Writing Resources
In The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison begins the novel with Pecola's coming to age her menarche and transition from prepubescence to womanhood The significance of her menstruation represents how she is now fertile and ready to create life Pecola's friends Claudia and Frieda will lose their innocence as they choose to help Pecola Pecola s life and the event of the death of her baby causing the marigolds unable to bloom and drove her towards insanity Pecola's pregnancy exposes the inhumanity and hatred in the hands of the African American community This community does not show empathy nor sympathy or offer her a helping hand Pecola's pregnancy isolates her from attending school and the rest of the children in her community She became the victim of slander and unwelcoming judgment by all Claudia and Freida observed and listened to adults conversations and discovered that most adults didn t share their heartache They were disgusted amused shocked outraged or even excited by the story But we listened for the one who would say Poor little girl or Poor baby but there was only head wagging where those words should have been
