Beauty plays a highly influential role through Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. Morrison's novel highlights the ideals of the south in the 1940's, displaying middle to upper-class ideals of beauty - which seem centered upon whiteness and proves to be harmful to young black girls living in this time. Not only is the novel focused on the effect of these unrealistic standards of beauty on young black girls, but it also shows how ... possible and that white is beautiful, there are grownup women who believe this as well. Later on in the book, Pauline is introduced to "physical beauty" something tha...

• Word Count: 940
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... black skin. This hatred and neglect of Pecola by her mother is evident in the scene that takes place in the opening chapter of the book, where Pecola is found to be "ministratin" by Claudia and Frieda. Pecola did not have a clue what was happening to her and the reason for this is obvious, her mother did not care enough about her to teach a basic life lesson. Later ... on in the novel, her mother calls Pecola a "nasty little ... peers receiving better treatment from everyone because of her beauty, and that beauty in Pecola's estimation, is a direct result of her lighter skin. Toni Morr...

• Word Count: 876
• Approx Pages: 4

In this section of the book, Toni Morrison tackled an issue black people have been facing for years- light skin verses dark skin. This division within the community has been a long lasting problem ever since slavery was "abolished". Maureen Peale, the high yellow, rich black girl who went to the local school with Claudia, Frieda and Pecola is a prime example that blacks have come to acknowledge. It seems as if black people of lighter skin have better lives- just like the age old stereotype of blondes having more fun than darker haired females. Well maybe it is better to be lighter because afte...

• Word Count: 495
• Approx Pages: 2