The reader is forced to ask the question, “What is ugly?” African American people were not even considered in the question of beauty and every representation, be it in schoolbooks, television, or toy dolls, forced the idea of blonde hair and blue eyes as the epitome of beauty. Reviews of The Bluest Eye book state that Morrison was not afraid to tell this difficult tale and did so with poetic language and deep insight into the times and attitudes. In this crazed state, she believes that she has been granted her wish of blue eyes.

Sadly, the baby dies and Pecola goes mad. The community is harsh in their judgment of her, and only her childhood friend, Frieda stays by her side. Pecola later becomes aware that she is pregnant as a result of the rape. Still convinced that blue eyes are the solution to all her problems, Pecola seeks the help of a charlatan who tricks her into believing that he can grant her wish. He then deserts the family and Pecola’s mother blames her and beats her unmercifully. This abuse reaches the lowest level of degradation when Cholly rapes his daughter, Pecola.

Pecola’s parents had tragic lives which have led them to be dysfunctional, abusive parents. Sad, difficult lives were the way of things for most people in those days, but even worse for black people. She is convinced that if she gets the blue eyes that she has prayed for, she will be beautiful and experience a better life. Pecola cannot escape and decides that it is because she is ugly that her life is so hard. Pecola and her brother witness domestic violence regularly and eventually, he runs away from home. Her father, Cholly, is an alcoholic and her mother a self-absorbed, neglectful mother. Pecola moves back to her humble home which is basically a battleground for her parents. She has decided that she is ugly and believes that if she could have lighter skin and blue eyes then her life chances would improve. Pecola is eleven years old and of African American descent. Pecola and one of the young MacTeer girls love the look of Shirley Temple and to them, she is the personification of beauty. To bring in some money, they take boarders, including a young girl called Pecola Breedlove. The MacTeer family lives in an old house, and although they are a loving family, life is very hard for all of them. The story is set in Ohio towards the end of the Great Depression in 1941. The Bluest Eye is a narrative poem that discusses the results of our obsession with beauty that has prevailed for centuries and continues to the present day.

It is this desire that led to the title of the book. The main character, Pecola Breedlove would have loved to have had blue eyes and in her mind, that would have made her beautiful and socially acceptable. The theme of this 1940’s book is ageless and inspiring. The Desire to Have Blue Eyes and Blond Hair

The bluest eye