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Kathryn Stockett's The Help is told in the unique narrative mode of alternating perspectives. Throughout the course of the novel the three protagonists: Minny, Aibileen, and Skeeter Phelan; and in many instances takes on a complete narrative mode in which a narrator is telling the story from a perspective beyond the eyes of the three heroines. Such unique alternating perspective is rarely seen in literature set in a time period before the twenty-first century.
The underlying motive behind Stockett's bold move can be interpreted in many different ways. Many interpret Stockett's narrative mode as simply a literary device in which she alternates from character to character to show the scope of the plot, as in each character keeps secrets from one another and could only be revealed in a manner that is seemingly private. Also interpreted as plot revelation and plot progression. As the characters most often end their own chapter with a cliff hanger, and such plot line is often carried on by the next; but more or so in a different and such alternating perspective would allow Stockett to progress the polt in such a thrilling unique way. Also such interpretation could be reversed in which Stockett uses her narrative mode to leave readers on the edge of their seat and not allow them to put the book down. However my own interpretation is that Stockett uses the narrative mode to support her theme of racial clash.
An overwhelming theme represented is the intense racial clash between blacks and whites and also rich and poor. Stockett's alternating perspective supports the theme clarity. By putting three different story lines side by side Stockett clearly shows the racial and class clash as each perspective's language and tone represent their own way of life. Aibileen and Minny represent the sides of black discrimination and Ms. Skeeter can easily represent white supremacy. A closer look into the Minny, Aibileen relationship shows that there is a class clash as Minny is pushed to endure some of the most brutal skirts of poverty, while Aibileen enjoys many of the benefits of middle-class.
The underlying motive behind Stockett's bold move can be interpreted in many different ways. Many interpret Stockett's narrative mode as simply a literary device in which she alternates from character to character to show the scope of the plot, as in each character keeps secrets from one another and could only be revealed in a manner that is seemingly private. Also interpreted as plot revelation and plot progression. As the characters most often end their own chapter with a cliff hanger, and such plot line is often carried on by the next; but more or so in a different and such alternating perspective would allow Stockett to progress the polt in such a thrilling unique way. Also such interpretation could be reversed in which Stockett uses her narrative mode to leave readers on the edge of their seat and not allow them to put the book down. However my own interpretation is that Stockett uses the narrative mode to support her theme of racial clash.
An overwhelming theme represented is the intense racial clash between blacks and whites and also rich and poor. Stockett's alternating perspective supports the theme clarity. By putting three different story lines side by side Stockett clearly shows the racial and class clash as each perspective's language and tone represent their own way of life. Aibileen and Minny represent the sides of black discrimination and Ms. Skeeter can easily represent white supremacy. A closer look into the Minny, Aibileen relationship shows that there is a class clash as Minny is pushed to endure some of the most brutal skirts of poverty, while Aibileen enjoys many of the benefits of middle-class.