Introduction
Toni Morrison's debut novel, "The Bluest Eye," is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of beauty, race, and self-worth in 1940s America. Inspired by a childhood friend's wish for blue eyes, Morrison delves deep into the psyche of young Black girls growing up in a society that values white beauty standards above all else. The novel tackles difficult themes such as racism, colorism, and the devastating effects of internalized self-hatred.
Set in Lorain, Ohio, the story primarily follows the life of Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who desperately wishes for blue eyes, believing they will make her beautiful and loved. Through a mix of narrative styles and perspectives, Morrison weaves a complex tapestry of characters and experiences that illuminate the insidious ways society can make marginalized individuals hate their own bodies.
The MacTeer Family and Pecola's Arrival
The story begins from the perspective of nine-year-old Claudia MacTeer, who lives with her parents and ten-year-old sister Frieda in Lorain, Ohio. The MacTeer family is about to take in two new residents: a lodger named Mr. Henry and eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove, whose house has recently burned down.
Claudia's narrative provides a stark contrast to Pecola's perspective. While Pecola and Frieda adore the blonde, blue-eyed child actor Shirley Temple, Claudia harbors a deep hatred for such dolls and what they represent. She often dismembers her baby dolls, trying to understand what makes them so special in everyone else's eyes.
Pecola, on the other hand, is enamored with the image of Shirley Temple and similar white beauty icons. She uses the Shirley Temple cup whenever possible and gazes longingly at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl on Mary Jane candy wrappers. This fascination with white beauty standards leads Pecola to pray every night for an entire year for blue eyes.
The Breedlove Family
Pecola's family life is troubled and dysfunctional. Her father, Cholly, is an alcoholic who frequently fights with her mother, Pauline (known as Polly). Their relationship is toxic and co-dependent, with Polly viewing Cholly as a burden she must bear as part of her religious duty.
Polly works as a housekeeper for a wealthy white family and treats their child with more affection than she shows Pecola. This stark difference in treatment is witnessed by Claudia and Frieda when they visit Polly at work, highlighting the complex dynamics of race and class in their community.
Pecola is considered ugly by many people, including her own mother. She faces constant bullying and taunting from her peers, both white and Black. The novel emphasizes that it's not just white children who pick on Pecola, but also her Black classmates, revealing the pervasive nature of colorism within the community.
Maureen Peel and the Complexity of Beauty Standards
The introduction of Maureen Peel, a light-skinned Black girl considered beautiful by everyone at school, further complicates the narrative. Maureen's presence highlights the internalized colorism within the Black community, as she is treated differently due to her lighter skin tone.
An incident involving Maureen, Claudia, Frieda, and Pecola showcases the complex dynamics at play. When Maureen teases Pecola about her dark skin, it leads to a confrontation that forces the girls to confront their own feelings of envy and inadequacy. Claudia realizes that Maureen isn't the real enemy; rather, it's the unnamed force that has decided Maureen is beautiful while others are not.
The Impact of Cultural Influences
Morrison skillfully illustrates how pervasive cultural influences shape the characters' perceptions of beauty. From movies and advertisements to everyday objects like candy wrappers and teacups, the ideal of blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty is omnipresent in their lives.
This constant exposure to a narrow definition of beauty has a profound effect on all the characters, not just Pecola. It creates a sense of self-hatred and envy among those who can never attain this ideal, leading to various expressions of internalized racism and colorism.
The Backstories of Pauline and Cholly Breedlove
To provide context for Pecola's troubled family life, Morrison delves into the backstories of her parents, Pauline and Cholly Breedlove.
Pauline's Story
Pauline's life is shaped by a childhood injury that left her with a deformed foot. This physical difference sets her apart and influences her sense of self-worth. As a young woman, Pauline finds solace in order and cleanliness, traits that will later define her work as a housekeeper.
When Pauline meets Cholly, she is charmed by his attention and marries him, moving to Ohio. However, their relationship soon sours as Pauline struggles to fit in with the local women and begins to resent Cholly's drinking habits. The birth of their children, Sammy and Pecola, further strains their marriage.
Pauline finds a sense of purpose and identity in her job as a housekeeper for the wealthy Fisher family. She takes pride in maintaining their beautiful home and cherishes the nickname "Polly" given to her by her employers. This creates a stark contrast between her two worlds: the clean, orderly life at the Fishers' and the chaotic, unhappy existence in her own home.
Cholly's Story
Cholly's life is marked by abandonment and trauma from an early age. Left on a trash heap as an infant, he is rescued and raised by his Aunt Jimmy. Cholly never knows his father and only has a vague idea of his mother's identity.
A pivotal moment in Cholly's life occurs when he is caught in an intimate moment with a girl named Darlene by two white men. The men force Cholly to continue the act while they watch, leaving him feeling humiliated and powerless. This experience shapes Cholly's views on sexuality and power dynamics.
After his aunt's death, Cholly searches for his father in Macon, Georgia. The encounter is disastrous, with his father rejecting him outright. This rejection leads Cholly to embrace a sense of freedom from societal expectations, but it also leaves him ill-equipped to handle the responsibilities of fatherhood and family life.
The Tragic Climax
The novel reaches its tragic climax when Cholly, drunk and overwhelmed by conflicting emotions of love, guilt, and self-loathing, rapes Pecola. This horrific act is presented as a misguided expression of love and a result of Cholly's own trauma and inability to process his emotions healthily.
The aftermath of this event is devastating. Pecola becomes pregnant, and the child is born prematurely, only to die shortly after. Cholly disappears, leaving Pecola to deal with the trauma and its consequences alone.
Soaphead Church and Pecola's "Blue Eyes"
In her desperation, Pecola turns to a local minister known as Soaphead Church, begging him to give her blue eyes. Soaphead, recognizing the perfect opportunity to exploit Pecola's vulnerability, devises a cruel trick. He gives her poisoned meat to feed to an old dog, telling her that if the dog reacts strangely, her wish will come true.
When the dog dies from the poison, Pecola believes that her wish has been granted. She descends into a delusional state, convinced that she now has the bluest eyes anyone has ever seen.
The Community's Role and Claudia's Reflection
Claudia, reflecting on the events, realizes that the entire community bears responsibility for Pecola's fate. They used Pecola as a scapegoat, projecting their own insecurities and self-hatred onto her. By putting Pecola down, they were able to feel better about themselves.
The novel ends with a poignant image of Pecola, now lost to herself, wandering the outskirts of town, picking through garbage, and living in her delusional world where she believes she has blue eyes.
Themes and Symbolism
Beauty Standards and Self-Worth
The central theme of "The Bluest Eye" is the destructive power of beauty standards that exclude and devalue Black features. Morrison explores how these standards, perpetuated by media and society, can lead to self-hatred and a desperate desire to conform.
Internalized Racism and Colorism
The novel delves deep into the complexities of internalized racism and colorism within the Black community. Characters like Maureen Peel and the reactions she elicits from others highlight how lighter skin is often privileged, even among Black people.
The Impact of Trauma
Morrison skillfully illustrates how trauma is passed down through generations. Both Cholly and Pauline carry the weight of their past experiences, which in turn affects how they treat their children, particularly Pecola.
The Power of Community and Its Failures
The novel emphasizes the role of community in shaping individual experiences. While the community has the potential to support and nurture its members, in Pecola's case, it fails her by using her as a scapegoat for their own insecurities.
Symbolism of the Marigolds
The marigolds that Claudia and Frieda plant serve as a powerful symbol throughout the novel. Their failure to grow represents the community's collective failure to protect and nurture Pecola and other vulnerable members.
Morrison's Narrative Technique
Toni Morrison employs a unique narrative structure in "The Bluest Eye," blending different perspectives and timelines to create a rich, multifaceted story. The use of Claudia's first-person narrative alongside third-person accounts allows readers to see events from multiple angles, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.
The non-linear structure of the novel, with its flashbacks and shifts in perspective, mirrors the fragmented nature of memory and the complex web of experiences that shape the characters' lives.
The Significance of "The Bluest Eye"
"The Bluest Eye" stands as a powerful debut novel that tackles difficult subjects with unflinching honesty and lyrical prose. Morrison's exploration of beauty standards, racism, and self-worth remains relevant decades after its publication.
The novel challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about society's treatment of marginalized individuals, particularly young Black girls. By delving into the psyche of characters like Pecola, Morrison humanizes those who are often overlooked or dismissed by society.
"The Bluest Eye" also serves as an indictment of a culture that promotes a narrow definition of beauty, highlighting the devastating effects this can have on those who fall outside these standards. The novel encourages readers to question and challenge these societal norms.
Conclusion
Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" is a haunting and deeply moving exploration of race, beauty, and self-worth in 1940s America. Through the story of Pecola Breedlove and the community around her, Morrison sheds light on the insidious effects of internalized racism and the devastating consequences of societal beauty standards.
The novel's complex narrative structure, richly drawn characters, and unflinching examination of difficult themes establish Morrison as a powerful literary voice from the very beginning of her career. "The Bluest Eye" continues to resonate with readers, offering a poignant and necessary critique of the ways in which society can fail its most vulnerable members.
By forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about racism, colorism, and the impact of cultural messaging, Morrison's debut novel remains a crucial work in the canon of American literature. It challenges us to examine our own biases and the ways in which we may contribute to or combat the harmful standards that can destroy lives and communities.