Fight Against Oppression
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 instance, the chapte
When Geraldine enters her house and ?discovers a shrieking son, a frying feline on the radiator, and an unfamiliar black girl in her living room, she responds by distancing herself from Pecola? (Miner 94). At the mere sight of Pecola, Geraldine categorized her as a ?black female whom [one] would prefer to keep out of sight? (Miner 94): Over the year in which this novel spans Pecola Breedlove is on a quest to discover her uniqueness. Pecola?s individuality is her ugliness, more important though, Pecola believes the only way for her individuality to be possessed by beauty is for her to become white, or own a symbol of whiteness-like blue eyes. Pecola prays for God to grant her wish for blue eyes every night:It had occurred to Pecola some time ago that if her eyes, those eyes that held the pictures, and knew the sights-if those eyes of hers were different, that is to say, beautiful, she herself would be different?If she looked different, beautiful, maybe Cholly would be different, and Mrs. Breedlove too. Maybe they?d say, ?Why, look at pretty-eyed Pecola. (Morrison 46) 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 it she possesses one symbol of whiteness she will never again be subjected to the harsh realities of discrimination. Mr. Yacobowski does not acknowledge Pecola?s presence because her ugliness and blackness sicken him. Sadly, Pecola does not defend herself against Mr. Yacobowski because she accepts the idea that he did not waste his time to glance at her because whites despise blacks. her feelings towards worshipping white beauty, ?I couldn?t join [Freida and Pecola] in their adoration because I hated Shirley Temple.? (Morrison 19) Claudia does not idealize white beauty because she feels blacks saw beauty in whiteness (the oppressive race) and ugliness in the blackness of their own race. In essence
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Approximate Word count = 1667
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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