When Miss Celia is first introduced in the book, she opens her door wearing a "flour [covered] tacky pink pantsuit [that is] so tight [it's a] wonder she can breathe" (Stockett 37). This first description of her captures her character. She always wears tight pink clothing. She uses these clothes and wears a lot of makeup to accentuate what she thinks are the best part of her. I believe this is because she doesn’t feel like she’s worth very much and has to make up her value as a person with the value of her appearance.
A reason for her insecurity could be because she grew up in Sugar Ditch, a place known for being “as low as you can go in Mississippi” and where “white kids [look] like they ha[ven’t] had a meal for a week” (39). The other women, such as Elizabeth and Hilly, already think less of her because of her background, but that isn’t the reason they have such a problem with Miss Celia. Minny tells Miss Celia that the women treat her badly because “they think [she’s] white trash” because she “[got] pregnant . . . and [married] one a their mens” (372). Hilly isn’t over her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Foote, even though he’s already married Celia. This makes Hilly jealous of Celia, and that’s why she’s so mean to her.
Despite how rude and mean they are to her, Miss Celia still wants to try to win Hilly and Elizabeth over at the Benefit. When she confronts Hilly about everything, Miss Celia stands her ground, showing that she still has a tough side to her and isn’t a pushover. It is a step in the direction of Miss Celia believing in her own self worth.
I agree that Celia try's to work hard to make a good appearance. She wants to impress the other women because she wants to fit in. Since she came from a poorer part she is already at the bottom so she thinks she has to work very hard to fit in and they won't except her for who she really is. Hilly is the main leader of the women and she decides what people should think of someone. She is jealous of Celia and her ex so she makes all of the women hate her.
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