Plot Summary (AQA A-Level English Literature A): Revision Notes
Plot summary
Setting and context
The story unfolds during the summer of 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi, a time when racial segregation deeply divided the American South. The narrative centres on the lives of Black domestic workers and their relationships with the white families who employ them, exploring the stark inequalities and racial tensions of the era.
The civil rights movement was gaining momentum during this period, making the subject matter of documenting Black domestic workers' experiences both timely and dangerous. The social and legal structures of segregation created an environment where even speaking about these inequalities could have severe consequences.
Main characters and initial situation
Aibileen Clark
Aibileen is a Black woman in her fifties who works as a maid and caretaker for the white Leefolt family, particularly caring for their young daughter, Mae Mobley. She brings years of experience and wisdom to her role, having worked for numerous white families throughout her life.
Skeeter Phelan
Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is a recent college graduate who feels directionless living at her parents' home. Unlike her friends, she harbours ambitions to become a writer. Skeeter is troubled by the mysterious disappearance of Constantine, the Black maid who raised her and who left without explanation. This loss deeply affects Skeeter and drives part of her motivation in the story.
The social circle
Skeeter's social group includes Elizabeth Leefolt (Aibileen's employer), Hilly Holbrook, and Hilly's mother, Miss Walters. During a conversation Aibileen overhears, Hilly advocates for separate bathrooms for Black domestic workers, claiming they carry different diseases than white people.
This proposal appals Skeeter, but Elizabeth agrees to have a separate bathroom constructed. When Skeeter questions whether they wish things were different, Elizabeth dismisses the idea, revealing she already has a separate bathroom in her garage. This early incident establishes the deep-rooted racism and complicity that permeate Jackson's white society.
Minny Jackson
Minny is Aibileen's best friend, known for her exceptional cooking skills but also for her outspoken nature. She has recently lost her position as Miss Walters's maid and now works for Hilly, who is sending Miss Walters to a nursing home. Rumours spread by Hilly that Minny is a thief make it difficult for Minny to find new employment. Eventually, she secures work with Celia Foote, who is married to Hilly's ex-boyfriend and considered "white trash" by Jackson's social elite, resulting in her exclusion from social circles.
The book project begins
Skeeter's writing career
Skeeter secures a job at the local newspaper writing a cleaning advice column, despite knowing nothing about the subject. She receives permission from Elizabeth to ask Aibileen for help with the column. During their conversations, Skeeter learns that Aibileen's son, Treelore, had been writing a book about the experiences of Black people working for white families before his death.
Treelore's unfinished book becomes the inspiration for Skeeter's project. His death had left Aibileen with a profound sense of loss, but also with the seeds of an idea about documenting the truth of their experiences. This connection gives Aibileen a deeply personal reason to eventually participate in Skeeter's dangerous project.
Elaine Stein's interest
Elaine Stein, an editor at the publisher Harper & Row in Manhattan, expresses interest in Skeeter's book concept from the perspective of domestic workers. She advises Skeeter to interview at least a dozen maids. However, Aibileen initially hesitates to participate, worried about the danger such a project could bring. She grows increasingly frustrated with Hilly's racist attitudes, and eventually agrees to help. Skeeter and Aibileen begin meeting secretly to conduct interviews.
Recruiting participants
Aibileen attempts to recruit other maids to participate in the project, but initially no one agrees due to fear of repercussions. Eventually, Aibileen convinces Minny to join.
Fear and Courage
The maids' initial refusal reflects the very real dangers they faced. In 1962 Mississippi, Black people who challenged the racial order could face job loss, violence, or worse. After Hilly has her maid, Yule May, arrested for petty theft, several other maids decide to speak with Skeeter as well, showing how injustice can transform fear into courage.
Key incidents and conflicts
Hilly's initiative
The maids gather one night for a secret meeting to discuss their participation in Skeeter's book. After finding a copy of Jim Crow laws in Skeeter's bag, Hilly becomes suspicious that Skeeter supports the civil rights movement. Hilly eventually pressures Skeeter into publishing her Home Health Sanitation Initiative in the Junior League's newsletter, which advocates for separate bathrooms for maids in homes. Skeeter complies but cleverly places the announcement below an article about a coat drive, causing confusion.
The coat drive prank
Following Skeeter's instructions, people leave their old toilets at Hilly's house instead of donating coats. Dozens of toilets appear in Hilly's front garden, leaving her furious and humiliated. She ostracises Skeeter as a result.
This act of sabotage represents Skeeter's first direct act of rebellion against Hilly's racist initiatives. By deliberately causing confusion between the bathroom initiative and the coat drive, Skeeter turns Hilly's discriminatory proposal into a public joke, showing that even small acts of resistance can undermine oppressive systems.
Minny and Celia's relationship
Minny is bewildered by Celia, who barely leaves the house and treats Minny as an equal rather than as a servant. Over time, Minny discovers that Celia has suffered several miscarriages that she has kept hidden from her husband. Though Minny tries to help Celia understand that Hilly will never accept her, Celia remains determined to befriend Hilly.
At the Junior League's annual Children's Benefit, Celia becomes drunk and attempts to speak with Hilly. She focuses only on who nominated her for a chocolate pie made by Minny. In her confusion, Celia accidentally tears Hilly's dress and vomits in front of everyone. Celia spends the following week in bed, ashamed of her behaviour.
The terrible awful
Minny eventually reveals to Celia why Hilly was so angry about the pie nomination. When Minny worked for Hilly's mother, Hilly had spread rumours that Minny was a thief. Hilly wanted Minny to work for her so she could put her in her place and prevent Minny from finding other work.
"The Terrible Awful"
Out of revenge, Minny baked a chocolate pie containing her own faeces and brought it to Hilly, who consumed two slices before Minny revealed what was in it. Ever since, Minny has worked to avoid Hilly, knowing Hilly would never want anyone to discover what happened. Minny refers to this incident as "the terrible awful."
This shocking act of revenge becomes crucial to the story's climax, serving both as justice for Minny and as protection for all the maids who participate in the book project.
Publication and consequences
The book's release
Once the book is published, some residents begin to suspect it describes Jackson based on certain details. However, none of the white women want to admit to the behaviour described in the book, so they cannot dismiss their maids. Having ended her relationship with Stuart permanently, Skeeter accepts a junior position at Harper & Row and relocates to New York.
Protecting the maids
To protect all the maids who contributed their stories to Skeeter's book, Minny suggests including the story about the pie. This ensures that Hilly will insist the book is not about Jackson, as she would never want anyone to know about the incident. This brilliant strategy turns Hilly's shame into a shield for the other maids.
Individual outcomes
Minny, who has been assured employment by Celia and her husband, takes her children and leaves her abusive husband, Leroy. Hilly, having finished reading the book and realising it concerns Jackson, attempts to have Elizabeth press charges against Aibileen for theft. Although Elizabeth refuses to pursue charges because Aibileen is innocent, she reluctantly dismisses Aibileen from her position.
Aibileen's departure
As Aibileen says goodbye to a tearful Mae Mobley and leaves the Leefolt home permanently, she experiences both excitement and nervousness about beginning a fresh chapter in her life. Despite losing her job, she feels liberated and ready for new possibilities.
Aibileen's departure, while bittersweet, represents her emancipation from a lifetime of servitude. The loss of her job paradoxically frees her from the constraints of domestic work, allowing her to imagine a future where she might pursue her own dreams, just as her son Treelore had hoped to do.
Key Points to Remember:
- The novel is set in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, during the height of racial segregation and the civil rights movement
- The central plot involves Skeeter's project to write a book documenting the experiences of Black domestic workers in white households
- Hilly Holbrook serves as the primary antagonist, advocating for segregated bathrooms and perpetuating racist attitudes
- The chocolate pie incident ("the terrible awful") serves as both revenge and protection, ensuring Hilly cannot reveal the book's true subject without exposing her own humiliation
- The story concludes with significant changes for all three main characters: Skeeter moves to New York to pursue her writing career, Minny leaves her abusive husband, and Aibileen loses her job but gains her freedom