The Bluest Eye

            The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, is a novel about sexual commencement and maltreatment. The book begins in Lorain, Ohio at the end of the Great Depression during a time when many people's lives were meeting ends. For one family in particular, The Breedloves, it was a time of despair. Members of the Breedlove family included: Pecola, a neglected child, Pauline, an abused mother, and Cholly, a rootless man. Throughout her entire life, Pecola was mistreated and abused emotionally by her family and the people of the community. The only way Pecola believed she would become beautiful was if she had blue eyes. Pauline Breedlove was her mother who also believed she was ugly. She made a living by working for a wealthy white family and most of her time was spent watching movies and feeling alone. As for the father, Cholly Breedlove, he was a victim of alcohol. He would spend most of his time drinking and going off in violent rages. .
             One of Cholly's worst incidents was when he attempted to burn down the family's home. As a result, Pecola was forced to leave her family and move in with the MacTeers. Although the audience never learns too much on the adults in the family, the two children, Claudia and Frieda, are involved excessively throughout the novel. Claudia was a strong willed child who had many standards against white people. Frieda was more level-headed but at times would act as Claudia and mock her stubbornness. .
             After a few months of living with the MacTeers, Pecola received the opportunity to move back in with her family. At this point in her life, she was extremely confused and life was not easy for her. One evening as Pecola was finishing washing the dishes, her father, Cholly, entered the room and raped her. He left lying on the floor, covered with a blanket, for Pauline to find. When Pecola explained to her mother what had happened, Pauline did not believe her and abused her for even mentioning it.