Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The Bluest Eye

 

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.
             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.


Essays Related to The Bluest Eye