Theories.

Propp’s theory.

The Help.

The hero: Skeeter, Skeeter is the hero because she is trying to help the black maids and portrays their side of events. Her book is there to give black people at the hope time and risks her life to help them and show their side of events.

The villain: Miss Hilly. She is a racist and sacks her maid because her maid using the inside toilet. She treats them badly throughout and lies about her maid and treats everyone badly.

The donor: Minny Jackson. Gives her stories about her treatment as a maid and risks her own life to help Skeeter.

The helper: Aibileen Clark. Helps her with her stories and is the first maid to help her start the book.

The princess: All black maids. They are all being helped with the book being written.

The dispatcher: The editor of the book sends her on the task to write the stories from their point of view.

The false villain: Her mother is portrayed throughout the film as a bad person who has messed up her life and doesn’t support her daughter. However at the end she defends her against Miss Hilly.

Overall I believe both theories have an element of truth about them, however not all films follow these conventions.