Child Abuse In The Bluest Eyes By Toni Morrison

The Bluest Eyes a novel that is a handcrafted work of art by Toni Morrison written about a time just after the Great Depression. The novel touches on several themes for example love, hunger, family issues, and sexual child abuse. Most intriguing out of these issues is Morrison’s presentation of sexual child abuse. She gives the reader a graphic presentation of each of these instances, from Cholly the father of Pecola, Elihue Micah Whitcomb equivalent of a minister for Soaphead Church and the instance of Henry Washington who has a lecherous side to him. All of these characters help lay the foundation for looking at child abuse, not only from a fictional standpoint but also as a real world problem. Child sex offenders are real world issues,

Whitecomb committed, a real life example is the story of Father Dove to protect the innocent (Salter 22-23). Father Dove is very similar to Mr. Whitecomb in that he loved to give “lavished gifts, presents and affections” to the children, and he had the past of sexually assaulting other children (Salter 22-23). This is very closely related to when Mr. Whitecomb states that Doreen and Sugar babe would come together. He gave them mints, money and they would eat ice cream with their legs open as he played with them (Morrison 181). Eerie how even in Morrison’s writing and the graphic nature of the situation, they are real life examples of individuals and how they interact within society. Child offenders can lead many into a false sense of trust, even at times trying to prove their own innocence regardless of circumstances (Salter pg33). Sick and twisted is what can be used to associate

His situation is unique in that he ends up raping his daughter, very different from Mr. Whitcomb who has the affections for younger girls. Cholly is still not a great man by any stretch of the imagination, and therefore to get a better understanding of the events of Morrison’s novel, Cholly must still be examined. Cholly as Morrison put “was free. Dangerously free” basically she opens up that Cholly is free to interact with any women, move from any job, be the man that he wants to be without repercussion, or so it seems to the reader. Later after having gone through several pages, he, in turn, rapes his daughter because he had memories of Pauline his wife and doing a wild and forbidden thing (pg 162). This is all important because it clear signifies the difference between a rapist and a child sexual abuser. Cholly has a desire to get into his daughter only at that particular time, he previously had no other desire to screw her (pg 162). Cholly also fits the category of a power-reassurance, he only uses this to get power back over himself and it was a spur of the moment issue (Simon 3). Where in contrast Mr. Whitcomb, plans and gives children's things in return for favors (Morrison 181). Both are extensive crimes against nature, however, Cholly’s is not going to repeat doing this action again to his daughter. He also looks back on the action and can’t decide whether to feel satisfied or sad, about the