A Run Under the Bluest Sky

While reading Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, understanding the role beauty plays in society seems unfathomable. Pecola seems to be caught victim of societal beauty standards as she is constantly praying to fit in, wishing for those "pretty blue eyes". Pecola tries to do everything in her power to try and literally consume beauty. She "eat[s] the candy... eat[s] the eyes.. eat[s] Mary Jane... love[s] Mary Jane... [tries to] be Mary Jane". She also tries to get every chance to drink milk out of the Shirley Temple cup, once again trying to just consume beauty. However, because she doesn't have the stereotypical blue eyes and blonde hair she feels she'll never be beautiful. Her race also plays a factor, as it's assumed to be an ugly race, which they've just accepted. This shows how her Pecola's life has been confined by beauty standards, and she has no control over her own beauty.

When Maureen Peal is introduced, her impact is shown immediately. The reader sees the stark contrast between the treatment of whites vs blacks, and how Maureen's race allows her to be more beautiful.

Beauty being such an abstract topic, has been socially constructed. People no longer try to find the beauty within themselves, rather they try to conform and change to the standards society draws. As Toni Morrison talks about, being rejected for the way we look just leads to self-loathing. Our different features and unique traits should be what brings us together and makes us embrace each other rather than divide us. Race and beauty should be completely separate of each other; your race shouldn't define how beautiful you can be.