The Bluest Eye: Spring

"Pauline felt uncomfortable with the few black women she met. They were amused by her because she did not straighten her hair. When she tried to make up her face as they did, it came off rather badly. Their goading glances and private snickers at her way of talking and dressing developed in her a desire for new clothes. When Cholly began to quarrel about the money she wanted, she decided to go to work. Taking jobs as a day worker helped with the clothes....the sad thing was that Pauline did not really care for clothes and makeup. She merely wanted other women to cast favorable glances her way. After several months of doing day work, she took a steady job in the home of a family of slender means and, nervous, pretentious ways. " (pg 118)

This section provides an in-depth view into Mrs. Breedlove's character, and turn, Pecola's, offering explantions as to why they both behave the way that they do. We learn that all Pauline wanted from the beginning was nothing more than to be accepted by those around her, which turns out to play a vital role in her outlook on life and her upbringing of Pecola. When we are first introduced to the Breedlove's we learn that they are "ugly," not only because society labels them ugly but also because of the ugliness bought upon by themselves. Pauline embraces this ugliness, knowing parts of her appearance such as her missing front tooth and her leg keep her from being truly "beautiful" like she sees in the girls in the movies.

Pauline therefore labels her second baby, Pecola, as ugly, which turns out to play a large role on the values she is bought up with. Pecola is never told by anyone, especially her mother, that she is beautiful, and is taught her whole life that she undesirable and will never attain the beauty she sees in the white girls around her. Not receiving any kind of love and or encouragement from her parents causes her to believe she is not worth sticking up for, one of the essential ways her character differs from that of Claudia and Frieda. Although strict, we know that their parents do at the least stand up for them, as we can see through their reaction to when Henry touches Frieda or when Claudia is sick at the beginning of the novel and all she remembers is "somebody with hands who does not want me to die." Pecola's mother, on the other hand, does the opposite, as she even pushes her daughter into the hot juice whenever Pecola burns herself rather than see if see is alright.

We see through the girls' different backgrounds why Pecola is so easily victimized while Claudia and Frieda have at least some self confidence--Pecola is never taught otherwise. Seeing her parents' constant abuse at home teaches her only fear, and it seems the only form of reassurance she does have in her life is that she receives from Claudia and Frieda.