To Kill A Mockingbird Essays: White Girls And Blue Eyes

Finally, after the subjugation delivered by her family, peers, and adults, Pecola is faced with the brutal reality of living in a corrupt society, one in which the white standard will always trump the black. On a day to day basis, Pecola experiences “brainwashing [through means of] surreal literary representations, idealized dolls, and the media” (Vasquez). This transforms into an endless battle for Pecola, one in which she can either stand up for her own cultural African-American beliefs or align her life to the unattainable expectations inflicted by society. Unfortunately for Pecola, she decides upon the latter alternative, quickly developing an untamable fascination with white girls with blue eyes. This is evident when Pecola visits Mr. Yacobowski’s shop to purchase Mary Jane candies, with the belief that “to eat the candy is somehow to eat the [blue] eyes” (Morrison 50) of the sweet white girl on the wrapper. …show more content…
On another occasion, Pecola develops a preoccupation with Shirley Temple, drinking more milk just so she can look with awe at the image of Shirley Temple on the mug (Morrison 23). This suggests Pecola’s recognition of the white ideal in society as well as her belief that she, like everyone else, must admire the white people that society greatly upholds. Pecola’s wish for blue eyes represents her yearning to be loved by society as the white girls are. However, Pecola soon acknowledges that she will never fulfill this ideal, which, in turn, has a devastating effect on her self-esteem, maintaining her on the path to inevitable destruction