The Bluest Eye
Social Norms
The characters in “The Bluest Eye” are exposed to social standards and norms. The book opens with an excerpt from the book “Dick and Jane”. This excerpt represents the perfect, ideal, suburban, white family. Each chapter in the book also begins with a quote from this book. This makes the lives of the black families in the book seem worse. The comparison of Dick and Jane’s family and life to that of the black families in the book demonstrates how the black families would compare themselves to the white families. The blacks in “The Bluest Eye” feel conflicted because their self-identity does not match up with society’s social norms. An example of this is when Geraldine does everything she can to be that same as white families. She straightens her hair, uses lotion so she does not become ashy, has a steady income, and keeps in house in exceptional shape. But no matter how similar her life style is to theirs, she still does not feel as if she fits in because she knows she is black. This theme can be seen in everyday life when comparing the first and second floor cafeterias at Osbourn Park. It is more usual for white people to sit on the second floor while more colored people sit on the first floor. No one said the setup had to be that way, but it is normal for the students and it is what they are used to.
Effects Parents Have On Their Children
The black parents in the book believe they are ugly which makes them think that their children are ugly as well. They tell their children this when therefore causes the children to also believe that they are ugly. There are many examples of this in the book. For instance, Soaphead Church’s family wants to be white because they believe it will make them more worthy. This leads to Soaphead believing that blacks are dirty which is why he develops an obsession to white girls. Also, because Cholly did not grow up with either his mother or father he does not know what it is like to have a normal family. So, he does
The characters in “The Bluest Eye” are exposed to social standards and norms. The book opens with an excerpt from the book “Dick and Jane”. This excerpt represents the perfect, ideal, suburban, white family. Each chapter in the book also begins with a quote from this book. This makes the lives of the black families in the book seem worse. The comparison of Dick and Jane’s family and life to that of the black families in the book demonstrates how the black families would compare themselves to the white families. The blacks in “The Bluest Eye” feel conflicted because their self-identity does not match up with society’s social norms. An example of this is when Geraldine does everything she can to be that same as white families. She straightens her hair, uses lotion so she does not become ashy, has a steady income, and keeps in house in exceptional shape. But no matter how similar her life style is to theirs, she still does not feel as if she fits in because she knows she is black. This theme can be seen in everyday life when comparing the first and second floor cafeterias at Osbourn Park. It is more usual for white people to sit on the second floor while more colored people sit on the first floor. No one said the setup had to be that way, but it is normal for the students and it is what they are used to.
Effects Parents Have On Their Children
The black parents in the book believe they are ugly which makes them think that their children are ugly as well. They tell their children this when therefore causes the children to also believe that they are ugly. There are many examples of this in the book. For instance, Soaphead Church’s family wants to be white because they believe it will make them more worthy. This leads to Soaphead believing that blacks are dirty which is why he develops an obsession to white girls. Also, because Cholly did not grow up with either his mother or father he does not know what it is like to have a normal family. So, he does