The Help: What Child?
In an 'ordinary' household the mother raises the child while the husband works and maid helps the mother when she needs it. With Miss Leefolt that's not how the story goes. She's never there for her child Mae Mobley. Her maid Abileen has raised her since she was just a little baby, her mother seems to have just forgotten her, but Mae still knows who her 'real' mother is. She tries so hard to get attention from her but still, Miss Leefolt wants absolutely nothing to do with her. Abileen tries to teach Mae to grow up to turn out differently then her mother and I know that its hard thing to. It reminds me of the movie 'Chappy'. A man has created a robot that can think for itself and feel things. It lives with a gang who wants to teach it how to fight in order to have an advantage against their enemies. It's creator tries to visit Chappy and try to teach him good values, to teach him killing is wrong. He brings him toys and other things to help him grow and learn. He becomes almost like the maid for the 'family'. When he is gone though the gang teaches him how to shoot a gun and other fighting techniques. He picks up their bad language and other habits from being exposed to them. His innocence is lost and he begins to ignore everything that his creator tries to do to help. It's related to Mae Mobley, all the things she's exposed to while Abileen isn't there. Her mother is so racist and doesn't try to hide it at all, Mae wants attention from her and when she's older she'll most likely have picked up her mothers values and turn against Abileen. Abileen realizes this since she's seen it so many times before. You learn what you live.
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Mae Mobley is so sweet and Abileen tries so hard to bring her up nicely and show her compassion. Her mother shoots her down whenever Mae tries to get the least bit of attention from her. It's a shame her mother doesn't care. Aibileen teaches her to be kind and not be an outraged racist but in time there won't be much to do. She will grow up in that household and I agree with what you said. I don't understand the Chappie reference much but once I see the movie I hope I can connect the two relationships.
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