The Bluest Eye is a complex book – disturbing yet relatively easy to read. Toni Morrison adds complexity to the hidden depth of the text by playing with the narrative structure. Throughout the book, the author presents a series of point of views, taking turns in narrating the story. However, by the end of the book, the reader is left uncertain about the actual main character. Pecola Breedlove, despite never being the narrator, appears to be both the constant victim and the main character of the story.
Many readers may interpret the book as Claudia MacTeer’s story since she is the main narrator. However, everything she narrates is directly connected to Pecola’s life. Claudia begins by describing the home environment she lives in, which eventually becomes the place where Pecola comes to live and the impact they have on each other. The presence of Pecola suggests her future desire for blue eyes by highlighting her fascination with Shirley Temple, a beautiful white girl. Claudia then proceeds to discuss various stories and descriptions of the environment in which Pecola lives in her own home. She vividly describes the dilapidated store where the Breedlove family resided and the deplorable condition of their furniture, reflecting the Breedloves’ family background. Whether Claudia or an unknown third person narrator is speaking, they brutally depict the unsettling environment within Pecola’s home.
The situation involved a fight between Cholly and Polly, where they showed little hesitation or thought. The brief narration also shows how these actions affected Pecola. Claudia’s experiences are closely connected to Pecola’s life through the events involving Maureen Peal. Initially, Claudia sees Maureen as her own enemy, but later Maureen becomes a part of Pecola’s life and shares her perspective on the “ugly child.” Maureen is fascinated by Pecola and represents one of the many characters who looked down on her. Through the perspectives of Claudia, the third person, and the characters Cholly and Polly, their actions have a significant impact on the story.
The main story of the Cholly and Polly originates from the concept of springtime symbolizing the emergence of new love. In this chapter, their love is meticulously portrayed, showcasing their personal growth. Instead of merely being a secondary character narrative, the roots of Cholly and Polly can be viewed as an explanation for Pecola and her circumstances, consequently elevating her status as the central character. From Cholly’s infancy, he was deserted, leading him to abandon his own existence in pursuit of his father. The cruelty inflicted upon Cholly by his father significantly influenced his future and adulthood. Devoid of a paternal figure, Cholly lacked the knowledge to fulfill that role, ultimately contributing to Pecola’s psychological downfall.
Throughout her childhood, Polly embodied the role of a housewife, nursing dreams of meeting her prince and experiencing a blissful existence. She thought she had found her prince in Cholly, who showed care for her lame foot. However, as their relationship encountered difficulties, Polly started displacing her anger for Cholly onto their children. Consequently, the Breedlove household soon became consumed by hatred, with Pecola bearing the brunt of this hostility, despite her innocence. Throughout the duration of the book, various characters projected their animosity and insecurities onto the vulnerable Pecola.
By the end of the book, Pecola becomes the scapegoat of the entire town. The people say, ‘She be lucky if it don’t live. Bound to be the ugliest thing walking. Can’t help but be. Ought to be a law: two ugly people doubling up like that to make more ugly. Be better off in the ground.’ (pg.189-90) Despite being seen in both negative and positive light, Pecola remains the main character who the story belongs to. She is the focus of the story, and the town uses her to feel better about themselves by looking down upon her.
Despite her lack of a narrative role in the story, Pecola remains the main character. The author deliberately uses a narrative structure that confuses the reader about the main character’s identity. This strategy effectively portrays Pecola as a character who is not personally known but can easily be loved or hated. If Pecola herself were to narrate her experiences, they would carry less meaning because she is a complete and total victim and therefore an unreliable narrator to depict the true circumstances of the story. By making it difficult for readers to determine the main character, the author aims to keep them as observers and elicit more empathy for Pecola. Throughout the book, the reader consistently pities Pecola’s innocence.
