The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison

Pauline Breedlove, Pecola's mother, experiences racism within the black community when she moves to Lorain, Ohio. Being a dark-skinned black woman from the south, she does not understand why "northern colored folk was different... [and why they were] no better than whites for meanness" (117). She recognizes the hierarchy, or the "difference between colored people and niggers" within the black community, especially from the light-skinned women she encounters (87). One of these light-skinned black women is Geraldine, Junior's mother, who believes "colored people were neat and quiet; niggers were dirty and loud" (87). She even tells her son

Food and appetite is a relatable experience for everyone. Many believe food is strictly just for enjoying while you eat, however within Toni Morrison’s novel “The Bluest Eyes” she makes many distinct references to food. Through these means, she creates each individual personality of the characters. She goes on to use this association for most food references within her novel. The result enables the reader to have a more relatable experience with each of her characters regardless of color. Overall, these food and appetites references allow the reader to have a more hands-on approach and bring about a greater understanding of her character 's mentality while helping to disregard racial associations.

In Toni Morrison’s novel, “The Bluest Eye”, a character named Pecola Breedlove had always been wishing to have blue eyes, because it was considered as pretty in the novel’s world. Also, a lighter skins African American, Maureen Peal, bullied the Pecola, who have darker skin, because Maureen Peal thinks herself is cute while Pecola is ugly. Similarly, Pecola always thought of herself in a negative way, in which, she calls herself ugly. On the other hand, Maureen Peal, think highly of herself, because she came from a wealthier family and more people like her. Furthermore, Pecola did not have an easy life due to all those hardships that she had to come across through her life. Morrison’s novel shows a contrast between the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant world and the world the characters of the novel live in by showing us how the characters in the novel are not living a good life and they get treated differently because of their skin color, and they are in a lower class than the others. Also, the kids are being neglected by their parents and there are child molestation in the family. I think today’s world is slowing changing but still has some similar divisions, because there is still racism out there. However, people are starting to stand up for themselves and appreciate their own culture and ethnicity more in today’s world.

A study by Chadwick, Miller and Hurd (2013) further supports this idea as it points out how Δ9-THC interferes with the endogenous endocannabinoid system, which regulates many processes involved in development and neuroplasticity. While the system maintains expression throughout life, it is still in development during adolescence; therefore, when there is a sustained increase in cannabinoid receptor binding during adolescence, receptor levels of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R) significantly decrease in early adulthood. While many roles of CB1R still remains a mystery, it is evident that CB1R plays an important role in neural development and that prolonged use of cannabis can affect it. In addition, the study argues that many epidemiological studies demonstrate the elevated risk on psychiatric disorders upon using cannabis; however, recent data also suggests that vulnerability to schizophrenia and cannabis usage are most likely related to individual genetics such as COMT (Catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene, which moderates the psychotomimetic effects of Δ9-THC.

In the novel The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison confirms the existence of racism within the African American community. Unbelievably, many African Americans suffer from what is termed internalized racism. Internalized racism produces the same effect as racial racism: feelings of worthlessness, inferiority, and unattractiveness. In addition, the effect can produce the opposite feelings: superiority, hatred, and feelings of self-worth. Pecola, an 11-year-old black girl, desires to have the physical characteristics of a white person, namely blue eyes. Polly, Pecola’s mother, prefers the white culture living rather than her own. The feelings that the black race experience stem from the programming of a racist society to think that the white race is better. As a result, African Americans long to be white or look white. This consumption of whiteness represents internalized racism.

Geraldine only looks at Pecola’s appearance for Pecola’s judgement which is not the right way to judge a person. This is another problem that is present in the black community. People tend to not look past the person’s appearance than at their character. Geraldine even screams to Pecola that she is a “Nasty little black bitch” (92). Geraldine does not even question her son as to how the cat died, she quickly blamed Pecola for this unfortunate accident.

Throughout all of history there has been an ideal beauty that most have tried to obtain. But what if that beauty was impossible to grasp because something was holding one back. There was nothing one could do to be ‘beautiful’. Growing up and being convinced that one was ugly, useless, and dirty. For Pecola Breedlove, this state of longing was reality. Blue eyes, blonde hair, and pale white skin was the definition of beauty. Pecola was a black girl with the dream to be beautiful. Toni Morrison takes the reader into the life of a young girl through Morrison’s exceptional novel, The Bluest Eye. The novel displays the battles that Pecola struggles with each and every day. Morrison takes the reader through the themes of whiteness and beauty,

People like to dress up themselves in nice clothes. Most people are instinctively attracted to good looking, well dressed people. In our society, outer appearance is important, and unfortunately, many people will judge you by the way you look. Some judge people by their skin color. I think that discriminating against people because of their skin color was very wrong. Thus, a number of intellects continue to issue warnings about racial discrimination. The author of The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison, criticizes the danger of race discrimination for any kinds of situations with no exception. The purpose of the paper is explain how pervasive and destructive social racism was bound to happen in American society. The intended audiences are not only black people, but also other races had suffered racism until now. I could find out and concentrate on the most notable symbols which are whiteness, blue eyes and the characterization while reading the novel.

Steve Maraboli- a speaker, bestselling author, and Behavioral Science Academic- wrote “there is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” This is true, however, it exists very rarely in our society. Women are not accepting of their imperfections and glorify them, instead they hide them to unify under society’s standards of beauty. Over the course of our history, women have been victims of society’s ideals. Society forces false images of beauty and love onto women, forcing them to have fictitious notions of what happiness is and how to be happy. This can be seen in both Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

In 1940s America, superiority was deemed on the scale of black/whiteness. Specifically, white people were positioned at the upper part of the hierarchy, whereas, African Americans were inferior. Consequently, white people were able to control and dictate to the standards of beauty. In her novel, ‘The Bluest Eye’, Toni Morrison draws upon symbolism, narrative voice, setting and ideals of the time to expose the effects these standards had on the different characters. With the juxtaposition of Claudia MacTeer and Pecola Breedlove, who naively conforms to the barrier of social classes, we are able to understand how African American’s in 1940’s America, specifically Ohio, had to adapt to the white ideals/standards of beauty, which subsequently caused self-hatred. Morrison’s novel explores an array of African American characters, who encounter these barriers in several different ways. Through these characters, Morrison’s distortion of the popular ‘Dick and Jane’ books and other texts including ‘Playing in the Dark’, also by Toni Morrison, I will verify the large degree of beauty ideals implicated throughout the novel.

The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison is a short novel that revolves around a young girl named Pecola Breedlove who is a victim to incest and rape by her own father Cholly. In the town Lorain, Ohio Pecola becomes friends with a young nine year old girl named Claudia MacTeer and her ten year old sister Frieda. The MacTeer family takes in Pecola Breedlove when her father Cholly attempts to burn her house down and hits her mother, Pauline. Pecola is described as a quiet and soft spoken. Her life at home is difficult because of the domestic violence and her father’s abuse of alcohol. Pecola is under the impression that if she were prettier her parents would be nicer to each other. She equalizes beauty with whiteness. She begins to pray for a pair of pretty blue eyes so the world can view her differently and change the way she sees the world. Soon after Pecola returns home she gets raped. The town soon finds out after Pecola becomes pregnant and although everyone in town wants the baby dead, Claudia and Frieda hope the baby lives. Pauline and Pecola pickup and move after Pecola loses the baby and starts to lose her sanity. In the end Pecola sees a psychic to obtain the blue eyes and she really believes he gave her blue eyes. The major theme in this novel outside of incest is how race is perceived in the eyes of young girls and how it is associated with beauty and purity. Among the theme of race are love, sex, innocence, and the roles of black women. Race to Pecola revolved around

My interest in taking classes or programs that are connected to nursing will always thrive. Human interaction and monitoring people’s safety during my life guarding experience developed my passion to become a nurse. Achieving my CPR, AED, and First Aid certification puts me one step closer to gaining more experience in pursuing my career. Taking Anatomy and Physiology allowed me to enhance my knowledge in the human body and its functions. Similarly, AP Psychology offers complex information on the human perception, which I can apply to patient treatment.

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, is a story about the life of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove, who is growing up during post World War I. She prays for the bluest eyes, which will “make her beautiful” and in turn make her accepted by her family and peers. The major issue in the book, the idea of ugliness, was the belief that “blackness” was not valuable or beautiful. This view, handed down to them at birth, was a cultural hindrance to the black race.

Throughout Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye, she captures, with vivid insight, the plight of a young African American girl and what she would be subjected to in a media contrived society that places its ideal of beauty on the e quintessential blue-eyed, blonde woman. The idea of what is beautiful has been stereotyped in the mass media since the beginning and creates a mental and emotional damage to self and soul. This oppression to the soul creates a socio-economic displacement causing a cycle of dysfunction and abuses. Morrison takes us through the agonizing story of just such a young girl, Pecola Breedlove, and her aching desire to have what is considered beautiful - blue eyes. Racial stereotypes of beauty contrived and nourished by

In today’s growing society, smoking is still a major problem among many humans. A lot of teens and young adults are revealed to the effects of smoking through the exposure of secondhand smoke. The presence of secondhand smoke can be encountered through family members, friends, and even people in the surrounding area. Since smoking is so accessible, anyone is able to obtain a cigarette. The result of smoking, however, presents undesirable outcomes. As an example, cancer, lung disease, a change in lifestyle and personality, or impacted decisions. Similarly, the advertisement campaign “Stay In Control” by The Real Cost introduces us to Amanda Green - a teenage girl who finally has the independence to define who she is. However, before she can, Amanda gives up part of her freedom to smoking. The losses of freedom to smoking includes everything from her life, her money, her boundaries, etc. Through the use of vivid imagery, voiceover, and sad emotions, the ad “Stay In Control” effectively conveys a message about the harmful effects of smoking to its intended audience: teens and young adults.