in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize- and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue and richly detailed black characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved. Morrison has won nearly every book prize possible. She has also been awarded honorary degrees. Early Career Born Chloe Anthony Wofford on February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison was the second oldest
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women we are. In Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved, Baby Guggs preaches at a Black congregation stating, “Here … in this place, we flesh; Flesh that weeps, laughs, flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love
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theory, suggests ideas present in literature shape the behaviors of individuals. And finally, the social control theory suggests literature is used to maintain and stabilize society. Though all base their arguments on different evidence, Baldwin, Morrison, and West share the premise that literature provides an accurate reflection of society. Many experts studying the relationship have suggested that the reflection theory is the most plausible theory present. Estorick, a prominent scholar
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American Literature Ms. Lawrence 11 February 2013 The Bluest Eye In Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”, Pecola becomes the victim of the society she lives in. Throughout her life she is treated like an outcast by the people she meets. The people of her society make it very clear that she is ugly and worthless. Despite the fact that Pecola Breedlove may not be the prettiest flower in the garden, she is put down by society because they want to make themselves feel better, which causes her to eventually
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deemed “normal” and favored by the majority of their surroundings. Under this circumstance, humans are vulnerable to social influence, though many are unaware of the values they sacrifice in the process. It is the African-American literature, The Bluest Eye, which uncovers the dangers of aspiring
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In Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Morrison puts the spotlight on society, lighting up the corrupt acts that it partakes in, through the story of how a little, black girl is thrown by the curb since she does not exemplify the common model. Instead of our protagonist, Pecola, having one human adversary, we see how most of most of society plays as the antagonist. The wicked acts of society eat up Pecola Breedlove from the inside to the outside, as they rape her, take away her innocence and leave her
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Whiteness, especially the stereotypically Aryan features: blonde hair and blue eyes are held in the highest esteem by society in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. Set in the town of Lorain, Ohio during the 1960s, the various characters presented strive to live up to society’s perspective of beauty. It is this struggle to find beauty in the White-dominated world that drives many characters. To many, to be beautiful is to simply not be Black. Universally deemed ugly by almost everyone she encounters
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structure as a whole” (39). In Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, the main character Pecola Breedlove evidently lives with-and suffers through-the consequences of her oppressive society. However, like caged birds, Frieda and Claudia MacTeer also fall victim to oppression as a result of the hostile and broken environments they are bred into, restricting them from ‘flying’ and blooming into pristine, young women. In the chapter signifying the beginning of Spring, Morrison demonstrates how both of the
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African American Women & America’s Standards of Beauty: What Legacy Will You Pass On? For most young girls, the mother or “mother figure” is a model. Without truly knowing for herself what it is to be a woman, a girl finds, both consciously and unconsciously, some direction from her mother. Imitating her mannerisms, her characteristics, her every make and move, young girls start to identify with their mothers and subscribe to many of their beliefs. Commonly, little girls are fond of all the
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concept of white beauty victimizes Pecola and allows the African American community to also discriminate and address their self-hatred toward Pecola. In contrast to Claudia, Pecola has no self-love for herself as she always sees herself through the eyes of others and her only aspiration is to conform to the standard of beauty to be accepted in the community. The narration of the book allows readers to unfold that it was Pecola's own assumption to feel ugly and that her deep internalization of white
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