toni morrison's the bluest eye
In the novel, The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, the evils inflicted upon blacks by a white society indoctrinated by the inherent beauty of whiteness and ugliness of blackness are thoroughly depicted. Morrison's novel illustrates the disastrous affects racism had on African-Americans during the late nineteen hundreds. The Bluest Eye is a bitter novel that vividly reflects the way in which blacks were treated unfairly, and more important, how most blacks were unable to resist oppression from whites during the late nineteenth century. Blacks believed the sole reason for their unhappiness was due to their dark skin. Sadly, the poverty and discrimination that blacks faced causes them to idealize the white race instead of fight for freedom and equality. Throughout the course of this novel Morrison suggests that if blacks do not take a stand against oppressive whites they will become obsessed with the beauty and happiness of white families and upper-class blacks. According to critic Raymond Hedin, Morrison divides the novel into small excerpts of the "Dick and Jane" primer to contrast the happiness of upper class white family life, to the despair of poverty-stricken blacks. For instan
HEREISTHEFAMILYMOTHERFATHERDICKANDJANETHEYLIVEINTHEGREENANDWHITEHOUSETHEYAREVERYH (Morrison 38) The family described in the "subsequent" pages of the novel is the complete opposite of the "ideal" (white) American family described in the primer. The family portrayed in this chapter is the Breedlove family, a family that is overwhelmed with scorn and hatred. In this chapter the reader is informed that the Breedlove family is utterly dysfunctional because Cholly is a drunkard, Pauline is a "perversely self-serving Christian", Sammy is a runaway, and Pecola desperately yearns for blue eyes. Clearly, the Breedlove's are psychologically unstable and unhappy, and furthermore, they cannot conform to the happiness described in the primer because their family displays no qualities of unity and togetherness. The family name, "Breedlove," is ironic too because the "Breedlove's" do not "breed love." In fact, the "Breedlove's" breed hate-hate of blackness, and thus hatred of oneself. Interestingly enough, Pecola is the sole member of the Breedlove family who desperately yearns for the blissful life depicted in the "Dick and Jane" primer. Pecola realizes that the family in the primer is white and joined together by bonds of love, but more important, she also realizes that her family is neither white nor loving. Pecola begins to worship the life of "blue-eyed" Jane. After this incident Pecola believes that if she is granted blue eyes she will be able to live up to white standards of beauty, and furthermore, be accepted in society by white people like Mr. Yacobowski. Pecola's impossible wish for blue eyes is never granted, and as a result Pecola abandons her effort to be accepted by whites and goes insane. In essence, blacks that do not fight against oppression become socially outcaste. Pecola Breedlove does not have the self-esteem to contest the injustices she faces from whites. In an effort to be accepted by whites, and furthermore by her family, Pecola longs to conform to Western ideals of beauty presented by whites, especially white, blue-eyed movie stars like Shirley Temple. Pecola believes that by habitually praying for blue eyes whites would perceive her as beautiful; she too would feel attractive; her parents would discontinue their fighting; Sammy would stop running away and she would have a happy life, like Jane. Pecola's constant desire for blue eyes is an indication that images of white perfection and beauty are important to her because she feels that
Some common words found in the essay are:
Bluest Eye, Pecola Breedlove, Claudia Macteer, Pecola Geraldine, Dick Jane, Shocked Pecola, HEREISTHEFAMILYMOTHERFATHERDICKANDJANETHEYLIVEINTHEGREENANDWHITEHOUSETHEYAREVERYH Morrison, Christian Sammy, Mary Jane, Yacobowski Pecola's, blue eyes, breedlove family, dick jane, white race, ugliness blackness, according critic, miner 94, bluest eye, pecola breedlove, shirley temple, according critic madonne, wish blue eyes, effort accepted whites, dick jane primer, critic madonne miner,
Approximate Word count = 1672
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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