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In the novel The Bluest Eyes, the author Toni Morrison writes a tragedy about the
struggles of young black girls during the early 1900s. By using literary devices, Morrison uses
the motifs such as the seasons, Pecolas obsession with blue eyes, and the Dick and Jane primer
to portray how whiteness is defined as a standard of beauty. This unattainable trait makes black
women self-loathing and unable to love themselves.
In The Bluest Eyes, the novel is broken up into four season. The irony behind using the
seasons as markers is that every season is the exact opposite of what its normally associated
with. When the spring a season begins, Claudia says, Even now spring for me is shot through
with the remembered ache of switchings , and forsythia holds no cheer. (Morrison 97) the irony
behind this statement is that spring is often associated with renewal and rejuvenation For
Claudia spring means something negative, although its nice outside and the flowers are
blooming. Also during the fall, Pecola has argue the worst time of her life. This is when her rape
happens. Speaking on the rape, Claudia says, We had dropped our seeds in our own little plot of
black dirt just as Pecolas father had dropped his seeds in his own plot of black dirt. (Morrison
6) This does not reflect the essence of spring. After spring comes autumn and that did not go
any better for Pecola. Fall is considered the month of harvest for most but for Pecola, she lost her
baby. Claudia felt sympathetic towards Pecola. Reflecting on her friendship Claudia says, We
saw her sometimes. Frieda and I- aft5er the baby came too soon and died. After the gossip and
the slow wagging of heads. She was soo sad to see. (Morrison 204) This doesnt sound like
harvest; Pecolas baby was stillborn. The author Toni Morrison used these examples to
emphasize how their lives arent picture perfect as its supposed to be.
In the beginning of the novel, Toni Morrison uses an excerpt from the Dick and Jane
primer. Morrison uses this to contrast the lives of White America, the MacTeers, and the

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Breedloves. Dick and Jane represents a white, middle class family. In the first version of the
excerpt, the writing is flawless and free of grammatical errors. It is correct and clear. The second
version although is essentially saying the same thing, it visually looks different It is
comprehendible but it doesnt actually use the proper capitalization or punctuation. The third
version, just like the predecessors, in in the same wording. The problem is that is is all together,
one long paragraph made exclusively of letters. These three versions represent three alternate
lifestyles. The first is clearly the middle class white family. It is prim and proper. The second
version represents the MacTeer family. Claudia and Frieda, shaped by poor parents, are trying to
escape the poverty. The third version represents the Breedloves. It is written in complete chaos. It
is incredibly difficult to understand just like their lives. Morrison uses this to contrast the lives of
three very different families.
Throughout the novel, Pecola hints at an obsession towards blue eyes. She believes that
having a characteristic almost exclusively found in white people will change how others see her.
As a black girl growing up in the 1940s, Pecolas association of beauty with whiteness isnt
uncommon. Morrison uses the blue eyes to represent a controversial issue in the black
community. Pecola symbolizes Shirley Temples whiteness and blue eyes as an icon of beauty.
Pecola loved Shirley Temple, so she tried to see her face as much as she could. We knew she
was fond of the Shirley Temple cup and took every opportunity to drink milk out of it just to
handle and see sweet Shirleys face. (Morrison 26) Claudia, who narrates, doesnt understand
Pecolas love for Shirley Temple. To Pecola it makes sense though. Shirley Temple symbolizes
white beauty, something Pecola desperately wants her eyes to be blue, so much in fact, that she
visits a man who she believes can help her. When she explains why she wants her eyes blue, she
says, I cant go to school no more. And I thought maybe you could help me. (Morrison 174)

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Pecola reveals that her obsession with blue eyes isnt self-driven. She mentions her classmates
who have bullied her into visiting this man to change her eyes. This symbolizes a flaw in the
black community. During this time, black people put blue eyes on a pedestal because it
symbolizes whiteness. This brings up an issue about superiority. By having dark skin and black
eyes Pecola feels inferior to her peers. Many black women experience this feeling of inferiority
to white people and just as Pecola, they never accept themselves for who they are. This explains
why Morrison chose the tittle The Bluest Eyes.
In conclusion, the author Toni Morrison uses literary devices such as symbolism and
irony to emphasize motifs such as the seasons, the Dick and Jane primer, and Pecolas desire for
blue eyes in The Bluest Eye. Toni Morrison brings up controversial issues such as whiteness and
standards of beauty to educate the black community of their irrational expectations.