Change of Heart

Author's Note: I predict that Skeeter Phelan will accomplish her goal to make her book be successful. I also think that the people's attitude in her town will change.

Imagine being forced to use a different bathroom because of your skin. Or, imagine having to sit in a separate part of the public bus because of the color of your skin. Well, in The Help,by Kathryn Stockett, that's how life was for black people in 1962 living in the heart of Mississippi. That was their life until an ambitious, fresh out of college girl came along and tried to change things. This leads me to believe that because Skeeter is strong-willed she won't back down from the fight and things will go as planned for her....and the town both. I predict that she will accomplish her book of showing the horrible relationships between black maids and white women will go number one in the country. Also, I think it will end the dreadful lives of all black people,especially the maids.

    The reason I think that her book will become such a success, is because so many maids don't want to live like they do but they're just afraid to speak up in fear that they would possibly be beaten or lose their life. It started with just Aibileen and Minny helping Skeeter but then it turned into five. Six. Seven. And  many more  maids who wanted to contribute. People want to help her help them. Skeeter and the maids always meet in secrecy at Aibileen's house. You could tell that it was such a big risk when Skeeter first came over to her house, Aibileen said to her " you know, I ain't never had no white person in my house". That pretty much clarified that what they were doing, was dangerous

 Another reason that I predict the book will be a success is because Skeeter is a very good writer. She has a college degree in writing and also writes the 'Miss Myrna' column at the local newspaper firm. Skeeter contacts executive editor, Elaine Stein in hopes of publishing her book. To spare punishment to all the maids, Skeeter changed all of their names and the name of their town. For each maid, she wrote a genuine word-for-word chapter as the maids sat in front of her and told them their heartbreaking stories. Skeeter was adamant  on delivering the truth and nothing less.

 This novel reminds me of the book Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas. Freshwater Road  is about a young woman, Celeste, who takes a vacation to the south and gets the surprise of her life. Celeste helps people with the evil ways of racism,violence, and social change. Meanwhile they teach her a thing or two about valuable life lessons.  I think these are similar because they both take place in the early 1960's in the south and they both deal with racism and exclusion. In both books people find love, redemption,and identity.

  Based on my background knowledge, I can conclude my prediction that  Skeeter will accomplish writing a successful book. I also think the town will change and look at their fellow colored neighbors equally as they do white.  The unfairness in that town would soon be gone after Skeeter made her book, so it's kind of a double whammy. If there was another story I believe that all the characters would be nicer and more friendly. Attitudes will change.

Changing

   I wrote this character development on Landon Carter from Nicholas Sparks' A Walk To Remember. His transformation was remarkable and I thought it would be great to give examples.

 In the beginning of the book A Walk To Remember, by Nicholas Sparks, one of the main characters,  Landon Carter had a  wretched attitude towards life, and  he had  to deal with that hard fact of his true love having cancer. He is a judgmental, cocky, and unappreciative teenager. Popularity wise, Landon ranks in the top five at  his school alongside his best friend Erik, who is captain of the football team and who is also egotistical. Landon recently dated a popular girl and he is possibly the richest kid in the town.  When Landon came in correspondence with Jamie, however, he realized that he needed to change, but for the better. And that's just what he did.

Breaking up with someone is always hard to do,but , that's what Landon did with his girlfriend  Angela just before his high school's homecoming dance.  Landon was still single at the time of homecoming and he didn't want to attend the dance without a date, as of course that would make him look "lame". When the dance got closer, everybody was arranging plans for themselves leaving very little amount of people free.  As the desperation intensified, Landon had no other choice but to ask the strict minister's daughter, Jamie Sullivan , who has a reputation of the "goody-goody" to be his date. Jamie  and Landon continued to do things together after the dance. The two of them  did things like, star in the school play and visit the local orphanage, although Landon did do them reluctantly giving off the major hint when he said to his mom " How could I say no to her? She's so sweet". During their time together, Landon changed, but for the better and fell in love.  Deep into their relationship, Jamie told Landon that she had leukemia and was going to die soon. Achingly watching her suffer from the illness, Landon tried everything he could to save her, but nothing could beat the violent disease.  One  thing that could help would be to have their spirits uplifted. The solution to that was the wedding between the perpetual  lovebirds. From there on out, Landon wasn't a boy anymore, he was a man.

  While Jamie held on to  her deteriorating life weakly, Landon's influential 'manly' acts advanced. He started to noticeably be nicer to not just his  parents, but his whole town and school along with nurturing Jamie. His priorities really straightened out for him . During the quick time from when he fell in love and up until their wedding, Landon had an epiphany of how he should be more kind and appreciative, just like Jamie. In the midst of his transformation,  his annoying best friend Erik, became inspired by Landon's generous new ways. Erik realized that Landon was being more respectful and respected him for that and decided that he wanted to be someone admirable like that. So, Erik did exactly that." Miraculous transformation" was all people could say from then on about the two best friends.  Another inspiration that evolved, was Landon's father who is rarely home and too caught up in his own life to pay any attention to his son.Landon's father noticed his son's change and was motivated to be a better father for his son who was now very mature. At a point in the book, Landon's dad actually said to him, " son, you're really starting to grow up, and I'm proud of you".

  

 Though Landon's bad-boy turn around  was remarkable, it still wasn't original. Just like one of the main characters  in the short story  Thank You Ma'am  by Langston Hughes, Roger  had a bad-boy reputation just like Landon. This reputation could've easily gotten Landon or Roger in serious trouble, like peer pressure incidents. Perhaps that would've happened  if they didn’t change it quickly.  Roger's situation is quite different than Landon's because he tries to steal and Landon never did, tough they do have a similarity in being taught a valuable lesson. By the end of the story, specific people thought differently of each character.

       Landon kept up his inspirational image even after the devastating loss of Jamie that happened three months after their wedding.  There are many reasons why the "new" Landon was such an inspiration. One of the biggest reasons was because he was a more positive person. That positivity showed vividly. Because of him being such a nice and generous person, his whole school, town, and family admired and looked up to him. Landon Carter had indeed changed.