All throughout The
Bluest Eye, we are given examples in how children distinguish the traits from
beautiful to ugly. Pecola by default is that shining example of how the minds
view on beauty can be twisted by perspective on a community. Simply put, they see
that whiteness, should be prioritized over the blackness; and so Pecola’s
desire for blue eyes is meant to further push the idea. Delving deeper in this
concept, whiteness is synonymous to the feeling of sterility, perfection,
cleanliness; and by copying or transforming into the ideal “white girl” those
ideal traits are put on a pedestal, and a little black girl will look to her
self and see the contrast in a negative light. Pushing away “black beauty” is
the notion of dirtying its image, sullying what it represents; use of sex is
just one aspect of demonizing a whole community. As the sterile aspects of
white makes sex dirty for the blackness becomes “ruined.”
Can
you understand why the last chapter was so effective, now? Its a discussion on
the events taken place after Pecola rape, were the use of sex forced upon her
means the reality of her beauty forced to change. She cannot become black and
beautiful, but she can have blue eyes, she can emulate purity as if she can
deny(and boy did she try) what occurred to her. The white man won’t let her see
herself beautiful so they sacrifice her so she, and every other little black
girl, can become complacent. At least thats what I think.
What do you say:
1.
Does Pecola’s blue eyes mean she is pure, or perceived
pure?
2.
Does white
values make sex violent?Why?
3.
How is the babies death relate?
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