Reading Guide 1 \"The Bluest Eyes\" PDF

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Book Summary with questions and answers for "The Bluest Eyes" by Toni Morrison...

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Reading Guide 1 “The Bluest Eyes” 1. Even though Toni Morrison does not consider herself a feminist, how is this book a feminist text? What evidence can you cite from the text? How does this relate to what we have been studying this semester? This book “The Bluest Eyes” is a feminist text by discussing and covering identity issues and uncovers the oppression of women. Evidence I can cite from the text is when Pecola said “Each night without fail she prayed for blue eyes.” This relates to what we have been studying for this semester by black women feeling like that are not appreciated in society and how they are always oppressed. 2.Who narrates the story and why? What is the narrator's attitude toward gender restrictions? The narrator of this story is Claudia MacTeer. The narrator’s attitude towards gender restriction is nonexistent. Claudia isn’t aware of her limitations at the moment which makes her so outspoken and brave.

3. Nobel Prize Winner Toni Morrison has written this novel about a young black girl's obsession with a concept of beauty established by white culture. How is the concept of "beauty" created— and how subjective is it? What are the parameters of beauty—for men and women, black and white? Do those parameters change across cultures or through history? How pervasive is the "culture of beauty" in modern society—and to what extent are all of us prisoners of "beauty"? The concept of “beauty” is created by companies creating white dolls in the past and holding them up to the standard of beauty. Also with television, such as Disney which in the past only consisted of white girls as Disney princesses showed that whiteness has been the standard of beauty because it was displayed and exposed everywhere. Furthermore, creating this image that this is what beauty looks like. The concept of beauty is very subjective because it affects one’s self esteem and can create an identity crisis. A good example could be “Lil Kim.” The parameters of beauty for men and women black and white are not the same. If one is just white then they are automatically seen as attractive. Compared to black people one has to have unique features to be considered attractive by society. Furthermore, I think those parameters change across cultures because what some people didn’t find attractive in the past, they find attractive now such as full lips. In the past it wasn’t seen as beautiful but now since it’s a trend worldwide its seen as a standard of beauty. The culture of beauty in modern society is very pervasive. In this day of age it seems as if plastic surgery is the biggest trend. All of us our prisoners of beauty to an extent by falling into colorism, giving one a certain amount of privileges because of how they look, and also judging one based on their looks and appearance.

4. In The Bluest Eye, Pecola wants to change the way she looks because of various images she’s faced with throughout her life. Can you relate to her? How do today’s pop icons affect the way you see yourself? I can relate to Pecola entirely. Growing up I always thought if I was lighter then maybe I would be more prettier. I never went through the phase in life of ever wanting to be a white girl even though the older I got, the more I seen a big difference in how they are treated compared to someone like me. Today’s pop icons affect the way I see myself by sometimes making me feel insecure. In today’s world if someone comments on who is an attractive black woman they would give examples such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross. Women who are black but have European features or should I say “softer” features. In today’s pop culture I never see someone in mainstream that resembles me.

5. Why does Pecola say that she wants blue eyes? What is it that she really wants? What is it that she needs to attain it?

Pecola says that she wants blue eyes because it will uncover the mystery in her life. Also, she believes that it is the key to being beautiful and finding social acceptance. What Pecola really wants is to be looked at and to be noticed by the people around her. To attain this she needs to find and see herself.

6.We have talked about the importance of relationships among women, particularly the motherdaughter relationship. What does female friendship look like in the novel? Who are the friends in the novel?

What female friendship looks like in this novel is sympathy. Claudia feels bad for Pecola so she decides to open up her home to her which has a stable family relationship. The two have respect for one another and Claudia protects Pecola. When Pecola is with the MacTeers she realizes her self worth and feels happy. The friend in the novel is Claudia.

7. The portrayal of men and women in The Bluest Eye is both positive and negative.What differences can be seen in how each character is revealed to the reader? Whom does the reader come to “know” better? Why? What might this say about men and women in general? The differences that can be seen in how each character is revealed is it provides a backstory for each character and what caused them to react. The reader comes to know the father better. The reason is because the book identifies his struggles. What this says about men and women in general is that both could go through the same problems but everyone handles them differently.

8. What overall impression is made of Pauline as a woman and Cholly as a man? Are those images positive or negative? Why? Who is the stronger of the two characters? What could be the reason for this? Would it be seen in the same way within the society in which they live? In what ways are Pauline and Cholly shown to be dependent on each other? Is it a healthy dependence?

The overall impression of Pauline is seen as bitter, hateful, and insecure. Pauline is also viewed as a woman who hates her own life. The impression of Cholly is seen as an angry man whose happiness has been ripped by evil white men. These images are negative in my opinion because it does nothing but continue the family cycle of being broken. The stronger of the two characters is Pauline because she decides to stay with her husband even though he treats her and the kids horribly. Furthermore, Pauline and Cholly are shown to be dependent on each other by putting their burdens on one another. It is not a healthy dependence because it does nothing but create more turmoil. 9. The novel opens with an excerpt from an old-fashioned Dick and Jane reading primer. The lines begin to blur and run together—as they do at the beginning of select chapters. What social commentary is implicit in Morrison's superimposing these bland "Dick and Jane" passages describing a white family and its activities upon the tragic story of the destruction of a young black girl? Discuss how Pecola and other African-American characters have internalized the white world—even starting with the Dick and Jane primer.

The social commentary that is implicit is Morrison describing the white family as happy and protected where it then leads to the black girl as being unprotected. Pecola and other African American characters have internalized the white world as being more peaceful and protected. With the Dick and Jane primer they’ve always had this narrative that everything is seen as happy and wonderful.

10. Why does Pecola idolize Shirley Temple, and why does Claudia so hate this idealized image of the female? Claudia also shows us her distaste for dolls, while Pecola obsesses over becoming Mary Jane. Why do these two girls have such disparate views? To whom do you relate more? Contrast the two views.

Pecola idolizes Shirley Temple because she believes as if it’s the standard of beauty. Claudia hates the idealized image of the female because it’s blonde and she hates dolls in general. Claudia‘s view is different because she hasn’t realized yet that beauty involves cultural acceptance and that the doll is beautiful because society sees it that way.

►11. How does racial self-loathing corrode the lives of Pecola and her parents, Cholly and Pauline Breedlove? How does racial self-hatred manifest itself in characters like Maureen Peal, Geraldine, and Soaphead Church? Is racial self-loathing any better today than fifty years ago? Give examples to support your stance. Racial self hate corrodes the lives of Pecola and her parents, Cholly, and Pauline by tearing apart their esteem and humanity and by making them feel as if they are worthless in this world. I think racial self hate is still the same as it was fifty years ago except now I believe it’s more hidden.

►12. The Bluest Eye is a novel about racism, and yet there are relatively few instances of the direct oppression of black people by white people in the book. Explain how racism functions in the story. Explain to what extent your understanding of cultural racism has been expanded by studying this novel? How is classism present in the novel?

Racism functions in this story by people treating Pecola different just because she’s black of course. Also the father went through a hard time were he was ambushed for no reason which left him with deep trauma.

►13. Would you recommend this book? Why or why not? What questions did it leave unanswered for you? What did you learn about yourself or your family or humanity in general through reading this novel? I would definitely recommend this book because I believe everyone can learn the struggles black women faced and are continuing to face in this world. The questions it left unanswered for me is why sometimes broken families never heal. What I learned about myself through this novel is that I’m not alone when it comes to not feeling good enough and trying to please society and fit in....