Mary Jane :: essays research papers

bloody shame JaneA good book is one that you cannot free thinking about. For days after you finish it, you will catch yourself castle in the air about it. That is what The Bluest kernel did to me. I cant say that I liked the novel, because I didnt. It left me with an empty, horrified feeling in the rock of my stomach a realization of how sharp the populace can be. I believe that this was Toni Morrisons goal for this book. She didnt want me to feel in all warm and cozy when I finished. She didnt want me to like The Bluest Eye she wanted me to learn from it. I learned about a youngsters understanding, how people can react differently to a harsh environment, the importance of etiolated symbols in a black girls life, and what could possess adults to do horrible things to helpless children. In short, I learned about the world. Claudia narrated intimately of the book, though the story is importantly about Pecola. Claudia and her sister, Fridea, argon, in all circumpolar ways, exactly like Pecola. They are poor, black girls in a world where only white is beautiful and good. The difference is that Claudia and Fridea could ignore society and excuse love themselves, but Pecola felt that she was worthless because of her black features.The world rough Claudia, Fridea, and Pecola is filled with symbols of whiteness. The first thing that is brought to our attention is the elementary school readers, where the main characters are Dick and Jane. Dick and Jane are perfect white children and they peppy in a perfect, white, cheery, loving, world. Morrison concentrates on this at the beginning of every chapter to guide focus on the life that Pecola wants to live. This establishes the theme of white domination everywhere the culture. Pecola worshipped Shirley Temple. While she was at the Macteers she couldnt get tolerable white milk, which she drank out of a Shirley Temple cup. She also loved Mary Jane candies because Each pale yellow wrapper had a picture on it. A picture of little Mary Jane, for whom the candy is named. Smiling white face. Blond hair in gentle disarray, blue eyes smell at her out of a world of clean comfort. The eyes are petulant, mischievous. To Pecola they are simply pretty. She eats the candy, and its sweetness is good. To eat the candy is in some manner to eat the eyes, eat Mary Jane.