The Bluest Eye - Race and Ethnic Studies Paper

Eunice Bautista

Professor Osajima

Face and Ethnic Studies

04 November 2013

In Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, evident racism is scattered in many forms and levels. Powerful examples of direct and indirect racism develop through Morrison’s passionate style and practical references. While there are some who believe that The Bluest Eye consists of no significant racism, careful observation and analysis argue that racism is, however, transparent in Morrison’s work. Through the life of the protagonist, Pecola Breedlove, incredible instances of racism are mostly presented from a first person’s perspective through Claudia Macteer, a nine-year old girl who possesses both an adult mentality yet a youthful status, in order to understand Pecola’s life more carefully and objectively. The following essay provides a thorough analysis of a vital truth that reinforces Morrison’s overarching theme of The Bluest Eye: Racism is alive in her novel as it simultaneously defines a perspective of beauty and inflicts internal, implicit, and explicit conflicts in the Breedlove family, especially in the lives of Cholly and Pecola, who experiences sharp discrimination.

“Here is the house,” is the first sentence, and it immediately captures the attention of readers (Morrison, p.3). The house is naturally a symbol of what consists of a family and their values. The Breedlove family is introduced as an African American family in Lorain, Ohio, facing independent struggles that lead to collective dilemmas. Pecola Breedlove and Cholly Breedlove are the two major characters of the book exposing pains and wonders of Morrison’s expressions of racism.

The Breedloves instinctively believed they were ugly because they knew they were “poor and black” (Morrison, p.38). Pecola, especially felt this way towards herself being neglected mostly by her parents who maintained a dysfunctional relationship. In the voice of Claudia, she emphatically notes about the family,

“You looked at them and...