The Bluest Eye: Summer

“But suppose. Suppose a long way off. In Cincinnati, say, there is somebody whose eyes are bluer than mine? Suppose there are two people with bluer eyes? So what? You asked for blue eyes. You got blue eyes. He should have made them bluer” (202-203).

Toward the end of the last section of the book, it is revealed to the reader that Pecola has been granted her wish of blue eyes. This excerpt is from the conversation Pecola has with what seems to be an imaginary friend. For pages, Pecola goes on and on about her new eyes. However, her obsession and external joy seems to be veiling her true uncertainty and perhaps discontent with the results of her dream come true. At first, she seems to be bragging about her blue eyes and even accuses her friend of being jealous. This, I believe is the denial stage of the conversation. She is denying to herself that perhaps these blue eyes she wanted so badly, are not going to bring her true happiness. She is finally like Shirley Temple, like Maureen Peel, like the little white girl her mother cares for so dearly, yet she still seeks reassurance. She needs to know, to be told by someone else, that her eyes are beautiful and better than all of the other blue eyes. Throughout her conversation, she becomes less and less sure of her blue eyes. She starts to question whether she is the only one who has them. If not, are blue eyes enough? Now, instead of blue eyes, Pecola wants the bluest eyes, saying, “He should have made them bluer.” She is now taking this incredible gift for granted and deems her blue eyes not enough. Will anything ever be enough?

This is a perfect illustration of the old saying, “the grass is always greener.” As humans, we always want what we don’t have and we always think that when we get it we will find true happiness. Morrison makes an important point that human nature is naïve. Pecola is naïve in thinking that eye color will make her beautiful and accepted. Her innocence is shown in her belief that a dream can become reality and remain dreamlike. It is as if blue eyes will ensure that she will never be left again, that her mother will love her, that she will have friends, etc. Pecola believed that with blue eyes, all the bad things would go away. This is a childlike concept, but I believe that Pecola learned it from her mother. Morrison is making an important point that parents influence their child whether they realize it or not. Pauline searches for acceptance and love in the family she works for, which she has made into her fantasy life. Pecola witnesses her mother’s happiness in the home she works in and with the daughter of the family. In turn, Pecola believes that making her dream come true will put her in the same world of happiness as her mother, the world of the pretty, blue-eyed white girl.

Q: Does Pauline realize that she does have an impact on Pecola? If so, is she capable of being a good role model for her?

-Amber Riley