Toni Morrisson: The Bluest Eye

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book Toni Morrisson: The Bluest Eye by Anonymous, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Anonymous ISBN: 9783638266024
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: April 7, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Anonymous
ISBN: 9783638266024
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: April 7, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1 (A), Southern Connecticut State University (English Department), language: English, abstract: 'The Bluest Eye' is Toni Morrison's first novel and was published in 1970. Toni Morrison uses modernist techniques of stream-of-consciousness, multiple perspectives, and deliberate fragmentation. Two different narrators tell the story. The first is Claudia MacTeer, who narrates in a mixture of a child's and an adult's perspectives, and the second is an omniscient narrator. Claudia's and Pecola's points of view are dominant, but the reader also sees things from other character's points of view. The subtext of the first part of the novel ('Autumn' and 'Winter') suggests various topics. In my presentation, I mainly focus on the 'Dick and Jane narrative' by means of which the novel opens. Furthermore, I will explore the themes 'whiteness as the standard of beauty' and 'seeing versus being seen' which are sometimes closely connected. 'The Bluest Eye' provides an extended depiction of the ways in which internalized white beauty standards deform the lives of black girls and women. Implicit messages that whiteness is superior are everywhere, including the white baby doll given to Claudia, the idealization of Shirley Temple, the consensus that light-skinned Maureen is cuter than the other black girls, and the idealization of white beauty in the movies. Pecola eventually desires blue eyes in order to conform with these white beauty standards imposed on her. However, by wishing for blue eyes, Pecola indicates that she wishes to see things differently as much as she wishes to be seen differently.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1 (A), Southern Connecticut State University (English Department), language: English, abstract: 'The Bluest Eye' is Toni Morrison's first novel and was published in 1970. Toni Morrison uses modernist techniques of stream-of-consciousness, multiple perspectives, and deliberate fragmentation. Two different narrators tell the story. The first is Claudia MacTeer, who narrates in a mixture of a child's and an adult's perspectives, and the second is an omniscient narrator. Claudia's and Pecola's points of view are dominant, but the reader also sees things from other character's points of view. The subtext of the first part of the novel ('Autumn' and 'Winter') suggests various topics. In my presentation, I mainly focus on the 'Dick and Jane narrative' by means of which the novel opens. Furthermore, I will explore the themes 'whiteness as the standard of beauty' and 'seeing versus being seen' which are sometimes closely connected. 'The Bluest Eye' provides an extended depiction of the ways in which internalized white beauty standards deform the lives of black girls and women. Implicit messages that whiteness is superior are everywhere, including the white baby doll given to Claudia, the idealization of Shirley Temple, the consensus that light-skinned Maureen is cuter than the other black girls, and the idealization of white beauty in the movies. Pecola eventually desires blue eyes in order to conform with these white beauty standards imposed on her. However, by wishing for blue eyes, Pecola indicates that she wishes to see things differently as much as she wishes to be seen differently.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book The Struggle for Jewish Identity in Philip Roth's 'New Jersey' by Anonymous
Cover of the book Emotional Behaviour Deficit and Behavioural modification strategy by Anonymous
Cover of the book Bed-Stuy in da Brownstone House: by Anonymous
Cover of the book Entstehung und Entwicklung von Abhängigkeit by Anonymous
Cover of the book Does a genuine European party system exist? by Anonymous
Cover of the book Principles and Practices of Research Quality Assurance - Ethics by Anonymous
Cover of the book Language material in grammars and dictionaries: Authentic or thematically related? by Anonymous
Cover of the book The Triple Bottom Line as the answer to the primary responsibility of the manager by Anonymous
Cover of the book German Protestantism and the Spirit of God. From Luther to Moltmann by Anonymous
Cover of the book Cockney and Estuary English. A comparison by Anonymous
Cover of the book Report on the Dutch economy by Anonymous
Cover of the book Do Microcredits offer a practicable solution for sustainable growth in the economies of developing countries? by Anonymous
Cover of the book Standard Costing, Variance Analysis and Decision-Making by Anonymous
Cover of the book 'A photograph without space and time'. Functions, Values and Messages of the 'generated-through software photograph' (GSP) by Anonymous
Cover of the book Advertising in Poland and Germany - A Comparison by Anonymous
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy