--Mayday Parade, "Miserable At Best"
The Bluest Eye. The title depicts hidden meanings within itself, as do many motifs in the novel.
The more obvious meaning of the title is Pecola's dream to have big, bright blue eyes, just like iconic white females. Pecola associates "beauty" with blue eyes, and believes she must possess this quality in order to be seen as beautiful. She believes that "if she looked different, beautiful, maybe Cholly would be different, and Mrs. Breedlove too"(Morrison 46). As if her appearance could change the behavior of her family, or the way she is cruelly treated at school.
As well as this, the word "blue" has a somber connotation. If someone "has the blues", they are sad and depressed internally. Because Pecola is frequently teased and lives in a distressed household, her eyes contain a melancholy and dismal attitude. "She was the only member of her class who sat alone at a double desk" (Morrison 45). Cruel treatment crushes and bruises a person's self-esteem. Pecola endures this for almost her entire life, which causes her to be depressed. Her mom even calls her "ugly" right after she is born (Morrison 126). In this context, she actually has blue eyes. Her dream has been fulfilled, but not in her intended way.
Agreed,also I feel that the term "beautiful" is solely used to define when someone is accepted by society.
ReplyDeleteWow Sarah! This is very deep! I had never even associated the blueness of Pecola's life with the blue eyes that she wants. I really like what you said about her having blue eyes, but not in the physical way. Great job!
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