Bluest Eye Essay, Research Paper

The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, was written during the Black Revolt of the

1960?s. At a time when Negroes were not going to allow themselves to be segregated

from the white people anymore. Toni Morrison uses her story to invite the readers into

the lives of black people in this time. She allows us to view different perspectives

through children of different social classes and through the parent?s upbringings.

Although she doesn?t base her story on the racial differences of whites and blacks, she

focuses on the racism throughout the black community. This also allows the reader to see

further into the lives of blacks, not only is there prejudices of whites but also from those

less black against those that are very dark.

Claudia and Frieda are just beginning to realize the prejudice around them. They

had felt content with themselves enjoying their scars and dirt until Maureen Peal entered

their lives; the prettier and more cute Maureen. They want to be her, but hate her at the

same time. They admire her beauty and class, but they despise that which makes her

better than they are. They fail to see that they in fact are ?nicer and brighter.? At the

beginning of the story they help Pecola when she begins menstruation and they continue

to keep Pecola in their thoughts and prayers after she gets pregnant. They are not like the

Maureens of the world in that they don?t flaunt what they have and try to make

themselves higher above the rest. They are only ?lesser? in the way that others view

them. Of course people will smile at Maureen and try to be her friend but only to better

their own image. She is not a real, genuine person. People don?t like her for who she is

but rather for what she has.