What is the setting of The Bluest Eye?
Lorain, Ohio
Set in Morrison’s hometown of Lorain, Ohio, in 1940–41, the novel tells the tragic story of Pecola Breedlove, an African American girl from an abusive home.
What is the metaphor for The Bluest Eye?
Blue eyes is a recurring metaphor. It is seen in the longing that Pecola has for blue eyes, the blue eyes of the Mary Janes on the candy wrapper, and the bluish green eyes of the black cat that Junior kills, which shine in the light like “blue ice.” Blue eyes represent beauty in white culture.
What does the torn sofa represent in The Bluest Eye?
Just as their family name is ironic (they do the opposite of their name), the few household objects they do possess—a ripped couch, a cold stove—are symbolic of suffering and degradation rather than of home.
What literary devices are used in The Bluest Eye?
Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye contains numerous literary devices, especially imagery, symbolism, and parallelism, and juxtaposition.
What is the plot of The Bluest Eye?
The novel takes place in Lorain, Ohio (Morrison’s hometown), and tells the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola who grew up following the Great Depression. Set in 1941, the story tells that she is consistently regarded as “ugly” due to her mannerisms and dark skin.
Does Pecola actually get blue eyes?
When Pecola is finally granted her wish for blue eyes, she receives it in a perverse and darkly ironic form. She is able to obtain blue eyes only by losing her mind. Rather than granting Pecola insight into the world around her and providing a redeeming connection with other people, these eyes are a form of blindness.
Why does Pecola drink so much milk?
Claudia and Frieda’s mother, Mrs. MacMeer, calls Pecola greedy and claims that her excessive drinking of milk symbolizes her desire for whiteness. If Pecola continues to drink milk, then she will become white – this whiteness will somehow make her more beautiful. This hunger for whiteness is also a proxy for healing.
Which character does Claudia compare to a bird?
In addition to talking to an imaginary friend, Pecola makes bird-like motions, making her damaged mental state obvious to anyone she sees. Claudia notes that Pecola looks like she is trying to fly, which perhaps indicates that Pecola wants to escape from inside her own mind.
What does milk symbolize in The Bluest Eye?
Milk has come to represent whiteness. Claudia and Frieda’s mother, Mrs. MacMeer, calls Pecola greedy and claims that her excessive drinking of milk symbolizes her desire for whiteness. If Pecola continues to drink milk, then she will become white – this whiteness will somehow make her more beautiful.
Who is blamed for killing geraldines cat?
Pecola
At this moment, Geraldine comes home, and Junior tells her that Pecola has killed the cat.
Who is the antagonist in The Bluest Eye?
Cholly Breedlove Cholly is cowardly and abusive. His actions all point to him as the novel’s antagonist: he begins seeking an escape from his family as soon as Pauline gives birth to Sammy; he hits Pauline; he tries to set the house on fire; and he rapes his young daughter.
What is literary devices in a story?
Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in a text, strengthen the narrative, and help readers connect to the characters and themes. These devices serve a wide range of purposes in literature.
Which is the best quote from the Bluest Eye?
The Bluest Eye Quote 1 “It never occurred to either of us that the earth itself might have been unyielding. We had dropped our seeds in our own little plot of black dirt just as Pecola’s father had dropped his seeds in his own plot of black dirt.
Who is ugly in setting of the Bluest Eye?
Throughout the book, Pectoral is reminded continuously of how ugly she is, which fuels her aspiration to be white with blue eyes. Pectoral, a poor black girl, is compelled to believe that she is, in fact, ugly.
What is the historical context of the Bluest Eye?
Historical Context of The Bluest Eye. The Bluest Eye was written during the height of the Civil Right’s Movement of the 1960’s, and although the narrative takes place before the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, many of the novels themes explore the issues blacks were fighting for during the movement.
What did Pecola’s father say in the Bluest Eye?
“It never occurred to either of us that the earth itself might have been unyielding. We had dropped our seeds in our own little plot of black dirt just as Pecola’s father had dropped his seeds in his own plot of black dirt.