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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The Help contains frank depictions of a society steeped in racism and segregation. The novel illustrates a system of oppression, showing both the White families who perpetuate it and the Black women who attempt to survive within it. This depiction creates a general mood of anger and absurdity throughout the book in reaction to the capricious cruelty of racism. All three narrators, Skeeter, Minny, and Aibileen, share this view, suffusing the whole novel with the overarching mood. The maids live precarious lives as a result of this system. They can, at any time, be fired and evicted without cause, creating a mood of concern and fear in Minny and Aibileen's chapters.
The development of Skeeter's book, though, is more hopeful, as it represents a possibility for change. This creates a distinct mood in these sections: both excitement (when the project succeeds) and anxious disappointment (when Skeeter struggles to sell the book to the publisher). Also, the few scenes that show Aibileen and Minny together depict a friendly camaraderie not seen elsewhere in the novel. These scenes' moods show the simple joy of companionship, which is hard to come by among maids forced to work alone in White families' homes.
Because of the book's multiple narrators, the reader often sees the same events from different perspectives. When Elizabeth builds a new bathroom in the garage for Aibileen, she describes it in her narration as personally infuriating and embarrassing. Skeeter finds out about these events only through discussions with other League members. To her, the new bathroom and the associated bill are unfair and racist, but they do not affect her directly. This results in a mood of righteous indignation in Skeeter's descriptions of the bathroom, but without the personal offense of Aibileen's. The moods found in each narrator's perspective help illustrate how the oppressive system of the Jim Crow South is present for everyone but affects people differently.
Related Themes:
