Pecola’s experiences in this novel have consistently been nothing short of purely degrading. Even when shown the odd bit of kindness from a friend or acquaintance, it has been diminished through either her own self-loathing or the discovery that it was under false pretenses. In Lorain, Ohio, Pecola falls at the very bottom of the social ladder, being poor, Black, female, young, and indubitably unattractive. A result of this is that she must bear the brunt of others’ projected anger and frustration with their own rank in society. She’s surrounded by family and friends who are oppressed by inequity and racism and have no outlet to express their entrapment, so Pecola must personally deal with the scolding, the beatings, and the sexual abuse.
Frieda and Claudia are victims of such abuse as well, though to a lesser extent due to their slightly improved place within Black society. Though they don’t know the ostracization that Pecola does, they do recognize the preferential treatment that girls their age of a higher caste receive and can’t help but feel a seething anger for what they want and cannot have. Ordinary Black girls such as themselves are not usually recognized for their wit, talent, or beauty but are kind of seen as worthless until the time comes for them to marry and move out of their homes.
Given the lack of respect from those around them and, in Pecola’s case, herself, these young girls make easy targets. I almost feel like a motivating factor for their abusers is that there is only a small likelihood that they will be caught, and an even smaller or nonexistent likelihood that they will be persecuted for it. This is especially true when poverty is added into the equation. Only one offender in this novel has been punished for his sexual abuse; Soaphead Church. This is probably because this crime was carried out in Cincinnati, a much larger city than Lorain. I say this city in particular, drawing on the hint that Morrison leaves us on page 183: “the blackened faucet head from the sink of a jail cell in Cincinnati,” where I can only speculate that poverty was not as acute as in Pecola’s small town.
The same thing would never have happened to Maureen Peal, protected by her money, her race, and social standing, which are all linked. Were anything to happen to her, the hoardes of people that she holds captive with her beauty would all shake their heads and declare it a shame. Pecola would not be so lucky. She experienced one of the most tragic and traumatic things that could happen to a girl the age of barely twelve, and for some reason the blame falls on her. The women in her town don’t spare an ounce of pity for her, remarking instead that she’ll be best off if her own offspring doesn’t survive infancy, on account of its speculated ugliness (189-190). This repulsive attitude shown to a child that hasn’t even been born yet serves to show exactly how most perceive Pecola: as so ugly she is unworthy of even the breath in her lungs. By The Bluest Eye’s end I can fully understand just what it was that drove Pecola to insanity; that feeling of hopelessness that comes from never knowing love, not even from her own parents, and the limitless yearning for just one iota of what she considers true beauty to render her lovable and acceptable.
Pecola is a victim of her race and class status in the novel, which makes her an extremely vulnerable character. I believe that this vulnerability, which is constructed through her lack of self worth, makes her an easy target for predators. I agree that the predators are unlikely to get caught, but I also think that the way they view themselves play a role in their actions. The black men in the novel have no power within society because of their race. The only place they are given power is within the home. Perhaps these sexual assaults on women within the home are the only way men can restore their sense of power.
ReplyDeleteThe characters in the novel are caught in a vicious circle of depression, detainment and shame. This circle leads to Pecola’s insanity at the end of the novel. Like you said, she was never love or told that she was a valuable/beautiful human being. Pecola’s parents, along with other characters, have inscribed their shame onto her. They do not view themselves as worthy individuals and take their anger and hatred out on Pecola.
Agreeing with Jess, it is very obvious that the characters in the novel all look for someone lower on the ladder than them to degrade. Since they are used to being put down in society, they need a way to let out their frustration. Like the school bullying cycle, those who feel bad about themselves will go after every flaw in another. In Pecola's case, it's her ugliness. The other black characters take advantage of this, feeling that even though they're at a social low, Pecola is even lower. It certainly would have been more productive for them to band together for equality, but they are caught up in their negative patterns.
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