The Help: Group Analysis“Theme Song”

By: Carlie, Olivia, Monika, and Nathalie

Meet Skeeter Phelan

-23 year old graduate of Ole Miss, who is aspires to become a journalist

-can be described as independent, brave, and ambitious young woman

-although friends with several wealthy Jackson socialites such as Hilly Holbrook and Elizabeth Leefolt, Skeeter proves to be different based on her social views

-treats the Help like they’re no different then her and believes in a change for the future of coloured Americans, especially those women who work as Help to white Americans

-not afraid to reveal the truth by writing “The Help” ; believes that the truth should come out

Meet Minny Jackson

-is employed as the Help at first for Hilly Holbrook, then is fired and hired by Celia Foote

-speaks her mind more freely than most of the characters and struggles to control her tendency of talking back and being sarcastic

-isn’t afraid of standing up to the white women who hire her, such as The Terrible Awful with Miss Hilly, which ultimately causes her to lose her job

-suffers through many hardships in the course of the book, such as being beat on by her husband

-Aibileen, another maid/nanny, describes her as a great friend to have around

Two Quotes to Describe Skeeter#1:

"All my life I'd been told what to believe about politics, coloreds, being a girl. But with Constantine's thumb pressed in my hand, I realized I actually had a choice in what I could believe." 

#2:

“But then I realize, like a shell cracking open in my head, there's no difference between those government laws and Hilly building Aibileen a bathroom in the garage, except ten minutes' worth of signatures in the state capitol.”

Two Quotes to Describe Minny #1:

Celia: They don’t hate me, they hate what they think I did! Minny: “What? They hate you cause they think you white trash!”

It’s something about that word truth. I’ve been trying to tell white women the truth about working for them since I was fourteen years old. Truth. It feels cool, like water washing over my sticky-hot body. Cooling a heat that’s been burning me up all my life.#

2:

A Change is Gonna ComeI was born by the river in a little tentOh and just like the river I've been running ever sinceIt's been a long, a long time comingBut I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to dieCause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time comingBut I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown Somebody keep telling me don't hang around It's been a long, a long time comingBut I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brotherAnd I say brother help me pleaseBut he winds up knocking meBack down on my knees 

There been times that I thought I couldn't last for longBut now I think I'm able to carry onIt's been a long, a long time comingBut I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

The Living ProofIt's gonna be a long long journey It's gonna be an uphill climbIt's gonna be a tough fightThere's gonna be some lonely nightsBut I'm ready to carry onI’m so glad the worst is over (cos it almost took me out)I can start living now ooh oohI feel like I can do anything And finally I'm not afraid to breathe 

[CHORUS]Anything you say to me And everything you do You can’t deny the truthCos I’m the living proofSo many don’t survive They just don’t make it throughBut look at me oh hoI’m the living proof - oh yes I am

Thinking 'bout how life's been painfulTook a while to learn how to smileSo now I’m gonna talk to my people oh ohAbout the storm [2x] wo oohSo glad the worst is overI can start flying now oh hoMy best days are right in front of meYet I’m almost thereCos now I’m free oh

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]I know where I’m going Cos I know where I’ve been oh oh I kind of feel strong asI’m gonna stay strong keep goingThat’s the way that I’ll win

[CHORUS]

Nothing ‘bout my life’s been easyBut nothing’s gonna keep me down noCos I know a lot more today And I know yesterday So I’m ready to carry on