The Help is a novel that focuses on many different aspects of life and, for that reason, is highly relatable to many other works of literature. Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, a novel we studied this semester, and Kathryn Stockett's The Help share a few common elements and themes: 1) Both novels are split-narratives: In both The Help and A Thousand Splendid Suns the narrative is split between two or more people. A Thousand Splendid Suns is narrated from a third person perspective through Mariam and Laila while The Help is narrated from a first person perspective by Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter. I think that this type of narrative makes novels more interesting because it shows many different perspectives on certain topics or events. 2) Both novels share a theme of how women stand in solidarity with one another: In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam's mother always says that a woman's greatest quality must be "to endure". Mariam and Laila endure great trials they face due to the state of the Afghani society and at the hands of their husband Rasheed. They learn to stand together in order to protect each other and their family. In The Help, Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny must work together in an attempt to change their community. The women, both black and white, fight together against their racist society. Skeeter, Minny, and Aibileen risk everything just to write their controversial book. The solidarity between these women of different races is what promotes the change in their town. 3) Both novels end on a note of hope for change in their society: The end of A Thousand Splendid Suns shows Laila and her family prospering in Kabul after the Taliban leaves. Because of Mariam's sacrifice, Laila is able to be with her family and continue fighting to change their society by educating children and working to rebuild Kabul. Laila and her family represent the hope for the future of Afghanistan in the novel. In The Help, after the publication of Skeeter's novel, titled Help, things start to change in Jackson, Mississippi. The novel is a hit, the rude, cruel, and pretentious Hilly Holbrook begins to lose her power in the town, Minny leaves her abusive husband, and Skeeter is offered a job at a publishing company in New York City. However, all this change in the town would not have been possible without the maids, especially Minny and Aibileen, risking their lives by talking to Skeeter. Their sacrifice is what truly galvanizes their progress. |