Theme Of Beauty In The Bluest Eyes

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Recommended: Aspect of Racism in The Bluest Eye

In Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eyes the pursuit of affection, perfection, and “beauty” of being white is what drives our characters to divulge into internalized racism and eventually see the destruction of themselves and race. In the beginning of the novel, we are given an example of what people in society see as perfection. The Dick and Jane novels, which show the lives of a happy white American couple, provide the overall standard of perfection and beauty in society. During these times in the 1940’s just by being white gave people more privileges and power over the foreigners or African American population.
Pecola, who is an African American child, is often influenced by how people depict the beauty of her race. She has this wild fascination
Beauty and blue eyes is what Pecola thought would get her the love and affection that so many white people experienced. We as a humans have this deficiency that where we base love and popularity on our appearances. Pecola feels the same way. She feels as if she is inferior to others solely based on her skin color and features “if she was cute—and if anything could be believed, she was—then we were not. And what did that mean? We were lesser. Nicer, brighter, but still lesser.” Pecola consumption of whiteness is what drives her to believe that one day she will be loved. Whether it is the white milk or the Mary Jane’s, she develops a Eurocentric belief that it’s those qualities of being white will be the only way she is loved. Pecola took all this to heart and it really affected her since she was ugly and black. Eventually, Pecola began getting teased at school and this is significant. The kids pick on her by saying black e mo, black e mo, which is an insult because Pecola is of darker complexion. Maureen, with her sheer beauty and light skin color, was able to stop the attack on Pecola. Since Maureen is light skinned and closer to the “norm” of being white she has power within the school even while being so young. Pecola experiences
Breedlove, also known as Polly, tries to get forget her blackness and becomes fascinated with white culture as well. As a white society they try to get rid of the “blackness” as seen on page 83 “Wherever it erupts, this Funk, they wipe it away; where it crusts, they dissolve it; wherever it drips, flowers, or clings, they find it and fight it until it dies.” Polly has no love affection for poor Pecola and is not close to being an ideal mother either. But this little beautiful white girl with corn blonde hair in a pin dress has caught the attention of Polly. Polly begins to love this white girl more than Pecola, which she does not understand what she has done wrong for so long that this new white girl has taken her mother away from her. Since Polly is consumed with “whiteness” she neglects her own children and family. The best example of this is when Pecola spills the blueberry pie and it stains the white girls dress. The white girl is tainted with the “blackness”, and this angers Polly to the point she beats Pecola. Polly is able to take control of the situation, have order, love and family within the Fishers because it was society calls a perfect home. So consumed with the Fishers and their lifestyle as being white, Polly has a sense of entitlement from working for them. Even when buying meet for the Fishers, Polly only accepts the finest meat but for her family she accepts nothing but the lesser quality meat. Eventually, Polly realizes the comforts that come from the

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