Scan barcode
A review by iarlais
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One of the strongest works of fiction I've ever read, The Bluest Eye sets out to show how abuse begets abuse, what the psychological impacts of racism are, and what life was like for the non-nuclear family of 20th century America. A narratively unique book, it switches from the perspective of Claudia, an actual character in the novel, to a standard unknown narrator, meaning that the reader switches between seeing the world through a child's eyes, and seeing it through Toni Morrison's own. This gives Claudia's narrative voice more weight, as you feel more pity for a child's innocent view of the world when you are also given the viewpoint of an unrelenting adult, or the viewpoint of a truly vile man like Soaphead Church.
Claudia and Frieda are sympathetic protagonists, but it is Pecola who is the true center of the story. Pecola's well-woven and crushing tale serves to show us the horrifying levels of abuse that permeated the civilisation that she inhabited. The abuse that she received was born out of the racism that reigned over every aspect of American society, from the films that Pauline viewed to the dolls that the three girls looked at. This novel examines this hatred and how it comes to be accepted by many of the characters, how they have unquestioningly internalized it and directed their anger not back at their racist systems and country, but at the ones even further below them in society, like black girls.
In doing all of this, Morrison packs the book full of character, creating human characters with realistic faults. She shows how some of these faults were forcefully impressed as opposed to them being developed, and how the impacts they have on minds lead to horrific consequences. She shows just how all-powerful American racism is by presenting its presence in all aspects of its society, and makes it clear that oftentimes people will not triumph over it. Such a malevolent, pervading force very much can break its victims, to the point that they can't come back.
The book is not without its flaws - in my opinion, it could have had a stronger impact had it been longer (Morrison herself notes in an afterword that most people were "touched - but not moved), and I think that its shortness results in most of the characters seeming underdeveloped, as The Bluest Eye has many, and not all can share the spotlight. And yet, it's still a beautiful, depressing, and genuinely important novel that gives a voice to the voiceless.
Claudia and Frieda are sympathetic protagonists, but it is Pecola who is the true center of the story. Pecola's well-woven and crushing tale serves to show us the horrifying levels of abuse that permeated the civilisation that she inhabited. The abuse that she received was born out of the racism that reigned over every aspect of American society, from the films that Pauline viewed to the dolls that the three girls looked at. This novel examines this hatred and how it comes to be accepted by many of the characters, how they have unquestioningly internalized it and directed their anger not back at their racist systems and country, but at the ones even further below them in society, like black girls.
In doing all of this, Morrison packs the book full of character, creating human characters with realistic faults. She shows how some of these faults were forcefully impressed as opposed to them being developed, and how the impacts they have on minds lead to horrific consequences. She shows just how all-powerful American racism is by presenting its presence in all aspects of its society, and makes it clear that oftentimes people will not triumph over it. Such a malevolent, pervading force very much can break its victims, to the point that they can't come back.
The book is not without its flaws - in my opinion, it could have had a stronger impact had it been longer (Morrison herself notes in an afterword that most people were "touched - but not moved), and I think that its shortness results in most of the characters seeming underdeveloped, as The Bluest Eye has many, and not all can share the spotlight. And yet, it's still a beautiful, depressing, and genuinely important novel that gives a voice to the voiceless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage and Misogyny
Minor: Bullying