International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Call for Paper Volume 7, Issue 1 (January-February 2025) Submit your research before last 3 days of February to publish your research paper in the issue of January-February.

Craving Blue: The Effect of Racism on Pecola Breedlove

Author(s) Kongkham Debina Devi
Country India
Abstract Toni Morrison wrote her first novel, The Bluest Eye in 1970. This novel was an enlargement of a short story she wrote for a writer’s workshop. It is about the negative aspect of white’s concept of beauty on the black psyche particularly on a young black female. In The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison delves into the complex interplay between racial identity and self-perception, particularly through the experiences of Pecola Breedlove. The novel examines how societal standards and systemic racism shape the identities of Black individuals, leading to internalized racism and a distorted sense of self-worth. Toni Morrison’s portrayal of Pecola serves as a powerful critique of the systemic racism that dehumanizes individuals and distorts their self-worth. This paper explores the profound effects of racism on Pecola Breedlove, the protagonist of the novel. Pecola's desire for blue eyes symbolizes her longing for beauty, acceptance, and love in a society that devalues her Black identity. Through an examination of her family dynamics and societal pressures, the study highlights how systemic racism and Eurocentric beauty standards profoundly shape Pecola’s self-perception. The paper also argues that Pecola’s struggle for identity is marked by internalized racism, leading to feelings of inadequacy and isolation.
Keywords Toni Morrison, African American women, racism, internalized racism, racialized beauty, isolation
Field Arts
Published In Volume 7, Issue 1, January-February 2025
Published On 2025-02-07
Cite This Craving Blue: The Effect of Racism on Pecola Breedlove - Kongkham Debina Devi - IJFMR Volume 7, Issue 1, January-February 2025. DOI 10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i01.36521
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i01.36521
Short DOI https://doi.org/g84fcc

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