Sexual assault, menstruation, and racism are all topics that are avoided as topics of disucussion. Society gets uncomfortable talking about these rather important topics so avoids them all together.
Toni Morrison, however, adeptly tackles these overbearing topics and displays the important events of understanding them.
According to me, one of the most beautifully crafted pieces in the memoir The Bluest Eye is closer to the middle when Junior and his actions are described. Junior's character in itself is very ironic and conflicting. Although he is a snobbish white boy, he associates himself with the black boys and wishes to learn their ways. Though his mother had deeply engrained in him "the difference between colored people and niggers" (87). He himself could never clearly distinguish the two groups. Junior was very alone and broken apart inside, yet he released his frustration by bullying others and making them feel the same way. In this excerpt, Morrison provides the whites a different perspective that shows them as the victims who still antagonize others to be the villains. This dual personality is one not always addressed, but one that Morrison openly approached.
Additionally, the juxtaposition between the description of Junior's home and the actions Junior commits while there is truly admirable. Morrison starts by praising the intricate, perfect, white details of the home: "little lace doilies everywhere... a color picture of Jesus Christ hung on a wall with the prettiest paper flowers"(90). This drawn-out description highlights the emptiness in the artificial beauty that is sought after, which is still highly esteemed in society. In immediate contrast to the delicate, pristine nature of the home, Junior is found abusing Pecola and frightening her. He abuses the cat while Pecola attempts to save him. After all her efforts, Junior finally stops his abuse but in the end the cat dies anyway. This emphasizes that those that are the least fortunate still find ways to help those less fortunate than them, which in this case is Pecola helping the cat. Sadly enough, Junior blamed this entire episode on helpless Pecola when his mother came home. Although the mom had witnessed Pecola's life of misery, she like many other ignorant, blind-following whites blamed the poor black girl.
This excerpt beautifully touches on topics of racism, beauty standards, and the cycle of abuse, leaving the reader awestruck of Morrison's excellence.
Toni Morrison, however, adeptly tackles these overbearing topics and displays the important events of understanding them.
According to me, one of the most beautifully crafted pieces in the memoir The Bluest Eye is closer to the middle when Junior and his actions are described. Junior's character in itself is very ironic and conflicting. Although he is a snobbish white boy, he associates himself with the black boys and wishes to learn their ways. Though his mother had deeply engrained in him "the difference between colored people and niggers" (87). He himself could never clearly distinguish the two groups. Junior was very alone and broken apart inside, yet he released his frustration by bullying others and making them feel the same way. In this excerpt, Morrison provides the whites a different perspective that shows them as the victims who still antagonize others to be the villains. This dual personality is one not always addressed, but one that Morrison openly approached.
Additionally, the juxtaposition between the description of Junior's home and the actions Junior commits while there is truly admirable. Morrison starts by praising the intricate, perfect, white details of the home: "little lace doilies everywhere... a color picture of Jesus Christ hung on a wall with the prettiest paper flowers"(90). This drawn-out description highlights the emptiness in the artificial beauty that is sought after, which is still highly esteemed in society. In immediate contrast to the delicate, pristine nature of the home, Junior is found abusing Pecola and frightening her. He abuses the cat while Pecola attempts to save him. After all her efforts, Junior finally stops his abuse but in the end the cat dies anyway. This emphasizes that those that are the least fortunate still find ways to help those less fortunate than them, which in this case is Pecola helping the cat. Sadly enough, Junior blamed this entire episode on helpless Pecola when his mother came home. Although the mom had witnessed Pecola's life of misery, she like many other ignorant, blind-following whites blamed the poor black girl.
This excerpt beautifully touches on topics of racism, beauty standards, and the cycle of abuse, leaving the reader awestruck of Morrison's excellence.
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