THE HIDDEN HELP: UNVEILING THE SOCIAL ISSUES OF

1960s AMERICA
THROUGH KATHYRN STOCKETTS THE HELP

DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT

FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS

BY

AISHWARYA J NAIR

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

YUVAKSHETRA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES

PALAKKAD

JULY 2017
THE HIDDEN HELP: UNVEILING THE SOCIAL ISSUES OF
1960s AMERICA
THROUGH KATHYRN STOCKETTS THE HELP

DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT

FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS

BY

AISHWARYA J NAIR

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

YUVAKSHETRA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES

PALAKKAD

JULY 2017
Aishwarya J Nair
Fourth semester,
M.A English Language and Literature,
Yuvakshetra Institute of Management Studies, Palakkad.

DECLARATION

I, Aishwarya J Nair, hereby declare that this dissertation titled The Hidden Help: Unveiling

the Social Issues of 1960s America through Kathyrn Stocketts The Help, has not previously

formed basis for the award of any degree, diploma or other title.

Place: Palakkad
Date: Aishwarya J Nair
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to emphasize my immense gratitude to my guide Shilpa Sreekumar, Department of

English, Yuvakshetra Institute of Management, Palakkad for her valuable guidance, constant

encouragement and suggestions in carrying out the project successfully.

I am highly indebted to Tomy Antony, Principal, Yuvakshetra Institute of Management

Studies and Shyjee P.V, Head of Department of English, Yuvakshetra Institute of Management

Studies, Palakkad, for providing me adequate support.

My sincere thanks to all teachers in the Department of English and my friends for

providing me with the valuable materials for my research work. I extend my sincere thanks to

my parents for their encouragement and co-operation in the progress of my work.

Above all, I thank God Almighty for his blessings to fulfill my endeavour.

Aishwarya J Nair
Shilpa Sreekumar
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
Yuvakshetra Institute of Management Studies,Palakkad

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the dissertation titled The Hidden Help: Unveiling the Social
Issues of 1960s America through Kathyrn Stocketts The Help,, submitted to the University
of Calicut for the award of Master of Arts is a record of bonafide research carried out by the
candidate under my supervision and that no part of the dissertation has been submitted for any
degree before.

Place: Palakkad
Date: Shilpa Sreekumar
 CONTENTS

Sl. No. Index Page No.

Chapter I Introduction 1 11

Chapter II Elements of Racial Segregation and Prejudice 12 21

Chapter III Facts in Fiction: 1960s Mississippi House Maids 22 31

Chapter IV Troubled Souls : Women Lives Compromised? 32 42

Chapter V Summing- Up 43 46

Works Cited 47 - 49