What do you think motivated Hilly?

What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can’t control her. Yet she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?

I definitely think someone can be a good parent and still be deeply flawed. Loving one's child does not make them flawless. She loved her children but was still racist, elitist and judgemental.

Hilly's beliefs, a sum of her upbringing and family, influenced her feelings of superiority. Yet her inferiority complex prompted her to be so cruel and sometimes stupid.

I think when her children are grown she will turn into Skeeter's mom. She can be attentive to her children's needs now, basic survival support, but I doubt she will provide any values like compassion and respect for different cultures to her children. Unless her children find their own way, there is a huge chance Hilly's values will influence much of her children's view on life.