Aibileen Clark In The Help

Writers use alienated characters to show the moral values of a society. In The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Aibileen Clark is a character who is alienated from society because of her race. Aibileen is an African American woman living in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960’s. During this time period, colored people were discriminated against and dehumanized just for being a darker color. These absurd beliefs were the main reason no colored maid ever spoke up to the whites on how they were being treated less than human. They always kept to themselves or would have to face severe consequences. On the other hand, Aibileen is determined to share her story with the world. Even though she will be risking her life, she hopes to inform people of the truth behind how the colored maids feel. The author uses Aibileen’s character to show the moral values of the society while she worked for a white family in Jackson Mississippi during the 1960’s, in The Help.

Aibileen is an older, colored woman who has been helping raise babies for white families all of her life. The
Aibileen has such a significant role by shaping Mae Mobley’s view of coloreds and how they are no different from her. She is trying to break through society’s view on colored people and teach her the value of all human life. On page 349, Aiblieen tells Mae Mobley a story referring to Martin Luther King as a “Martian” and how nobody liked him because he was a different color. She says, “He a real nice Martian, Mister King. Looked just like us, nose, mouth, hair up on his head, but sometime people looked at him funny and sometimes, well, I guess people was just downright mean…" Why Aibee? Why was they so mean to him?" she ask. “Cause he was green.” The lesson Aibileen offers shows her character’s importance in the