Many of the African Americans of this time believed that they lived in poverty because they were black, and that if they were white, they would be wealthy. In the novel, most of the black characters live in poverty. "The Breedloves did not live in a storefront because they were having temporary dif

During Pecola's early age, she rationalizes that white is better, because she does not have the heart to say that it is not true. She simply has the brain that does not know any better. How can she know any better when people call her names, and whites are afraid to touch her? "She holds the money towards him. He hesitates, not wanting to touch her hand. Finally, he reaches over and takes the pennies from her hand. His nails graze her damp palm. Outside, Pecola feels the inexplicable shame ebb" (50). Pecola adores Shirley Temple, because of her splendid beauty and blue eyes. She drinks three quarts of milk per day, because she likes the color. Pecola tries to do whatever possible to associate with the white race. She feels that the only way she will be loved is if she is white. She does not know what love is, because she cannot even love herself. She can find no good qualities in herself, because she has been told differently all her life.

Pecola notices that this family is joined together by love. She knows that her family is not. She also notices that this family is white. Obviously, she knows that hers is not. Therefore she wants the life of a white girl-the life of Jane.

When a light-skinned black girl moves into town, the three main characters, Pecola, Claudia, and Frieda, all become jealous. Maureen, is not the average black girl. She has green eyes, straight hair, and she is wealthy. Automatically the other girls assume she is wealthy, because she is whiter than the other black people. "She enchanted the entire school. When teachers called on her, they smiled encouragingly. Black boys didn't trip her in the halls; white boys didn't stone her, white girls didn't suck their teeth when she was assigned to be their work partners; black girls stepped aside when she wanted to use the sink in the girls' toilet . . ." (62). Pecola, Claudia, and Frieda know that her popularity is a result of her light skin and beauty, and therefore want to be white themselves.

On the other hand, Claudia and Frieda are able to keep their self-esteem, because they are loved. The sisters find themselves jealous of Maureen, the wealthy light-skinned black girl, but are able to overcome their jealousy by cutting Maureen down behind her back. "The weight of her remark stunned us, and it was a second or two before Frieda and I collected ourselves enough to shout, "Six-finger-dog-tooth-meringue-pie!" We chanted this most powerful of our arsenal of insults as long as we could see the green stems and rabbit fur" (73). They use t

Some common words found in the essay are:
Claudia Frieda, African Americans, Breedlove Maybe, Unfortunately Pecola's, Shirley Temple, Pecola Breedlove, Mother Mother, Claudia Fred's, Bluest Eye, Dick Jane, blue eyes, white race, fight oppression, claudia frieda, black girl, pecola claudia, love love, bluest eye, pecola claudia frieda, resist oppression, strength parents, novel bluest eye, light-skinned black girl,
Approximate Word count = 1743
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)