Chapter 7 + 8

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

• -> Mae Mobley identifies with Aibileen more than with Elizabeth
• e.g. prefers eating her lunch with Aibileen (not done)

Chapter 7: Aibileen

1. Explain Aibileen’s simile and metaphor regarding Mae Mobley and identify the context: “She like one a them baby chickens that get confused and follow the ducks around instead.” 

2. Aibileen's plan for Mae Mobley

•  Elizabeth treats the child as a burden.
• => worried about negative self-image: Aibileen decides to praise and compliment MM daily.

3. potty training

A. wants to show MM on her own, personal toilet (E: dirty!!!)

4. Elizabeth hits Mae Mobley

• The "bitter seed" grows
•  + Aibileen feels guilty about the incident, blaming herself

5. special date

• Treelore died on November 8th. 
• every year, this date depresses Aibileen.
• tries to visit his grave each year, but can't make the trip this time (too busy)

6. Treelore's friend Robert

• Robert, a lawn mower, is beaten for using the wrong restroom.
• => chased down by two white men and beaten with a tire iron -> hospitalized and permanently blinded

7. suggestion Skeeter

• - book project: secret interview with Aibileen (collection).
• - dangerous: fear of being fired from her job 
• - anecdotes of black people
• => well-defined racial lines in Southern society

8. mysteries so far

• What will happen with Minny, Celia, and Johnny?

  • What has happened to Constantine?

  • What is Minny's terrible action?

  • What conflict over race will occur between Skeeter and Hilly?

Chapter 8: Skeeter

1. Explain Skeeter’s book project idea as she discusses it with Elaine Stein.

1. two challenges

• The project poses a significant danger for any maid participating. (racial violence) (Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights issue,... is front-page news)
  
• +books of interviews do not sell

2. Skeeter offers Aibileen something

•  tries to give her 35 dollars; Aibileen doesn't accept
•  Skeeter: mixed motives: show appreciation + feels like buying her participation 

3. Aibileen's response to Hilly

• Hilly wants everyone to be excited about the separate bathroom, including Aibileen (rude!)

4. succesful idea Skeeter's mom

• -> Shinalator: straighten a person’s hair.
• => Skeeter’s normally frizzy hair is successfully straightened (symbolism)