The purpose of this thesis is to show the destruction of identity in The Bluest Eye. In order to find out how far Toni Morrison digests her own experiences in her first piece of work, it is important to have a closer insight into her biography. First of all, I will provide the reader with some basic information about the author and genesis of the work in order to find out how far Toni Morrison dwells on her past. It is necessary to reflect on the underlying reasons why Toni Morrison started writing The Bluest Eye, as her motivation reveals the emotional attachment she has to her work. Hence, The Bluest Eye is introduced. The primer depicts the main aspects around the Bluest Eye and how it deals with identity formation and the tremendous problem with the context of beauty. Subsequently, I will give a definition of social identity to lay the foundation and back my argumentation. In this context, the concept of beauty plays a major role. I will illustrate the difficult situation of black people in a dominant white culture and how some black characters in The Bluest Eye are developed as a result of this. After that, I will present a sociological view of this problem and describe how Morrison’s characters developed their identities by classifying them into categories. In my conclusion, I will discuss the main character’s identities and highlight the differences between the MacTeers and the Breedloves.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Autobiographical influences
3. Genesis of The Bluest Eye
4. The Bluest Eye
5. Primer
6. A definition of social identity
7. Unique identity: The self
8. Concept of beauty and its consequences
9. Blackness opposed to Whiteness
10. Black identity
10.1 Sages of identity development
10.2 [Black] identity in The Bluest Eye
11. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis examines the destruction of identity in Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye, exploring how the author integrates her own personal experiences and sentiments into her first major work. The research aims to analyze how dominant white beauty standards and social environments negatively impact the self-perception and identity formation of black characters, leading to fragmented lives and psychological distress.
- The intersection of autobiographical elements and fictional identity formation.
- The symbolic role of the "Dick-and-Jane" primer in presenting alien standards of beauty.
- Sociological and psychological frameworks for understanding black identity development.
- The antagonism between Blackness and Whiteness in 1940s American culture.
- The contrast between the Breedlove family and the MacTeer family in handling external societal pressure.
Excerpt from the Book
Concept of beauty and it’s consequences
Shirley Jane Temple, born in 1928 was the 1930s child film star and America’s littlest minstrel. She achieved iconic status and was loved throughout America. Her golden locks, blue eyes and pale skin were generally seen as an image of perfection. At the age of twelve years she had made 24 feature films already. Claudia resisted this ideal of beauty:
Frieda and she [Pecola] had a loving conversation about how cu-ute Shirley Temple was. I couldn’t join them in their adoration because I hated Shirley. Not because she was cute, but because she danced with Bojangles, who was my friend, my uncle, my daddy, and who ought to have been soft-shoeing it and chuckling with me (Morrison 13).
At a first glance Claudia seems to admit envy. Bojangles, Bill Robinson, was a black actor famous for his tap-dance. He was the first African-American male to appear on film dancing with a white girl – Shirley Temple. But then Claudia goes on:
Younger than both Frieda and Pecola, I had not yet arrived at the turning point in the development of my psyche which would allow me to love her. What I felt at that time was unsullied hatred. But before that I had felt a stranger, more frightening thing than hatred for all the Shirley Temples of the world. (Morrison 13)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the thesis goal to show the destruction of identity in the novel by exploring Morrison’s biography and the novel's thematic focus on beauty and social identity.
2. Autobiographical influences: This section investigates how Morrison’s own life in Lorain, Ohio, and her personal sentiments shaped the setting and character dynamics in her work.
3. Genesis of The Bluest Eye: This chapter details the origin of the novel from a short story written for a writer’s group to a full-length novel exploring the black point of view.
4. The Bluest Eye: This section analyzes the novel as a reflection on identity formation, focusing on the distorted self-perceptions caused by dominant white culture.
5. Primer: This chapter discusses the use of the "Dick-and-Jane" primer to illustrate how standard, often exclusionary, white cultural values were taught to children.
6. A definition of social identity: This chapter provides a theoretical foundation by defining social identity through the lens of social psychology.
7. Unique identity: The self: This section explores how self-identity is formed through interactions with parents and broader society.
8. Concept of beauty and its consequences: This chapter examines the societal obsession with perfection embodied by Shirley Temple and its impact on the protagonist.
9. Blackness opposed to Whiteness: This section discusses the historical and social antagonism created when Blackness is defined by white-centric standards.
10. Black identity: This chapter covers the terminology and theoretical frameworks regarding racial identity and collective consciousness.
10.1 Sages of identity development: This section details the "NRID" model, explaining the stages a person progresses through to develop a healthy racial identity.
10.2 [Black] identity in The Bluest Eye: This section applies identity theories to the characters Claudia and Pecola, analyzing their different responses to their environment.
11. Conclusion: The thesis concludes that the lack of a loving family environment is the central factor in the destruction of identity, rather than just societal pressure.
Keywords
Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, Black identity, Racial identity development, Beauty standards, Social identity, Identity formation, African-American family, Whiteness, Blackness, Self-loathing, Cultural assimilation, Psychological trauma, Literature, Sociology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of this research paper?
The thesis aims to analyze the destruction of identity in Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye by investigating the connection between the author's biography and the characters' struggles with societal beauty standards.
What are the main thematic fields discussed?
The paper covers the impact of white beauty ideals, the role of the nuclear family as a societal model, and the psychological process of racial identity development in black individuals.
Which theoretical approach is used to analyze identity?
The paper employs social psychology concepts, particularly the "NRID" (Nigrescence or racial identity development) model, to classify characters into stages of identity growth.
How is the "Dick-and-Jane" primer used in the novel?
The primer serves as a symbol for white, middle-class norms that were imposed upon black children, highlighting the dissonance between these standards and the reality of their lives.
What is the core argument regarding the destruction of identity?
The author argues that while societal standards play a major role, the fundamental destruction of identity primarily stems from a lack of maternal and paternal nurturing within the family.
Which character serves as a primary contrast to Pecola?
Claudia MacTeer is used as a contrast, as her strong family connection and self-assurance allow her to navigate the societal pressure of white beauty standards differently than Pecola.
Why does the title use the term "Eye" as a homophone?
The term "Eye" is analyzed as a homophone for "I," emphasizing that the quest for "bluest eyes" is fundamentally a quest for a new sense of "I" or self-identity.
How does the "doll test" relate to the novel's themes?
The reference to the Kenneth and Mamie Clark doll test illustrates how societal conditioning leads black children to internalize negative perceptions of their own racial identity.
- Citar trabajo
- Patrick Ellrott (Autor), 2009, Black Identity in Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263949
