43 From Skeeter’s comment, Aibileen possesses a very soft personality. She is
polite and hospitable, just like the other maids in general. Aibileen’s physical appearance can also be seen through Minny’s comment, as follows p. 148:
She’s got her hair smoothed back, a little roll of pencil curls around her neck. She’s wearing a blue dress with big white buttons that I’ve never
seen before. Aibileen has white lady clothes out the wazoo. White ladies love giving her their old stuff. As usual, she looks plump and respectable,
but for all her prim and proper, Aibileen can still tell a dirty joke that’ll make you tinkle in your pants.
The comment occurs when both Minny and Aibileen are attending the Community Concerns Meeting at the church on Wednesday night. Aibileen looks
more relaxed in her church outfit. From Minny’s description, Aibileen shows her maturity from the way she wears her dress. It also shows that Aibileen is a
respectable woman in the colored neighborhood p. 148.
b. Minny Jackson
The other colored main character, Minny Jackson, also has plump body with dark skin like Aibileen does. She is short and big, and has curly hair. She is
depicted as a bright and strong woman. Like Aibileen, Minny also wears her white uniform and a pair of black shoes when she is working. Minny’s physical
appearance can be seen through Skeeter’s personal opinion when she meets her in Aibileen’s kitchen. “I clear my throat, produce a nervous smile. Minny doesn’t
smile back. She is fat and short and strong. Her skin is blacker than Aibileen’s by ten shades, and shiny and taut, like a pair of new patent shoes” p. 191.
From Skeeter’s personal opinion, Minny is described as a solemn person. From Minny’s body built and skin color, Skeeter gets an image that Minny is a
44 very firm and strong person who clings on her own opinion and belief. Skeeter is
not the only person who has that opinion about Minny. The description of Minny’s physical appearance is also depicted by Aibileen’s opinion.
I spot Minny in the back center seat. Minny short and big, got shiny black curls. She setting with her legs splayed, her thick arms crossed. She
seventeen years younger than I am. Minny could probably lift this bus up over her head if she wanted to. Old lady like me’s lucky to have her as a
friend. p. 15 From Aibileen’s perspective, it can be concluded that Minny is shorter,
plumper, stronger, and much younger than Aibileen. She is 36 years old. Based on the theory of personality by Carl G. Jung, Minny belongs to the transition between
the youth age and middle life. She is developing her personality. She begins to open her consciousness and awareness about the realities happened around her.
Therefore, from her physical appearance, it can be concluded that Minny, in the novel, is trying to be a good figure as an adult. She likes to give people an image
about herself by the way she acts.
c. Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan
The third character is Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan. She is the only white woman among the three women who become the main characters of The Help.
She is described as a young white lady who belongs to the high-society Junior League. The description of Skeeter’s physical appearance can be seen through
Aibileen’s personal opinion when she opens the door for Skeeter in Elizabeth Leefolt’s house pp. 4-5:
