Skeeter Phelan

742 Words3 Pages
Rachelle Gardner, a literary agent with Books and Such Literary Agency, noted, “You cannot have an effective protagonist who simply responds to events happening around him or her. Your protagonist must act, not just react.” In Kathryn Stockett’s novel, The Help, Skeeter Phelan proves to be a character of action, and in doing this, she makes changes in her own life. Through the early influence of her maid Constantine, the strenuous journey of the book project, and the consequences of her beliefs, Skeeter Phelan is the character that develops the most significantly throughout the novel. Growing up, Skeeter is raised by Constantine—a black maid—who initially lays the foundation for her deviated thinking. Constantine teaches young Skeeter to…show more content…
After her book Help is published, Skeeter experiences both loss and gain in every aspect of her life. From the moment Hilly Holbrook—another childhood friend of Skeeter—suspects that she is “sympathizing” with the help, she slowly ruins her reputation with The League and takes away all activities she is involved in. As a result, nobody speaks to her and she is forced into an isolation. Although Hilly dictates the majority of what women in The League think, Skeeter can tell that a few women understand the purpose of her work.. “Wasn’t that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I’d thought” (492). Once the truth comes out to her boyfriend, he withdraws his proposal and they do not speak again. However, Skeeter realizes with Minny and Aibileen’s help, that she no longer has a life in Jackson, so she accepts a job offer in New York and begins her new life. The outcome of her decisions replaces several adverse factors in her life, and she gains a few new and remarkable friends along the way. Above all other advantages throughout her journey, Skeeter finds herself and emerges as an independent, confident woman with a new
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