The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye- Essay #1 The concept of beauty is portrayed throughout Morrison’s The Bluest Eye by analyzing the novella’s literary elements such as setting, character, and theme. Throughout the novella there’s a relation between beauty and the setting, character, and theme that relates to culture and beauty. The setting takes place in the 1940’s where beauty depended on the wealth and physical traits of an individual. As a character of dark color, Pecola grasps onto the white standard of beauty thinking that if she had blue eyes like them she would be accepted and loved. The theme of The Bluest Eye relates to racial discrimination against African-Americans being beautiful. The setting takes place in the 1940’s where beauty depended on the wealth and physical traits of an individual. During this time period racial discrimination against African-Americans was tremendous. The middle class and the lower class black community were divided. For example; Maureen Peal as considered as the privileged division of the black society. The less privileged were the Macteer’s and the Breedlove’s. Morrison writes, “I am cute! And you ugly! Black and ugly” (73). This quote reveals the importance of how the setting determines whether a person’s beautiful based solely on their skin tone. Being that Maureen Peal’s a light skinned middleclass girl she thinks her lighter skin makes her look more white, beautiful, and more superior over the darker girls. As a character of dark of color Pecola grasps onto the white standard of beauty, thinking that if she had blue eyes like them she would be accepted and loved. Society has done a great job with brainwashing Pecola’s perception of beauty with their racial opinions. In order to become the most beautiful person, Pecola must have blue eyes. Morrison writes, “She has seen it lurking in the eyes of all white people” (49). Pecola wants to have power, be loved, and accepted by everyone. The only way she can achieve these physical