Self-Hatred In The Bluest Eye

Self-hatred in the Bluest Eye

After reading the Bluest Eye, the readers will be impressed by the atmosphere of depression and anxiety. One main reason for that is the self-hatred in the story, which is the black people's common psychological condition.

Almost each black people in the story have the feeling of self-hatred. And the self-hatred deep inside their heart usually revealed in different indirect ways. For instance, Claudia could not help dismembering and destroying the doll with blue eyes and blonde hair because she thought herself was ugly and don't have the beautiful things the doll have. Pecola felt guilty that it's her ugly appearance, in her opinion, that made her brother not take her when he ran away when their parents were fighting.

I think the reason for the self-hatred existing widely in black people's mind is the influence of the white people. When the black people are experiencing the direct oppression, they are internally influence by white people. As Pauline, influenced by the Hollywood movies, accepted the Hollywood idealized representations of absolute beauty and then began to judge beauty based on these standards. Overwhelmed by the strong influence of white people, black people was gradually effected by white people's values till they totally unwarily accepted them. Then they judge everything including things about black people themselves by the white people's standards. But according to white people's values, many things in black people didn't conform. Then the problem is caused. From the white people's point of view, black people regard themselves abnormal. They considered them self ugly, evil. Self-hatred is finally caused. This is how Claudia hated herself and released it on the toll after comparing herself and the white beauty ideal.

Self-hatred does have a deep affect on black people's mind and behaviors and