Enlightened by Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye:
Length: 506 words (1.8 pages)
Rating: Red (FREE)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Enlightened by Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye
Over the course of our study of the American novel, we have experienced a kaleidoscope of components that help define it. We traveled back in time to learn what kinds of novels were being written and how they were being written. We were introduced to the likes of Harold Frederic's Theron Ware, Henry James's Dr. Sloper and Catherine, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's Blithedale Romance. We saw, through these novels and characters, how literature of the past affects literature of today.
We also read novels from various regions of North America. We had a glimpse of northern writers and their culture such as Alice Munro, and her stories of Canada. We sampled Willa Cather who gave us a taste of the early southwest through Father's Latour and Vaillant.
We read about different religious ideals, from Theron's Methodism to Father Latour's Catholicism, to Hazel Mote's The Church of Christ without Christ, to Jonah's (futuristic) Bokononism; each religion, in its own way, reflecting a different aspect of American religious zeal. And we have heard from a number of southern writers like O'Connor, Faulkner, and Porter. We begin, through characters like Miranda and Anse, to glimpse a southern language and way of living.
It seems only fitting now, that we be introduced to another element of the American novel: ethnic culture. The addition of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye is the perfect choice. Through the voices of her black characters, she reveals a broad spectrum of black culture during the 1930's and 1940's.
We get a glimpse of the middle class through Claudia and her family, who maintain a sense of dignity and pride. In the first chapter, she tells us, "Being a minority in both caste and class, we moved about anyway on the hem of life, struggling to consolidate our weaknesses and hang on, or to creep singly up into the major folds of the garment" (17).
We encounter the desperately poor through the Breedlove family, Cholly, Pauline, and Pecola, each choosing a different means to escape the harsh reality of their lives. For example, Pecola dreams of having blue eyes, then she would be accepted, loved, respected, and beautiful.
We are also introduced to the upwardly mobile black family of the 1940's through the women from the towns with names like Aiken, and Meridian, who "dust themselves with Cashmere Bouquet talc...and still call sex 'nookey', and have learned "how to get rid of the funkiness" (82, 83).
Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye drew me in to a radically different perspective of the world that I had not previously known, and I came away feeling humbly enlightened.
North America is composed of a vast group of ethnically diverse peoples, and African Americans are an integral part of our American heritage. It is important, then, if we are to get a full perspective of the American experience, that their voices be heard. It adds hue and texture to our understanding of the American novel.
Search for: [influenza epidemic] [techniques used] [wide web] [invisible man]
|
Important Note: If you'd like to save a copy of the
paper on your computer, you can COPY and PASTE it into your word
processor. Please, follow these steps to do that in Windows:
1. Select the text of the paper with the mouse and press Ctrl+C. Azete.com (the "Web Site") is produced by the "Company". The contents of this Web Site, such as text, graphics, images, audio, video and all other material ("Material"), are protected by copyright under both United States and foreign laws. The Company makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the Material or about the results to be obtained from using the Material. You expressly agree that any use of the Material is entirely at your own risk. Most of the Material on the Web Site is provided and maintained by third parties. This third party Material may not be screened by the Company prior to its inclusion on the Web Site. You expressly agree that the Company is not liable or responsible for any defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of other subscribers or third parties. The Materials are provided on an as-is basis without warranty express or implied. The Company and its suppliers and affiliates disclaim all warranties, including the warranty of non-infringement of proprietary or third party rights, and the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. The Company and its suppliers make no warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the material, services, text, graphics and links. For a complete statement of the Terms of Service, please see our website. By obtaining these materials you agree to abide by the terms herein, by our Terms of Service as posted on the website and any and all alterations, revisions and amendments thereto. |
. One main difference between the two stories was the place in which the Martians landed first. In the book the Martians landed in England first, but in the movie the Martians landed in California. Another difference was the time period in which the stories took place. In the novel it was a few year...er. Hester Pryne displays her best qualities when she stands up to Governor Bellingham and his gang, when they confront her about her daughter Pearl. Hester is a woman that is well ahead of her time, she is vocal, proud, head-strong, and confident, in an age where women were to be seen and not heard...ding their buying habits when prices and availability of a given product fluctuates. The Law of Supply & Demand involves human behavior. It shows, graphically, the choices people make regarding their buying habits when prices and availability of a given product fluctuates. The Law of Supply ... J?ai fait mon stage pratique à mon école primaire du quartier, ce qui est à ?Hawkinge?. Mon stage a commencé le cinq juillet pour duex semaines jusqu?au sieze juillet. En générale je dirais que mon experience était très utile at inoubliable parce quelle était vraiment agréable. ...