tale concoction (I think it's like chamomile and peppermint) to keep Skeeter from being a sexual deviant. People in the South have crazy stuff like this. My grandmother used to make me drink a special iced tea at lunch one summer and I'm pretty sure she thought it would make me a Republican...haha
• Hilly offers some "gently used" items to Aibileen. How do you think Aibileen feels about this "charitable" offering?
This charitable offering is such a prime example of how high status individuals justify their status. Hilly “deserves” nice and new things because at least she is nice enough to give her old ones to Abileen. I’m not sure how Abileen feels about the “gifts.” She is probably offended but maybe part of her is appreciative too… I don’t really know.
• What do you think Skeeter’s editor friend (Missus Stein) really thinks about the manuscript Skeeter has sent her?
I think Ms. Stein is intrigued and a little surprised that Eugenia from Mississippi is writing something this bold. I think she is probably really skeptical that it will turn into anything of any meaning or substance but she is definitely on the hook.
• What do you think is going to happen to Skeeter now that Hilly has found out how Skeeter feels about her Home Health Sanitation thing?
I am really interested to see where the story is headed now that Hilly knows about Skeeter’s feelings. I don’t think Skeeter is quite ready for the repercussions of her ideas, and since she’s offended Hilly, there are guaranteed consequences.
I don't know what the deal is with my computer double posting my comments...
That's okay, Shannon. Your posts are worth reading twice.;)
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