During the course of reading the novel, I had noticed that many of the characters experienced a self hatred. This self hatred stemmed from not being accepted by society. In order to alleviate this, they believed that making themselves somehow white would be the answer. One of the characters who possessed such hatred was Pecola. From the beginning of the novel, it was evident that she was unhappy with herself. She believed that her unhappiness was related to her ugliness. Imagining if she could only have blue eyes, Pecola assumed that all her problems would be gone. Moreover, I believe that she not only wanted to have blue eyes but to be white. Along with this wishful thinking, her infatuation with Shirley Temple and wanting to eat Mary Jane candies exemplifies her longing to be white, and thus be accepted by society. To be white was considered perfection and to Pecola being white would give her happiness she so desperately needed. Another character who displayed self hatred was Mrs. Breedlove. She too felt that she was ugly. Influenced by the movies, she tried to emulate the likes of white women such as Jean Harlow. As with Pecola, Mrs. Breedlove found that being white was that gold standard. With that notion she assimilated herself into white culture. Her work in the Fisher house illustrates this. Just being in the presence of white people gave Mrs. Breedlove meaning to her life. Furthermore, these characters desired acceptance and being white was the only way to do so.
2 comments:
I agree with your comment that they have self hatred for not being perfect and lacking what it takes to be popular or accepted in their society. Pecola took her self hatred to a higher degree in actually wanting the prettiest blue eyes and being white. She also added that nobody ever asked her what she wanted for Christmas because they did not pay attention to her, adding to her desire for blue eyes. She felt the blue eyes would make people stop and notice her and listen to what she had to say. One person not mentioned who exemplifies this motif of self hatred is Cholly. He seems to be a shameful man, making it difficult for the reader to take pitty upon him, like we do for Pecola. Cholly shows his self hatred by taking it out on others around him. Ever since the incident in the woods regarding the two white men poking fun of him, he has taken his hatred out on other people. I feel that as the novel went on it became harder to sympathize and find the charm in Cholly.
It is interesting that Pecola is able to consume beauty though not until she has blue eyes does she feel beautiful.
"A picture of little Mary Jane, for whom candy is named. Smiling white face. Blond hair in gentle disarray, blue eyes looking at her out of a world of clean comfort...To eat the candy is to somehow eat the eyes, eat Mary Jane. Love Mary Jane. Be Mary Jane" (50).
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