ISO 9001:2015

RESISTANCE AND BEAUTY IN TONI MORRISON’S “THE BLUEST EYE”

This paper examines the theme of Resistance and Beauty in Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”. Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye explores the intersections of race, beauty, and oppression in 20th-century America through the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young African American girl who yearns for blue eyes, symbolizing societal ideals of beauty. In the novel, beauty is not just an aesthetic concept but a mechanism of racial dominance and psychological trauma. Morrison examines how the internalization of Eurocentric beauty standards becomes a form of self-oppression for black characters, particularly young black women like Pecola. However, the novel also portrays resistance to these standards. Claudia Mac Teer, one of the novel's narrators, embodies a rejection of the dominant beauty ideals, questioning and critiquing the dehumanizing effects they have on the African American community. Morrison's portrayal of Claudia's defiance against the cultural narrative of beauty reveals the potential for resilience and self-love in the face of pervasive racism. By examining the novel's complex interplay of beauty, race, and resistance, this paper delves into how Morrison uses The Bluest Eye to critique the destructive power of imposed beauty standards while simultaneously exploring resistance pathways. Through Claudia’s critical consciousness and Pecola's tragic unravelling, Morrison underscores beauty's personal and communal stakes, revealing both its perils and its potential for empowerment when redefined on one's terms.


DOI:

Article DOI:

DOI URL:


Download Full Paper:

Download