9.

Pecola Breedlove is the protagonist of The Bluest Eye.  Although the story revolves around her, she remains a mysterious character-passive and rarely speaking.  The reason Pecola’s story is told from every point of view besides her own is to keep her dignity.  This also shows how she literally has no power or input in her situation and the horrid events that happen in her life.  By not giving Pecola a voice, Morrison is able to keep her readers from believing they understand Pecola completely and labeling her when they do not have the full story. Throughout the entire story Pecola is constantly being destroyed emotionally and physically.  To escape this unvarying violence, Pecola is forced further and further into her fantasy world where having blue eyes will fix all her hardships. Although this is obviously impossible, this is her only defense against the pain of her existence.  From Pecola’s point of view, and what she has witnessed in her life, support the fact that people with white skin blue eyes do not suffer as she does.  The reason society and even her family members and other members of her own race victimize her repeatedly is to escape their own self-hatred.  An example of this is when she is in the school yard getting picked on by her fellow African American classmates.  “They danced a macabre ballet around the victim, whom, for their own sake, they were prepared to sacrifice to the flaming pit.” (65)  Morrison uses this quote to demonstrate Pecola’s ugliness has made them feel beautiful and her silence has given them the opportunity to speak. She becomes a reminder of human cruelty and an emblem of human suffering.