Throughout Toni Morrison’s life, her parents influenced her most, who were proud of black culture and resisted racism。 They ever moved to Ohio to escape southern racism。 As a child, Toni Morrison learned amount of negro songs and heard many traditional African American folktales。 Under the nurture of which she grew up and became more and more interested in black culture。 She started to be absorbed in her creation。 She writes in a black vernacular, consisting of phrases and figures of speech which were special in the community she grew up。 She considered that if she is true to her own life and experience, it will be meaningful。 In this way, she attempts to create what she calls a ‘race-specific yet race-free prose’。 And readers can feel and understand the culture and tradition of the black nations。 The novel vividly records a vital aspect of American society (Wang 11)。
The Bluest Eye, one of her most important creation, was inspired by a black girl who longed to have blue eye。 The special desire had left its mark, which she was still thinking about in 1960s when ‘the Black is beautiful movement’ worked to reclaim African-American beauty, she developed the story as her first novel and received many good reviews。
The Bluest Eye described the bluest tragedy of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove, who looked forward to possess a pair of enormous blue eyes。 She wanted nothing but her family’s love and other’s respect。 However, in the 20th century, the white beauty standard was predominant in American。 Blond hair and blue eyes were the symbol of beauty, because of which substantial numbers of black became sick and perverted。 Every day, Pecola thought that if she had a pair of beautiful blue eyes, her life and fate would be changed。 Father Cholly would not become drunk and violent to her mother。 Mother Pauline would not neglect her because of her ugly appearance。 Brother would not run away from home frequently。 Teachers and classmates would not laugh and poke fun at her。 Besides, what she hoped to did not bring any differences to her life。 When she was only ten years old, she was raped by her drunken father and unfortunately was pregnant。 She was brutally beaten by her mother, chucked out by school and rejected by peers。 Everyone around her started giving her funny looks and even looked down upon her。 What she was experiencing made her depressed and had a serious nervous breakdown。 She indulged in fantasy that she was a beloved girl and had a pair of lovely blue eyes。
As the publication of The Bluest Eye, it caused a sensation and became controversy due to the unique perspective and deep revelation of the special social phenomenon。 Black issue and racial discrimination are on the edge of the society, which become biting problems to be solved。
2。 Literature Review论文网
Toni Morrison is one of the most outstanding writers in the history。 Her literatures are related closely to the unique black history, tale and real life。 The Bluest Eye is published in 1970 under the background of black community, in which the hero Pecola lost herself in the dream of having a pair of blue eyes。 Morrison appeals the black community to unit together and reject to the strong white culture。 They should strengthen themselves to reserve black traditional culture。
There are many studies to both Toni Morrison and her great work The Bluest Eye in modern or ancient times, in china or abroad。 Next, I will introduce the current states in china and abroad。 Page Philip in Orders and Disorder in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye discussed that Morrison used flowers and nature as images which stressed the great result and influence of racial crimination and colonial culture。 In the soil which is lack of nutrition and full of sharp hostility, Afro-American people are lack of nutrition to develop and finally lost themselves。 In fact, Pecola is the tragedy of the whole black nation and the tragedy of American society。 Chinese reviewer Luo hong and Xu hui also made a comment on The Bluest Eye that the loss of black culture are the result of internal causes which is innate character and external causes。 In the black community, the black have a common sense of self-hatred。 They think they are born with ugliness。 Zheng Yurong also studied that, in fact, the different racisms are the pitiful tragedy of the hero in the novel。 Black people lose their natural culture and deny themselves in the process of identification with white strong culture which is also the root of tragedy。 They choose to leave far away from their own community and attempt to integrate into the white community。