We have all had a moment where we wished we looked different, so that that people would view us differently. Personally, in elementary school I did not like having blonde hair because my peers would make dumb blonde jokes. At the time I think I did internalize these jokes to a certain point and viewed myself as different from everyone else. People with brown hair never got made fun of; I thought maybe if my hair was darker the kids would leave me alone. One summer in high school, I dyed my hair a darker color and I hated the results. When I looked into the mirror I did not see myself. I was different and I did not like it. After that experience I vowed never to change my hair ever again or any other physical feature.
Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye explores how the acceptance of rejection, the internalization of hatred, and the perception of beauty from others help to destroy a person’s identity. The Breedlove family internalizes the hatred toward black people and embodies the stereotypes that are forced upon them. The Breedlove’s “wore their ugliness, put it on, so to speak, although it did not belong to them” (38). The source of their ugliness and hatred toward themselves is psychological and stems from external factors that each character internalizes in a different way. These external sources consist of the perception and judgment from others based off of the assumptions of stereotypes. People within the novel generalize the black community as all being lazy, ugly, and inferior. Pecola becomes a victim of this hateful culture that surrounds her. Pecola is described as one hiding behind the cloak of ugliness that is forced on her and is victimized because of it (38).
In addition, Pecola is one of the more vulnerable characters because she internalizes everything that is said or done to her. She experiences rejection and hatred at school, witnesses the abuse between her parents, and are eventually is raped by her father. These experiences lead her to believe she is worthless. Her longing for blue eyes represents her desire for another life and a new identity. She firmly believes that if she had blue eyes she would see herself in a different way; she would view herself as beautiful. She believes that if she has blue eyes, a symbol of whiteness, she will be loved and respected by the people around her. It is interesting to note that she never wishes for lighter skin or blonde hair but rather light eyes. Her wish for different eyes creates an emphasis and importance on seeing. Pecola wants to change the way people see her and the way she sees others. Would the book be different if Pecola wished for white skin? Does her choice to focus on a small aspect of her physical appearance make her more relatable than if she targeted larger overall characteristics?
Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye explores how the acceptance of rejection, the internalization of hatred, and the perception of beauty from others help to destroy a person’s identity. The Breedlove family internalizes the hatred toward black people and embodies the stereotypes that are forced upon them. The Breedlove’s “wore their ugliness, put it on, so to speak, although it did not belong to them” (38). The source of their ugliness and hatred toward themselves is psychological and stems from external factors that each character internalizes in a different way. These external sources consist of the perception and judgment from others based off of the assumptions of stereotypes. People within the novel generalize the black community as all being lazy, ugly, and inferior. Pecola becomes a victim of this hateful culture that surrounds her. Pecola is described as one hiding behind the cloak of ugliness that is forced on her and is victimized because of it (38).
In addition, Pecola is one of the more vulnerable characters because she internalizes everything that is said or done to her. She experiences rejection and hatred at school, witnesses the abuse between her parents, and are eventually is raped by her father. These experiences lead her to believe she is worthless. Her longing for blue eyes represents her desire for another life and a new identity. She firmly believes that if she had blue eyes she would see herself in a different way; she would view herself as beautiful. She believes that if she has blue eyes, a symbol of whiteness, she will be loved and respected by the people around her. It is interesting to note that she never wishes for lighter skin or blonde hair but rather light eyes. Her wish for different eyes creates an emphasis and importance on seeing. Pecola wants to change the way people see her and the way she sees others. Would the book be different if Pecola wished for white skin? Does her choice to focus on a small aspect of her physical appearance make her more relatable than if she targeted larger overall characteristics?
You're post jumped out at me because I'd not examined the fact that Morrison chose to develop Pecola's longing for blue eyes rather than white skin. Would the book be different with a different longing? I think it would be. There is such potent symbolism connected to eyes because they act as our window to the world. Skin color is noticeable right away, while the color of someone's eyes may take awhile to seep into recognition and memory. With the focus on eyes, we are able to see how ,as you mentioned, internalization of hate and shame is so prevalent as a theme throughout the novel. Eyes are fascinating because they so clearly straddle the external and the internal, they gaze out and reflect inwards.
ReplyDeleteMaybe by moving away from white skin as the ultimate desire of Pecola's (although due to the blue eyes it may be inferred) Morrison is suggesting that the perception of beauty is deeply intertwined with race but also distinctly separate. Beauty is perception: white culture may claim beauty but black people do not need white skin in order to be beautiful.
I think the blue eyes are a symbol. I think the idea is that she does focus on Pecola desiring to be white, have blonde hair, and in her eyes...be beautiful and loved. I think the eyes are a symbol of what she sees and in turn what she internalizes as being beautiful and desired.
ReplyDeletei don’t think the book could be the same if she focused on the white skin, because with the eyes comes the white skin, and it would be harder to connect it the other way.
The book would be slightly different if Pecola wished for white skin. Although, the whole concept of white supremacy would still be embodied in this wish. The fact that eyes are the targeted characteristics in The Bluest Eye just holds a symbolic value to the novel like Paige said. I agree that the eyes are a symbol of the experiences Pecola is victim to and represents what she interprets to be beautiful and desirable.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Ava's point that Morrison is suggesting that the perception of beauty is racialised but in the end beauty is just that, perception. Therefore, "white culture may claim beauty but black people do not need white skin in order to be beautiful."
I'd like to add to Ava's point with the fact that many consider eyes not only to be the windows to the world, but the windows to the soul, as well. Perhaps Pecola is thinking that with this particular symbol of Whiteness, she will be looked on with approval of not only her outward beauty but a beautiful personality or soul as well. Beauty is indeed racialized in America, but I argue that it is not only because of aesthetics but for the assumptions people make about a person's character based on how they look and carry themselves. From what we have seen Pecola is a jaded and sad, sad girl. It's definitely clear from her interactions with others that she longs to be looked upon with genuine approval and not to be judged as stupid, depraved, or just plain inferior at first sight.
ReplyDeleteGoing off of Lillian's comment, I think that Pecola certainly perceives of blue eyes and whiteness as suggestive of internal beauty. In a world that is so rife with ugliness -- something that, for the most part, also coincides with black skin in the novel -- Pecola seems to believe that by having blue eyes, she can therefore escape the chaos and destruction that often surrounds her.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for Pecola, her beliefs are frequently reinforced by the structures which surround her. The Breedloves are alienated because of their skin color, light-skinned girls are universally loved and blue-eyed Shirley Temple dolls are adored. All of these structures which surround her only further reinforce her belief that by having light skin or blue eyes, she would then be perceived as internally beautiful and lovable.