Recently, I went to go see the movie The Help. I haven’t yet read the book but I had been intrigued about the author’s story and wrote a blog post about her path to publication.
Of course seeing this movie brought back memories of my own. My grandmother worked as a domestic most of her life. Growing up working-class, I often went with her to help clean houses as well the town’s post office and the Methodist church. One of the things I precisely remember about these times were that we were never acknowledged as anything more than the help. We were in many ways invisible.
Maybe this is the reason that now whenever I see “the help” in places — like hotels, malls, and even in my office building, I tend to look these people in the eye and smile. I try to acknowledge who they are and let them know that I do see them.
I’ve noticed this is also a recurring theme in my novels. I tend to write about the people who are looking from the outside, trying to fit in, trying to be seen.
I think as writers we tend to put certain aspects into our characters — either consciously or subconsciously. The things that have impacted our lives in both negative and positive ways. This is one of the reasons we write. To give a voice to things that matter to us.
Karen, I think it’s so great that you can clearly pinpoint the emotional heart of your novels and the reasons behind it. Thinking about what you’ve said has helped me pinpoint some of my own reasons for writing.
What a thoughtful post, Karen. It is funny, isn’t it, some of these things we notice popping up in our writing… Apparently I’m quite obsessed with class. But I wouldn’t have identified myself that way at all. My husband thinks living in the UK did it to me, but I think it goes back much further to growing up in a rural area, and teaching at schools at both ends of the socioeconomic spectrum.
Also, how nice that you had the type of upbringing that helps you notice the outsiders around you. So often parents try to be so protective of what their kids see, but sometimes it’s those experiences that make us better people.
Really enjoyed the book The Help, but the movie doesn’t come out here until the end of October! Grrrr!
I’ve read The Help, but have not yet seen the movie. And I was touched by those very things you talk about–a person’s feelings of being invisible, of being on the outside looking in. Hopefully our writings can chip away at these kinds of things and make some small difference. Good, insightful post. Thanks.
Beautifully put, Karen!
That’s a beautiful reason to write, possibly one of the best reasons I’ve ever heard. I’ve been wanting to see this movie! It’s sad how so many people don’t ‘see’ others. I’m like you, I always say hello or good morning. People are people, no matter what their job is.