WRITTEN BY NATALIA JACKSON
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of race, beauty, and self-esteem. The story is set in the 1940s and follows the life of Pecola Breedlove, a young African American girl living in Ohio. Pecola is bullied and rejected by her peers, struggles with self-hatred, and has the desire to be white. The novel explores the impact of internalized racism and the way society's ideals of beauty can shape a person's self-worth. Morrison's writing style is poetic and evocative, painting vivid and emotional images of the characters and their experiences. She tackles difficult heavy themes with sensitivity and nuance, which makes the reader feel the character’s suffering. The novel also provides a commentary on the historical context of the time period and the impact of racism on the psychological development of African Americans. Overall, The Bluest Eye is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores important themes and is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the impact of racism on individuals and society. Toni Morrison's writing is masterful, and the story is emotionally charged and memorable. The novel is a classic and a powerful contribution to the literary canon of African American literature. The Bluest Eye has been banned and challenged in various schools and libraries in the United States. Its banning is mainly due to its depiction of controversial themes such as racism, incest, child molestation, and how hard it is on the “white gaze”. The term "white gaze" refers to the way in which people of color are often seen and judged through the lens of white cultural norms and values. It describes the power dynamics that exist in a society where white people hold the majority of social, economic, and political power, and the ways in which this dominance affects how people of color are perceived and treated. The white gaze can also limit the perspectives and experiences that are valued and recognized in society, reinforcing the idea that the white perspective is the default or "normal" way of seeing and understanding the world. Some people have argued that the book contains explicit sexual content and language that is inappropriate for children and young adults. They also argue that the book's themes and content are too mature for its intended audience and that it may be psychologically damaging to some readers. The novel portrays the harmful effects of the white gaze on the black characters. The novel explores how the black characters, especially the young protagonist Pecola Breedlove, struggle to fit into the white standards of beauty and social acceptance, which are unattainable to her. The novel highlights the destructive consequences of the white gaze and how it perpetuates racial inequality and discrimination. After reading the book I believe that it is an important work of literature that tackles important social issues, and that it should be available to all readers. Moreover, the book's mature themes are necessary for understanding the experiences of African Americans and that it is an essential part of American literature. Despite its controversial nature, The Bluest Eye is still widely read and studied in many schools and universities, and it has won numerous literary awards for its author, Toni Morrison. Comments are closed.
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