While reading literature, it is crucial to recognize the importance of the messages stories provide as well as the perspectives characters offer the reader. “Stickeen” by John Muir and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison are both centered around the powerful perspectives of innocents. In both stories, certain youthful or naive characters have been able to encourage personal growth in their peers or elders, making their high value crucial in the stories. Due to their unique and fleeting perspective, children and innocents can teach their elders about the world.
In Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, the narrative voice of a young girl offers a unique and compelling perspective. Several parts of this novel are narrated by Claudia MacTeer, a ten …show more content…
His comparative essay looks closely at the writings of Morrison and Kincaid, analyzing the importance of many mechanisms, including girlhood, in the novels. In observing Claudia’s youth, Vasquez’s arguments further support the idea of the valuable youthful perspective. He discusses the significance of Claudia’s reaction upon receiving the little white doll and how it’s “desirability had escaped me, but apparently only me,” (Morrison 20). He illustrates how this scene “Alludes to the pervasive nature of a white aesthetic and the unique battle ground that Western visual culture represented for black women and girls. Although the uninformed are at peace with these golden idols, for the sensitive Claudia they literally make strange bedfellows,” (Vasquez 59). This observation gestures to ideas of black beauty in the community Claudia finds herself unable to thrive in. Throughout the novel, many characters find themselves severely emotionally or physically damaged due to tensions or sadness caused by poor self-image. These unfortunate interpretations of beauty have led characters to project their self-loathing onto other, more innocent characters. For example, Pauline Breedlove abuses her daughter for no wrongdoing of her own. She abuses her from the moment of her birth, defining her worth by calling her ugly. Although these youthful perspective are incredible and healthy, they are equally as impressionable. Claudia and Frieda are able to offer more understanding thoughts due to the nature of their upbringing; they have not been abused, therefore they have been able to flourish and develop into strong and bright individuals. As for Pecola, she is a passive and victimized character due to ample physical and emotional
In Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, the narrative voice of a young girl offers a unique and compelling perspective. Several parts of this novel are narrated by Claudia MacTeer, a ten …show more content…
His comparative essay looks closely at the writings of Morrison and Kincaid, analyzing the importance of many mechanisms, including girlhood, in the novels. In observing Claudia’s youth, Vasquez’s arguments further support the idea of the valuable youthful perspective. He discusses the significance of Claudia’s reaction upon receiving the little white doll and how it’s “desirability had escaped me, but apparently only me,” (Morrison 20). He illustrates how this scene “Alludes to the pervasive nature of a white aesthetic and the unique battle ground that Western visual culture represented for black women and girls. Although the uninformed are at peace with these golden idols, for the sensitive Claudia they literally make strange bedfellows,” (Vasquez 59). This observation gestures to ideas of black beauty in the community Claudia finds herself unable to thrive in. Throughout the novel, many characters find themselves severely emotionally or physically damaged due to tensions or sadness caused by poor self-image. These unfortunate interpretations of beauty have led characters to project their self-loathing onto other, more innocent characters. For example, Pauline Breedlove abuses her daughter for no wrongdoing of her own. She abuses her from the moment of her birth, defining her worth by calling her ugly. Although these youthful perspective are incredible and healthy, they are equally as impressionable. Claudia and Frieda are able to offer more understanding thoughts due to the nature of their upbringing; they have not been abused, therefore they have been able to flourish and develop into strong and bright individuals. As for Pecola, she is a passive and victimized character due to ample physical and emotional