One of the most important issues in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, to the girls is not being white, with blue eyes. Throughout the novel we get a better understanding what these girls go through just to be acknowledged. Morrison uncovers how African American little girls are affected by the society’s way of thinking. In the beginning of the novel we know that the girls all live very close to each other. Two of the girls being sisters and the other being a very close friend.
Throughout the novel Claudia tries to understand why everyone wants to be white with blue eyes. At first Claudia was not fond of Shirley Temple as well as breaking apart the little white doll her parents gave to her as a gift, but later gave in to society’s ways. Claudia never wanted to possess anything that would try to make her conform to society. In Claudia’s eyes, no one wanted to really know what she wanted. Pecola, Claudia’s friend also goes through this issue of wanting to be white with blue eyes. Pecola goes throughout the novel trying to become white literally by drinking milk from the Shirley Temple cup as well as eating the Mary Jane candies to gain blue eyes. While Pecola was trying to buy candy, she felt as everyone was seeing right through her. She believed that if she had a lighter skin complexion as well as blue eyes, people around her would be able to see her and treat her differently. At one point, Pecola is raped by her father and becomes pregnant. Since Claudia hasn’t really realized or rather isn’t exposed to racism, she wants her baby to live.
Morrison has a very unique way of uncovering the different perspectives of the most important issues today, rape as well as trying to become someone we aren’t. Many people overlook on how society tries day after day to change who we really are. Even the most scariest issue, rape. Many men will say, ‘Oh, she deserved it looking the way she is’, yet these women aren’t showing off their bodies saying ‘Hey, rape me’ nor are little girls. No little girl is screaming to be raped especially by a family member. What is society really telling these little girls to do? Is it truly worth following what society says?
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