Volume I Special Issue I September 2021

Name of Author : Satheesh N, Dr. M Prabha Punniavathi

Title of the paper : Internalized White Ideal and the Traumatic Consequences in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye

Abstract: This paper aims to study the three characters Claudia, Pecola and Maureen in terms of their attitude and viewpoint towards themselves and at the same time how they view whiteness and what do they equate beauty with. Each of these three characters has her own way of finding meaning in their surroundings and what they experience in life. They relate themselves in a unique and peculiar way which brings about certain effects on their life and on their loved ones. The paper tries to present their lives one by one and in contrast in the context of racial segregation and colour consciousness. The paper finds that their lives are cautionary tales where the natural outcome is that the white ideal once internalized will have traumatic consequences shattering even the fragile and innocent. Likening beauty with whiteness can endanger and divide even communities. On this unyielding earth, blackness becomes ugliness and ugliness dirties those who fall for it from within. The uniqueness of the study is that the three characters are found to be symbolic representatives with universal relevance and implication. Their lives are something which we wouldnt want to touch like the shopkeeper, chase away like Geraldine or lead to abnormality as Pecola turns out to be at the end.

Keywords : White Ideal, Racial Segregation, Colour Consciousness, Traumatic, Abnormality

DOI :

Page Number : 182-184