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The Bluest Eye Analysis

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In The Bluest Eye , Toni Morrison begins the novel with Pecola’s coming to age , her menarche and transition from prepubescence to womanhood . Pecola’s friends , Claudia and Frieda will loose their innocence as they choose to help Pecola . Pecola’s life and the event of the death of her baby ; causing the marigolds unable to bloom and drove her towards insanity. Pecola’s pregnancy exposes the inhumanity and hatred in the hands of the African American community. This community does not show empathy nor sympathy or offer her a helping hand. Pecola’s pregnancy isolates her from attending school and the rest of the children in her community . She became the victim of slander and unwelcoming judgment by all . Claudia and Freida observed and …show more content…

She provides imagery and shares how beautiful black baby would be , juxtaposing the white baby doll idolized beauty , It was in a dark, wet place, its head covered with great O's of wool, the black face holding, like nickels, two clean black eyes, the flared nose, kissing-thick lips, and the living, breathing silk of black skin. No synthetic yellow bangs suspended over marble- blue eyes, no pinched nose and bowline mouth. More strongly than my fondness for Pecola, I felt a need for someone to want the black baby to live--just to counteract the universal love of white baby dolls, Shirley Temples, and Maureen Peals (Morrison 190). The white baby dolls signifies the Eurocentric beauty standard , and how the white values and culture have been corrupting and destroying black culture and beauty . In the United Colors of Benetton advertisement , depicts how society views a white child as angelic and pure , along side a black child who isn’t as friendly and hair is styled in horns , both children are hugging . This advertisement displays how children are innocent and are not aware of societal prejudice nor race. In the Rockwell Painting , illustrates how children are innocent and are filled with curiosity , they do not express hate or bigotry . These photos of African American children and white children show how they are both the same , child-like and curious despite the

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