Skin Colour and Beauty in Toni Morrisons the Bluest Eye

In Toni Morrison’s acclaimed work, “The Bluest Eye”, which secured her the Nobel Prize in Literature, she presents an exquisite example of how one’s loss of innocence translates into their personal psychological disorder. Set during the late Great Depression Era, the story narrates the journey of three girls who are stripped of their innocence. Claudia Macteer, the main character, recounts the darkest times in the lives of her sister and their friend, Pecola. The Macteer sisters, children of impoverished parents running a boarding house, interact with a man and his child seeking refuge.

The narrative abounds in objectified themes emphasizing the grim reality of how these children forfeited their innocence, influenced by the concept of ‘whiteness’. Although complemented on their beauty, the children felt alienated from society. The only standards of beauty they recognized were those of Shirley Temple and other white female icons, which further impaired their self-esteem.

The character Pecola is modeled based on a girl whom Toni Morrison met when she was 11 years old. Through the fictional character Claudia Macteer, the author elliptically explores a childhood that set the girls on a bleak life course. Claudia, along with other little girls, probed the existence of God, an idea too profound for a ten-year-old to fully understand. Claudia convinced herself of God’s existence, however, her playmate Pecola thought otherwise. The girls failed to align their understanding of beauty with ‘normative’ ideas, culminating in a resentment towards their physical appearances as they started to yearn the beauty standards endorsed by the western white world.

Pecola’s desire for blue eyes was a desperate bid to escape from the harsh realities of her life. The belief that blue eyes would bestow upon her an unforeseen purity was embedded deep within her. Claudia and her sister were astounded and puzzled by Pecola’s astonishing dream. Pecola fervently prayed for two years, seeking these metaphoric blue eyes, before resigning to the fact that her dream wasn’t going to materialize. Claudia, the principal character, was flabbergasted. She couldn’t fathom why Pecola failed to acknowledge her intrinsic beauty and why she yearned to possess a trait predominantly associated with Caucasians.

Whenever Claudia recounted her friend’s desire for blue eyes, she was filled with sorrow. The memory of this little black girl lingered, leaving an indelible mark for the rest of their lives. Pecola confronts various distressing incidents that steal her innocence, the worst being rape by her very own father, resulting in her pregnancy at the tender age of eleven. Following the birth of her baby who couldn’t survive due to premature delivery, incurred Pecola further agony. Morrison penned this novel in 1965, embodying the uprising emotions among women and blacks in the society. “The Bluest Eye”, a cornerstone of the “Black is Beautiful” movement, unveiled Morrison’s unique perspective on it. The book’s characters encapsulated the necessity of such a movement, to counteract their lack of self-awareness.

To a certain degree, every character holds a level of affection for their blackness. However, most of them indulge in self-loathing, as their features are’too obvious’. While others, certain characters like Geraldine, endeavored to maintain appearances commensurate with the higher race throughout their lives.

When it comes to matters of identity, it’s true that people live in a world that struggles with understanding who they truly are. Individuals within the black community often see themselves as a group riddled with self-loathing and experience harsh treatment. Throughout history, young people of this race often forget their uniqueness and attempt to assimilate with the majority culture. Movements such as the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter give people of past and present generations a way to unite. According to the Huffington Post, a 2008 study found that African-Americans actively seeking therapy did not feel comfortable discussing their mental health with relatives for fear of being labeled as “insane”. Research by the American Psychiatric Association stated that 85% of African-Americans most commonly cope with stress through prayer. Many within this group believe that the only escape from mental health issues is prayer and regular church attendance. They often think that occupying the mind with daily routines is the best way to dismiss troubling feelings.

According to the census, 13.2% of the U.S. population, or approximately 45.7 million people, identify themselves as Black or African American, as of 2014. People are no longer as inclined to label themselves strictly as part of the black race. As identities evolve and grow more complex, it becomes increasingly challenging to discern exactly who is who. Per the Census Bureau, 2.5% identified as multiracial. Many individuals within this country consider it an honor to be of mixed race. They often carry the belief that those who dilute their blackness possess more power. This signifies an increase from the 12.6% of the U.S. population who identified themselves as Black/African American in the 2010 Census. Mental illness is an issue that the black community often chooses to ignore, and it seems the confusion surrounding identity is a contributing factor to this problem.

Throughout the internet, numerous websites celebrate the racial mixing of blacks with other races. There are also places online where people are encouraged to hide their blackness and deny their true identity. Men and women make daily efforts to rid themselves of their authentic selves, largely because society encourages them to suppress their inherent characteristics. The one-drop rule, which historically served to classify anyone with any known African ancestry as black, and therefore seen as sub-human, is now used to justify the lack of actual black representation in traditionally white spaces, and allows white individuals to pat themselves on the back for their perceived open-mindedness.

Individuals in culture often forget that not accepting oneself is a disability in itself. They fail to realize that identity is an integral part of who an individual is and the role they play in society. Claims have emerged that people do not wish to be perceived as black, but simply want to be recognized as beautiful. In the narrative of ‘The Bluest Eye,’ readers often overlook the broader theme around the importance of racial identity. Characters in this story are self-deprecating, creating mischief based on the colors and features they possess. One such character, Pauline Breedlove, suffers from severe mental illness, believing herself to be ugly because of her exaggerated black features. Being a dark-skinned woman, she transfers her torment onto her daughter Pecola, leaving the child in a state of anxiety about her appearance. Pecola subsequently idolizes the girl next door, Rosemary Villanucci, who embodies the person she wishes to be.

Rosemary Villanucci, the neighbor of the main characters Claudia and her sister Frieda Macteer, becomes the object of Pecola’s admiration. Being a boarder at the Macteer’s house during her childhood, Pecola aspires to be just like Rosemary, a girl whose image mirrors the stars of late 1939. With blond hair and blue eyes, Rosemary becomes a beacon of beauty that Pecola worships. Another character Pecola envies is Maureen Peal, whose features Pecola admires. As a fair-skinned black girl with blue eyes, Maureen enjoys the high status in school as being the most beautiful — an aspiration for Pecola who wishes to be wanted by the boys in her grade, just like Maureen.

This narrative was chosen primarily to spotlight how people allow their inner identity to consume them. Black women in society exist within a bubble that amplifies how severely the world views African-origin women. The author wants readers to comprehend how the judgement of features and colors of people distorts an individual’s reality. People bleach their skin, change their hair color, or even undergo surgeries to conform to these beauty standards. The media effectively portrays society’s perception of beauty. Women in the 1930s strived to emulate beauties such as Mae West who had blond hair and light skin. She wore dresses that accentuated her figure and gave her a unique kind of attractiveness. Similarly, Shirley Temple, who was seen as an innocent child with blond hair and the bluest eyes, was another role model. These instances prove that the societal expectations of that generation are not very different from the present.

What is a stereotype? A stereotype clusters a group of people into one category, making sweeping assumptions that may not necessarily apply to everyone within that group. The problem within ‘The Bluest Eye’ lay in the perception that individuals with lighter skin were valued more in society. Anyone who bore the blood of a white person was praised and seen as an exemplary citizenship. The characters in this narrative mirror the realities of the black community, demonstrating the acknowledgment of a hierarchical structure within society.

Also, within the system of earnings, the guide highlights the best outlook that personalities have within their own lives. The society of suitable African-Americans is not only based on a class system due to skin color, but also a wealth-based pledge. Personalities such as Geraldine, a middle-class black woman, prided herself on the materialistic possessions she accumulated. She had children and the community saw her as extremely accomplished. She served as a glaring stereotype of how people in the black community view others’ wealth. To excel in black culture, the stereotype is that one must be rich or have light skin. People often fail to acknowledge the grain of truth contained within these stereotypes. They have shaped society and created incorrect assumptions that blacks are somewhat less knowledgeable about themselves.

The affliction Pecola likely suffers from is anxiety due to her surroundings. The protagonist grapples with a devastating form of disability borne from the lack of love and affection provided by her parents and others. People often forget that children should not be burdened with beauty standards. The cruelest aspect of the scenario depicted in the book is the way she’s robbed of her childhood due to the harsh judgments from her community. She faces rejection not only from her family but also from her environment. In order to protect a child, it’s essential to discard the negative connotations associated with beauty. Children should be able to remain as such, a point the author emphasizes. An alarming issue in black culture is the problematic reactions regarding the world’s definition of beauty.

Ultimately, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. People often forget that everyone is prone to losing themselves, which can lead to mental health issues. The best reaction to societal stigma is to learn from others and ensure it improves the mindset of the community. For a healthier society, people should strive for a fresh understanding.

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