The Bluest Eyes 2

The novel The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, tells the sordid story of Pecola Breedlove, a young colored girl, as she struggles to attain beauty, and desperately praying for blue eyes. Brought up as a poor unwanted girl in a world filled with racism, sexuality, and hostility, Pecola desires the acceptance and love of society. The image of “Shirley Temple beauty” surrounds her. In her mind, if she were to be beautiful with blue eyes, …

…of her community and family. She was the victim of their frustration, anger, ignorance, and shame. Unfortunately, even Pecola’s belief of her “blue” eyes can not keep her happy. She is always looking at the blue eyes of others wondering if hers are the bluest eyes in the world, fearful that somewhere, someone has bluer eyes. And so, “the horror at the heart of her yearning is exceeded only by the evil of fulfillment” (162)