The Bluest Eye

At one point in the novel, the narrator states that romantic love and physical beauty are "[p]robably the most destructive ideas in the history of human thought" (122). How do ideas about beauty, especially Eurocentric ones, serve as destructive forces in the lives of the characters? Do you agree with this statement? Use evidence from the novel to support your position.

Morrison introduces the Dick and Jane primers at the start of the novel and returns to remixed versions of them throughout the novel. Discuss the function of the primers in the novel. 

Discuss the representation of African-American women and girls in the novel. What archetypes of black female identity does Morrison portray in the novel? What impact do race and gender have on the lives of the women and girls in the novel? 

The Breedloves are described throughout the novel as “ugly” (38), and their ugliness seems to transcend mere lack of physical attractiveness. What makes the Breedloves ugly?

Morrison eschews typical divisions such as chapters and numbered sections in the novel and instead chooses to use a cycle of seasons to organize the work. Discuss the impact of this choice on the structure of the novel. How does Morrison represent each season, and how does this use of the seasons and the natural world reinforce the central themes of the novel?

Ultimately, many individuals play a role in Pecola's fate. Who do you believe plays the greatest role in her insanity at the end of the novel? Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

Discuss the role of popular culture as represented in the films Pauline watches, the Shirley Temple tea set, and white dolls. What role do these images and objects play in how the characters see themselves? 

Claudia concludes near the end of the novel that "[l]ove is never better than the lover" (206). Explain what you take this quote to mean, and use evidence from the novel to support your discussion.