The Help Blog Chapters 27-30: The Way It Is

             Sometimes it seems as if the world works in a certain way, and that’s just the way it is. Throughout chapters 27 through 30, Stockett brings forward the idea that things have always been a certain way. It is a concept that has caused people to struggle in society and is a major issue in every day life. There are the general concepts such as models have always been skinny and if you want to be on the runway you have to look like a twig, and that’s just the way it is. Or there’s the smaller issues, such as if you live in certain towns and go to certain high schools, you are going to college once you graduate. That’s just the way it is. And back in 1964, in the Help, things were a certain way and were going to stay that way. That’s just the way it was.

            This concept is something that Miss Skeeter had to learn the hard way. Trying to become a writer in a world where women are housewives is quite difficult, especially when no one around her was being supportive. Miss Skeeter knew that becoming a journalist and author would be a challenge, and she was ready to face it. However, she was still surprised when Missus Stein slapped her across the face with reality when she said, “’If you’re a nobody, as you are, Miss Phelan, before the twenty first is your window. Your only window’” (343). Missus Stein was giving her the deadline of December 21 instead of January as she had told Miss Skeeter earlier. Miss Skeeter did not think that it was fair, but soon realized that in the world of journalism and as a woman are already a disadvantaged party, that’s just the way it is.

            Skeeter is also met with the reality of consistency in society when her mother acts like a real mother for the first time. All her life, Miss Skeeter’s mother acted harsh and cruel towards her, constantly nagging at her about this and that. However when Stuart shows up, her moms says, “’If Stuart doesn’t know how intelligent and kind I raised you to be, he can march straight on back to State Street…Frankly, I don’t care much for Stuart. He doesn’t know how lucky he was to have you’” (357). Miss Skeeter was in shock that her mother said this, but quickly understood. Her mother had to be harsh on her in order for Skeeter to turn out the way she did. Miss Skeeter is so accepting of people because her mother is not. But also, her mother had to prepare her for the realities of the world and that people aren’t going to be nice to her all the time. Mothers eventually define true motherhood, but it takes time and that’s just the way it is no matter how difficult it may be.

            Miss Skeeter’s mother also shows her that some things in life are a certain way and they cannot be changed when she is diagnosed with cancer. Her mother’s diagnosis was very hard for Miss Skeeter to accept. As she was hysterically crying at one point, her mother said, “’Now stop that, Eugenia. It can’t be helped’” (371). In this moment, Miss Skeeter realized that her mother truly was intelligent and accepting of her situation. It was the first time Skeeter looked up to her mother, as well as realized that things are what they are and she can’t always change them. Throughout these chapters, Skeeter shifts into a hippie-like person, as Aibileen describes it. The inspiration to change her beliefs came from her mother. She realized things will work themselves out in the way they were planned to be. By the end of these chapters, Skeeter is successful with her book which allowed Stockett to prove that Skeeter has finally come to terms with the fact that things are what they are and that’s just the way it is.