Never Blue Enough

During the few days that Pecola had her "bluest eyes" (203), she was undoubtedly in a state of ecstasy. The conversation she had with Claudia represents an existential debate over the meaning of happiness, beauty, and love. They question the source of joy when Pecola asked:

"But suppose my eyes aren't blue enough?

Blue enough for what?

Blue enough for . . . I don't know. Blue enough for something. Blue enough . . . for you" (203)!

Pecola considers a happiness dependent on external components. In her comparisons, and search for certainty that her eyes are, indeed, the blues eyes, she loses herself, only to find that "the horror at the heart of her yearning is exceeded only by the evil of fulfillment" (204). Here we see a Hinduist component of the novel, where the journey is the destination, and dreams remain dreams. Soaphead Church never achieves to become a clergyman, just as Pecola remained without public appreciation, and Pauline Breedlove never encountered her ideal mate or home. This novel is littered with disappointment, and yet, curiously, some characters possess joy. The three whores, for instance, live without guilt or worry. This made me question what type of personality is needed to attain unconditional happiness.

This is a novel with many erotic scenes of varied nature. None of them are conventional, for we see Cholly and Mrs. Breedlove sustain violent acts of love, Soaphead Church display controversial sexual tendencies, Cholly suffer an unfortunate childhood experience involving an untimely flashlight, and Geraldine feel obligated to indulge in repulsive interactions with her husband, which contrasts to the fetish focused on her pet. We can conclude that "love is never any better than the lover" (205). This is a realistic (cynic?) line, for it removes love from the pedestal it holds in the emotional pyramid. It is usually coupled with the idealistic hope of a "perfect love". Being based on the lover, who is undoubtedly imperfect, love becomes an imperfect sentiment.

Beauty: A highly controversial concept throughout the ages. My sister is currently working on a semester-long research paper on the perceptions of beauty and how culture, religion, and environment shape its definition. I will not tire my readers with an extensive discussion on this matter, but I will say this: By the end of the novel, Morrison emphasizes the vagueness and pointlessness of some of mankind's fiercest quests; those of perfect love, happiness, and beauty.