Bouson, J. Brooks. “‘Quiet As It’s Kept’: Shame and Trauma in Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye.” Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Lawrence J. Trudeau, vol. 363, Gale, 2014. Literature Criticism Online, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/ICZSMX031801056/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=274ea0b2.

I searched on Gale Literary Sources for Incestuous Rape and then under Person-About I searched for Morrison Toni, First article. Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eyefocuses society as well as incest. Bouson, J. Brooks discusses the different areas that Morrison expresses trauma as well as vulnerability that Pecola goes through. This article is relevant to my topic because this article goes in more depth of the trauma that Pecola goes through.

Mayo, James. “Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.” Children’s Literature Review, edited by Tom Burns, vol. 99, Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420059149/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=d6f513f7.

I searched on Gale Literary Sources for Incestuous Rape and then under Person-About I searched for Morrison Toni, Third Article. James Mayo discusses the many metaphors that Toni Morrison added in The Bluest Eye. Many of the metaphors show sexual imagery. This article goes with my topic because there are many metaphors that I couldn’t see within the novel of the sexual imagery that describe Pecola in her father’s point of view.

Noble-Goodman, Stuart. “Mythic guilt and the burden of sin in Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man.’ (Ralph Ellison).” The Midwest Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 4, 1998, p. 409+. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A20992288/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=3cd5280b.

I searched on Gale Literary Sources for Ralph Ellison Invisible Man 1st article. Noble-Goodman discusses the many points of guilt that characters have felt through out the Invisible Man. Ex. Norton feeling guilty of incestuous feelings towards his daughter. This article goes with my topic because while I’m discussing Pecola’s trauma I want to also discuss the guilt and the trauma that men and woman faced within the Invisible Man.

Awkward, Michael. “Roadblocks and Relatives: Critical Revision in Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye.” Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Janet Witalec, vol. 173, Gale, 2003. Literature Criticism Online, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/NMVJBK163758806/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=233aae60.

I searched on Gale Literary Sources for Ralph Ellison And Toni Morrison Incestuous Rape 1st article. Awkward’s article discusses the difference of Incestuous Rape and the explanation of how Ellison viewed the Incestuous Rape with Morrisons The Bluest Eye. Awkward also discusses how in Ellisons Invisible Man, the feminist view of rape was nonexistent. This article is relevant to my topic because the meaning of Incestuous Rape in both novels are different as well as the views of men and women.

Zender, Karl F. “Faulkner and the Politics of Incest.” American Literature, vol. 70, no. 4, 1998, 739–765. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2902390.

I searched on J Store Politics Incest and it was the 2nd article. Zender discusses the different understandings of incest within Poems, Novels, etc. This article is relevant to my topic because of the different stories and or poems that revolve on incest between children and parent. With this article I can back up my ideas of Toni Morrisons Novel The Bluest Eye.

Bouson, J. Brooks. “‘Quiet As It’s Kept’: Shame and Trauma in Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye.” Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Lawrence J. Trudeau, vol. 363, Gale, 2014. Literature Criticism Online, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/ICZSMX031801056/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=274ea0b2. 

Mayo, James. “Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.” Children’s Literature Review, edited by Tom Burns, vol. 99, Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420059149/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=d6f513f7. 

Zender, Karl F. “Faulkner and the Politics of Incest.” American Literature, vol. 70, no. 4, 1998, 739–765. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2902390.

Noble-Goodman, Stuart. “Mythic guilt and the burden of sin in Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man.’ (Ralph Ellison).” The Midwest Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 4, 1998, p. 409+. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A20992288/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=3cd5280b.

Awkward, Michael. “Roadblocks and Relatives: Critical Revision in Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye.” Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Janet Witalec, vol. 173, Gale, 2003. Literature Criticism Online, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/NMVJBK163758806/GLS?u=cuny_hunter&sid=GLS&xid=233aae60. 

What is the significance of incestuous rape in both the Invisible Man and The Bluest Eye?

Toni Morrison’s Bluest Eye is a novel that captures the reality of what black families face as well as white families and the struggles their children have to face in society.
Morrison does an excellent job expressing how these families want to keep their children safe, but with society’s way of thinking it’s almost impossible to keep their children from thinking the wrong way. ‘Dick and Jane’, Shirley Temple, as well as the Mary Jane candies show children what is suppose to be a ‘typical’ look for a child.  But in reality it’s wrong, having white skin with blue eyes is all over in advertisement’s which confuse many children on what is actually correct. Children want to become like Jane, and Shirley Temple so that they may be accepted into society. Morrison expresses an issue that still goes on today, fitting in, and perfection. Perfection is being changed everyday which shows girls that their body is not perfect. Yet, everyone is perfect, the way we were created is perfect to someone. To our families we are perfect, society is always changing what perfection is which makes something perfect never the same the following day. Pecola goes throughout the novel believing having blue eyes like the Mary Jane on the candies as well as having a lighter skin complexion as Shirley Temple. Pecola does everything she can so that she may gain a lighter skin complexion and to also have the perfect blue eyes. Although Pecola goes through a lot knowing she is invisible like Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, that doesn’t stop her from trying to fit in. Soon Pecola will learn that having a lighter skin and blue eyes is not what makes people jealous and not everything is seen as perfect to everyone which is okay. Pecola will also learn that trying to please everyone by trying to fit in is going to be impossible. With society changing constantly, people’s views on different people change constantly.

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?