NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Prompt 4 Toni Morrisons novel The Bluest Eye is rightfully considered as the classic example of African-American literature, which illustrates the ability of Black writers to discuss the issue of racism from their own unique prospective. In it, author was able to analyze deep psychological motivations that cause many Black Americans to feel inadequate, in existential context of this word. Unlike modern proponents of racial equality, who suggest that the feeling of inferiority has strictly an artificial nature, author reveals it as being more complex. Morrison shows Chollys and Pauline's ignorant attitude towards their daughter as something that comes as result of their self-hatred.
In fact, she describes this trait as being widespread among Black people: You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction (Morrison, p. 39). This passage points out to the fact that there are clear political undertones in Morrisons novel. Author strives to explain what causes Black people to feel socially inadequate, in the first place. The tragedy of Pecola consists in her ability to find a confirmation to her subconscious fears and anxieties. The apparent sketchiness of the storyline is meant to emphasize the illusionary nature of Pecola's concerns, which nevertheless are very real.
We see Pecola trying to socialize with White girls and to imitate their act. Then, we learn about her experiences, which is necessary for us to begin thinking of Pecola with sympathy. Still, authors real goal was to transform our sympathy towards Pecola into something that would have political implications. Morrison wants us to think of Pecola as representative of underprivileged minority in U. S. At the same time, author does not simply strive to discuss the issue of racial prejudice as such that is defined by socio-political factors alone.
The Bluest Eye promotes the idea that, even though racism is socially unacceptable, it can never be rooted out unless people understand its inner mechanics. Author does not place a blame for Blacks underprivileged status on White peoples conscious desire to suppress them. Morrison suggests that it is a social system that provides a spiritual ground for the feeling of inferiority among Blacks. This is why the character of Claudia is also being organically integrated into the novel. Morrison suggests that the Eurocentrism of American culture in thirties was spiritually depriving White people as well. The relations within Matter family are shown as being based on following the standard sets of social rituals that had long ago lost their essence.
This is why Claudia's mother talks to her, as if she was rather an abstract category than human being. One of the most important themes in Morrisons novel is alienation. Claudia and Frieda, Pauline and Chilly are alienated from each other, even though that they are relatives. Nevertheless, it is Pecola, who is being presented to us as the embodiment of social alienation. Her tragedy comes as result of her soul being alienated from her body. The fact that novels stories do not correspond to each other logically can be thought of in terms of textual alienation, which underlines novels main idea.
What makes tragic undertones in it even more acute is that Claudia and Frieda had actually benefited from Pecola becoming insane, even though that this was the last thing they wanted. We can generalize that this represents authors view of White esthetics as based on spiritual cannibalism: We were so beautiful when we stood astride her ugliness. Her simplicity decorated us, her guilt sanctified us, her pain made us glow with health, her awkwardness made us think we had a sense of humor (Morrison, p. 205). Thus, it is more appropriate to think of The Bluest Eye as accusation of Eurocentrism, in the form of novel. Author often refers to Black people as pilgrims without a cause, which implies that African-Americans are just as idealistic as Whites, but their inability to associate their racial identity with the notion of physical beauty prevents them for realizing their full potential. Literary critics point to the fact that Morrison uses a variety of allegorical devices in The Bluest Eye.
It is very hard to disagree with then. Morrisons sense of imagination allows her to entitle seemingly banal events with metaphysical sounding. However, it is not simply because author wanted to refine literary properties of her novel, but because allegorical perception of surrounding reality, on the part of Morrison, strengthens novels initial thesis. Apparently, Pecola's psychological inadequacy does not have a purely subjective essence. She is being continuously compared to a seed that has fallen onto the bad soil: This soil is bad for certain kinds of flowers. Certain seeds it will not nurture, certain fruit it will not bear, and when the land kills of its own volition, we acquiesce and say that victim had no right to live (Morrison, p. 250).
In this passage, Morrison talks about infertility as something that contradicts the most basic law of biology. Pecola's suffering was fruitless, because it did not make her stronger. Neither did it teach her how to distinguish between good and evil. This allows us to talk about author as such that was familiar with ideas of Social-Darwinism, which she did not find utterly unacceptable. The theme of seeds that are being planted in the wrong soil is recurrent in Morrisons novel. We can be sure that this is because it corresponds to authors own subconscious anxieties.
Seeds are meant to become trees, which in their turn, are meant to bear fruits. Therefore, seeing seeds being rejected by the soil is something very unnatural: Pecola's father had dropped his seeds in his own plot of black dirt. Our innocence and faith were no more productive than his lust or despair (Morrison, p. 250). The Bluest Eye is a very peculiar novel, because it is based on inner antithesis between White and Black. Author uses antithesis to suggest that color of a skin defines individuals fate more than any other biological factor. She describes it as being morally unacceptable, but metaphysically objective.
The lighter is persons skin; the happier is his or her life: Colored people were neat and quiet; niggers were dirty and loud... The line between colored and nigger was not always clear; subtle and telltale signs threatened to erode it, and the watch had to be constant (Morrison, p. 87). Even though that author promotes the idea that racial inequality does not correspond to peoples biological essence, the fact that she emphasizes the contrast, while comparing Blacks and Whites, betrays her as believing in something opposite. There is no doubt that Morrisons novel incorporates biographical motives. Therefore, it is only logical to conclude that author was never able to fully get rid of the feeling of her own inferiority, which explains the fact why The Bluest Eye is filled with fatalistic motives.
The idea of esthetics that is based on White perception of beauty is being described by Morrison as scientifically inconsistent. The feeling of esthetic inferiority, experienced by Pecola and her parents, is shown as such that has self-imposed properties. Even though the American culture has traditionally been pro-White, there was no compelling reason for Black people to think of themselves in much lower regard, unless they really felt that they could not match Whites physically and intellectually. Thus, the blame for the underprivileged status of Afro-Americans cannot be put exclusively on White people.
Therefore, we cannot think of The Bluest Eye as novel that was written to strengthen Morrisons reputation as progressive individual. Author was hoping that psychological exploration of her subconsciousness would allow her to attain emotional comfort, because Morrison initially believed that racial prejudices are artificially created. However, once she started digging deep, author realized that the feeling of inferiority, experienced by great many Black people, has inborn qualities. This is why the problem of racism in America continues to affect peoples lives, despite the fact that all social preconditions for its existence have been fully eliminated. Morrisons novel provides us with insight on the concept of esthetics, within a context of racial relations, and it is certainly disturbing, because it undermines the main premise of multiculturalism, as social policy.
Free research essays on topics related to: black people, feeling of inferiority, bluest eye, morrison p, claudia and frieda
Research essay sample on Feeling Of Inferiority Claudia And Frieda
