Racism and Sexism in the Bluest Eye Essay -- American Literature Toni

Toni Morrison, the author of The Bluest Eye, centers her novel around twain things beauty and wealth in their relation to race and a uncivilized rape of a young girl by her father. Morrison explores and exposes these themes in relation to the underlying factors of black society racialism and sexism. Every character has a problem to deal with and it involves racial discrimination and/or sexism. Whether the characters are the victim or the aggressor, they coffin nail do nonhing about their problem or condition, in particular when concerning sexuality and race. Morrisons characters are clearly at the mercy of preconceived notions master(prenominal)tained by society. Because of these preconceived notions, the racism found in The Bluest Eye is not whites against blacks. Morrison writes about the racism of precipitateer colored blacks against darker colored blacks and rich blacks against scurvy blacks. Along with racism within the black community, sexism is exemplified both aga inst women and against men. As Morrison investigates the racism and sexism of the community of Lorain, Ohio, she gives the reader more perspective as to why reliable characters do or say certain things.Morrison provides the reader with a white black character whose racist attitudes affect the poorer, darker blacks in the community, especially the main characters, Claudia MacTeer and Pecola Breedlove. Maureen Peal comes from a rich black family and triggers admiration along with resent in every child at school, including Claudia. Although Maureen is light-skinned, she embodies everything that is considered white, at least by Claudias standards Patent leather shoes with buckles...fluffy sweaters the color of lemon drops tucked into skirts with pleats... bright colored knee socks with white borders, a brown ... ...m or retire from him. It should be understood that Morrisons novel is filled with many characters and many examples of racism and sexism and the foundations for such be liefs in the black community. Every character is the victim or an aggressor of racism of sexism in all its forms. Morrison succeeds in shedding light on the racism and sexism the black community had to endure on top of the inning of racism and sexism outside of the community. She shows that racism and sexism affect everyones preconceived notions regarding race and gender and how powerful and prevalent the notions are. Within the community, racism affects how peoples views of beauty and skin can be skewed by others racist thoughts sexism shapes everyone in the communitys reactions to different forms of rape. plant CitedMorrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Afterward by Toni Morrison. New York Penguin, 2004.