The Bluest Eye

1. The Bluest Eye Pages: 22 - 23 We trooped in…I didn’t know

2. Cultural Context • “‘my man,’ who before leaving me, would love me” • The songs that Mrs. Macteer often sings refer to a man leaving his wife, in the context of the play it would often happen that a man would impregnate a woman and then leave. After hearing all of her mother’s songs Claudia now believes that this will happen to her. • “my man” represents the unnamed man of Claudia’s future, the lack of name shows how the “man” might not play a large role in Claudia’s life

3. Pecola’s Newfound Respect I • “little-girl-gone-to-woman pants” • Pecola’s “pants” are proof she has become a woman • “little-girl” represents what Pecola was before the incident • “gone” shows that Pecola will never stay as a “little-girl” ever again • “woman” illustrates the difference that now stands between Pecola and the MacTeer girls

4. Pecola’s Newfound Respect II • “full of awe and respect for Pecola” • “awe and respect” help to emphasize the distance that now exists be tween the two girls and Pecola • “She, herself, felt the distance” • All of the girls feel the separation that has come between the three. • Pecola herself even feels as though she is now higher than the girls.

5. Pecola’s Shock • “she prodded Pecola inside” • “prodded” infers that Pecola is in a state of shock and is being controlled by Mrs. Macteer. • “Her voice was hollow with wonder” • The metaphor “voice was hollow” illustrates the quietness and lack of meaning in her words, showing that Pecola is still in shock

6. Mrs. Macteer • “over its gushing…the music of my mother’s laughter” • “music” illustrates that Mrs. Macteer doesn’t laugh often but when she does it sounds like music and is very enjoyable for the girls to hear • “laughter” connotes the happiness that Claudia is missing out on and Pecola has gained after becoming a woman who is ministratin’ • “over its gushing” proves that over everything that has happened “laughter” still prevails, showing happiness is the most important aspect of life

7. Claudia’s Naivety • “think she’s going to drown her?” • Of course Mrs. Macteer wasn’t going to drown Pecola, Morrison’s use of “drown” within the context shows how Claudia doesn’t know what is going on in the situation • “a real person, who was really ministratin’ ” • Repetition of “real” shows how Claudia does not believe that the incident has happened

8. Foreshadowing • “maybe that’s why the women are sad: the men left before they could make a baby” • This phrase connotes that Pecola will be sad in the future, because Pecola is unable to make a baby and her father runs away from the family.

9. Pecola needs…

10. Somebody to Love… • “how do you get somebody to love you?” • Pecola is still naïve and believes that there is an actual method to getting somebody to love you • “how” connotes that Pecola is aware of her ugliness and that she will be unable to get somebody to lover her.

11. Reason for the passage • The inclusion of this passage:Shows how Pecola now as a woman is now above the Macteer girlsEmphasizes Clauida’snaïvetyForeshadows the future of the three girlslinks to the cultural context