Resistance in "The Bluest Eye" and
It has been said that historically, black women have been absent from much feminist theory, both in feminist literature and black literature. (Watkins, pp165) Two writers that are working to change this "HIStory", are Toni Morrison and Melissa Lucashenko. These writers' are both black and are both female. They write to include the "other". That is, they empower the previously marginalised black woman. We will look into how this is achieved further on in the article.In short, this article discusses how the characters of Morrison's, "The Bluest Eye", and Lucashenko's "Steam Pigs" are marginalised and disempowered by the totalising structures of race, gender and class. It then continues to critique the ways in which the characters resist to such forces. Firstly, it must be said that although "The Bluest Eye" is set in America in the 1940's and is written by an American author, and "Steam Pigs" is placed in Australia in the late 1990's and is by an Australian author, there are many themes found within the two texts that are universal and timeless. The first being issues of race. In "The Bluest Eye", Morrison identifies racism on two levels. Firstly white to black racism, but more importantly black to black racism. In the fir
Kerry especially questions the very masculinist values that are dominant in Eagleby by riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle. In doing this she has appropriated a powerful symbol of working-class masculinity. (Henderson pp77) Kerry and Rachel also assist in the culmination of Sue's resistance. This occurs when she finally rejects the white masculinist values of Eagleby and it's destructive culture and heads to the more plural and feminised habitat of the West End. Class is shown in "The Bluest Eye" in a number of ways. One example of this in the poverty felt by the Breedlove's, they live in an old storefront and all share the same bedroom. The space is alien and cold. Cholly is an alcoholic and drinks away much of the small amount of money the family actually has. Their poverty is shown to oppress them and thus have no love or hope. They cling to whatever they can; this includes violence and hatred, especially self-hatred. Sue further resists societal ideologies by being proud of her Aboriginality. Not only does she begin to study Aboriginal Studies at university, but she moves to West End, the original land of the Yuggera tribe. Sue becomes less culturally dispossessed and regains some semblance of self. Lucashenko shows further resistance to racial boundaries through the use of traditional language. For example; Murri (pp 168), Booliman (pp244), Minjerribah (pp 230), Yuggera (pp 234), Bundjalung (pp 234),
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 3694
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page double spaced)
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