The Breedlove family in The Bluest eye by Toni Morrison

Résumé du document

In her novel ?The Bluest eye', Toni Morrison presents a portrayal of racism in the 1930's through the life of the Breedlove family, and specifically through the vision of the daughter, Pecola. In this story, the characters do not suffer from direct oppression, but the novel shows another aspect of racism. The reader is introduced to the daily routine of black people, with its abuse and humiliation, and can see the situation from the inside a black family. By discussing the life and sexuality of the characters, I will try to point out how the tragic destiny of Pecola and her family, along with their condition of life and their self-vision, is a synecdoche for the life of a black family in American society in the mid 1900's.

Extraits

[...] The Breedlove family in The Bluest eye by Toni Morrison In her novel The Bluest eye, Toni Morrison presents a portrayal of racism in the 1930's through the life of the Breedlove family, and specifically through the vision of the daughter, Pecola. In this story, the characters do not suffer from direct oppression, but the novel shows another aspect of racism. The reader is confronted here to black people's daily routine, with his lot of abuse and humiliation, and can see the situation from the inner side of a black family. [...]

[...] She is a real model for Frieda and Pecola, whereas Frieda's little sister Claudia does not agree. She likes Jane Withers, who is a sexy grown-up brunette, and destroys white baby dolls she gets. Frieda is maybe the only one in the novel who does not want to follow the rules which are socially accepted, and does not understand why, after all, white baby dolls are more beautiful than her. This theme of physique is constantly present in the novel. From Pauline's missing tooth and bad leg to Maureen's “half-whiteness”. [...]

[...] Cholly's first sexual experience was somehow disturbed by two white men, watching the scene, flashing a light towards Cholly's behind, humiliating him. His feelings became confused at the time, for “Cholly had not hated the white men; he hated, despised, the girl” (p.31). This experience surely changed Cholly for ever; here, instead of rebelling against the two white men, chose to turn his hate towards the girl, and that is what he is going to do throughout the novel, and all his life. Firstly, he turns his hatred, his anger, towards his wife, Pauline. [...]

[...] The Breedlove's lack of money, and their way of living, have them despised even by some black people too, who tried to conform to white standards even if they are black, like Junior's mum, who calls Pecola a “nasty little black bitch” (p.72) when she sees her so dirty, with torn clothes. On the other hand there is Maureen, who is described as pretty, and who claims she is cute, while she calls Pecola, Frieda and Claudia ugly. Maureen certainly is black, but less than the others, and she is most of all less poor than them. [...]

[...] Cholly is maybe the first one to actually feel love for Pecola, but he does not know how to express it. His only way to express his mixed feelings of love and hate is through sex, and the fact that Pecola reminds him of Pauline at a young age leads him to the rape of his daughter. After raping Pecola, Cholly does not even feel guilty, but again hatred mixed with tenderness” (p.129). The only way Cholly knows how to love is to hurt at the same time. [...]