Pat *****
Ms.B***
English 7
11/13/13

The Enigma of Beauty Society’s eyes have been trained over the years to conspicuously spot flaws in what’s been perceived as its standards of beauty. Indifference within its own definition of genuine beauty-stands out like an eye sore amongst the conformity of what or rather whom we are. In Toni Morrison’s Bluest Eye, characters call into question what is beauty itself and how can they achieve that “look” everyone yearns to have. Is it they who radiate unattractiveness or is it society’s harshness who push them to hide within the depths of their own ugliness? It is within the young character Pecola Breedlove do we indeed call to question the harshness of human self-worth. She often debates her own beauty but still embraces her ugliness-wearing it shamefully. “Thrown, in the way, into the binding conviction that only a miracle could relieve her, she would never know her beauty. She would only see what there was to see: the eyes of other people.” (Morrison, 1970) But what of, the binding conviction? The constant reminder of her offensive ugliness left nowhere to receive sympathy from, as her family welcomed their ugliness just as bluntly. “We soothe ourselves with clichés. Its only skin deep, we cluck it’s only in the eye of the beholder. Pretty is, as pretty does.” (Newman, 2013) There’s an impenetrable wall of perfection surrounding the world she grows in. Flaws categorized in shape, size, color, etc. mold into what’s acceptable as decent , being that Pecola’s monstrous appearance still provides that she still falls below the rule of thumb for beauty. “The distaste must be for her, her blackness. All things in her are flux and anticipation. But her blackness is static and dread. And it is the blackness that accounts for, that creates, the vacuum edged with distaste in white eyes.” (Morrison, 1970) Though she was often belittled, (using the term in an unusually literal essence), Pecola sought to find beauty elsewhere where no one could quite object to her vast ugliness. The objective was to find her idol and worship her beauty enough to embrace it as her own, and maybe just maybe…she could walk down the street with no ill intended bystander watching her with such disgust. “The shame wells up again, its muddy rivulets seeping into her eyes. What to do before the tears come. She remembers the Mary Janes.” (Morrison, 1970) When that intended outcome did not particularly reach at its end-Pecola seeks her mission of beauty to one source, a “healer” (“healer” being used quite loosely rather) Soaphead Church. What to make of this child amongst the horrid black skin, and ghastly bewildering features? Blue eyes. Depicted in society, what was not genuine beauty but the most convenient beauty rather at all, blonde hair and blue eyes. (If specific reference need be made, then Shirley Temple will be used.)“What is beauty? One may as well dissect a soap bubble. We know it when we see it- or so we think. Philosophers frame it as a moral question.” (Newman, 2013) As already not only did Pecola’s ugliness alarm the healer himself, bur struck sympathy as well. He could not grant her wish but could fool her into thinking that progress was being made. As in reverse method of memorandum almost (?) Soaphead refers to his last hope in the internal debate he faced with God Himself. “That’s why I changed the little black girl’s eyes for her, and I didn’t touch her; nor a finger did I lay on her. But I gave her those eyes she wanted. Not for pleasure, and not for money, I did what You did not, could not, would not do: I looked at that ugly little black girll, and I loved her. I played You. And it was a very good show!” (Morrison, 1970) Her want provides said anger for Soaphead because he cannot help her. Eventually causing the definition of beauty to be questioned itself as the lines between Pecola’s sanity and her appearance blur.
In the essence of The Bluest Eye, one can bring forth their own awareness of beauty. Questions such as, “what is beauty and what is it about it, that causes such controversy?” arise. The character Pecola Breedlove sought to find the answer to her own inner struggle of genuine beauty s no one would give her the chance to experience it. The novel causes even the audience themselves to dwell within the own depths of their sanity to rack their brains, trying to find the answer to “who exactly is beautiful?” Or are we as humans the truly ugly ones?