"The Help" movie

newccuser
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:22:13 +0000

“I don’t think a book treating that kind of subject matter needs to be Beloved to have value.”

I think I can agree with that (and also with the sentiment that not all needs to be Shakespeare). I think one reason why everyone seems to enjoy “The Help” is not because of the author’s actual technical writing skills (she doesn’t have much), but rather because of the times and perspectives she’s evoked from those who have had some sort of link with the era and theme themselves. Fair enough.

But with a “literary classic” like Beloved - it doesn’t have to resort to needing such a link to exist in order to speak to the reader emotionally. Morrison offers all the historical perspective of the period South, but also brings vivid multi-dimensional characters, prose, and plot development and requires critical thought from the reader - such that the book is able to contribute something to readers of all ages, races, and generations; not just those of the “my familiar lived in the South during this time, so I totally understand what Stockett is saying!” mold.