How Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye Forces Us to Confront Beauty Standards

When I read, The Bluest Eye, it hit me hard, in ways I wasn’t ready for. Toni Morrison (1931-2019) didn’t just write a story; she wrote a mirror, holding up a reflection of the pain, the beauty standards, and the identity struggles that still resonate today. Morrison, an iconic American novelist, used her words to peel back the layers of race, identity, and the societal pressures that shape who we are or who we think we should be.

The story isn’t just about a young girl longing for blue eyes; it’s about how deeply society’s standards of beauty are embedded into our self-worth. Pecola Breedlove, the protagonist, represents a desperate desire to conform to these standards to find a sense of love and acceptance in a world that prioritizes whiteness above all else.

Her longing for blue eyes represents more than just an obsession with beauty; it shows how deeply ingrained white beauty ideals have pervaded different cultures. For her, blue eyes aren’t just about appearance; they are tied to the promise of love, acceptance, and the chance for a better life in a society that values whiteness above all else.

Image: CCAC North Library

Pecola’s tragic yearning forces us to question why beauty is so often associated with skin color, and why these standards continue to have such a powerful influence over how we see ourselves and determine our worth.

"I want them blue eyes... I want 'em blue."— Pecola Breedlove, The Bluest Eye

The above heartbreaking line reveals the depth of Pecola's internalized racism and the extent to which she believes her worth is defined by these unattainable beauty standards. Morrison's novel is a stark reminder of how societal norms around beauty can shape, distort, and even destroy lives.

The Weight of Beauty We’re Taught to Bear

The exploration of beauty in The Bluest Eye is more than just a critique of the obvious racial divisions within society; it’s a piercing look at how these divisions affect how we see ourselves. In Pecola’s case, beauty isn’t just about looks; it’s about survival. The desire for blue eyes is an expression of something much deeper, the need for acceptance, love, and validation in a world that constantly tells her she doesn’t measure up.

Morrison’s critique is sharp and unapologetic. The Breedlove family is caught in a cycle of self-hate and marginalization. Pauline (Pecola’s mother) believes that white beauty is the ultimate form of happiness and stability. She’s conditioned to think that adopting these standards is a path to self-worth, but this only perpetuates a cycle of damage. Her belief in white beauty leads her to neglect her own children, feeding into the very notions that destroy Pecola’s sense of identity.

On the other hand, Morrison’s powerful critique of the world’s obsession with white beauty is reflected in Claudia's character, a striking contrast. She resists the pressure to conform and instead rejects the white dolls and images that everyone around her adores.

"I recall a picture in a magazine of a winter scene with a black, velvet-skinned woman in a fur coat standing under the lamps of a white, horse-drawn sleigh. The woman was blindingly beautiful, and what kept me glued to the picture was that she was not holding the sleigh's reins, but a whitened blonde doll about my own size."

— Claudia, The Bluest Eye

Claudia’s reflection on this image shows how pervasive the idea of white beauty is. She doesn’t just see the doll or the fur coat — she sees the degradation of her own identity in the glorification of whiteness. The weight of these beauty standards, and the impact they have on African American girls, is heavy and far-reaching.

When the Enemy Lives in the Mirror

Perhaps the most haunting aspect of The Bluest Eye is the internalized racism that plagues Pecola. She doesn’t just wish for blue eyes; she believes they would make her lovable. Her sense of worth is tied to the idea that if she could look like the characters in the movies, she could escape the shame of being poor, dark-skinned, and unwanted.

Image: Toni Morrison's Portrait

Morrison captures this devastating cycle of self-hate, where societal standards become internalized and people of color begin to see their own beauty as something inferior. This internalized racism is perhaps one of the most damaging results of a society that holds up a singular, Eurocentric ideal as the standard.

As Pecola’s story unravels, we are forced to confront the painful truth that many people of color grow up believing they must transform themselves into something else entirely to be valued or accepted. Morrison doesn’t let us off the hook, she challenges us to examine the ways in which we perpetuate these damaging ideals.

"Each night, without fail, she prayed for blue eyes. Fervently, for a year she had prayed."

— The Bluest Eye

This quote encapsulates Pecola’s hopelessness — her belief that she is not worthy of love as she is. And that feeling, tragically, isn’t confined to her. It’s a reflection of how African Americans, particularly women, have been made to feel less-than because they don’t fit into the white beauty mold.

Where Beauty Wounds and Sometimes Heals

While Morrison’s critique of beauty standards is powerful, The Bluest Eye is not just a work of devastation. There is also healing in the narrative, even in its most painful moments. The very act of confronting these issues — of naming them and acknowledging their harmful effects — is an important step toward healing.

With characters like Claudia, Morrison shows that resistance to these beauty standards is possible. Claudia’s rejection of the white dolls represents a small but crucial act of self-affirmation. She refuses to accept a world that tells her she is ugly because she doesn’t fit a certain mold. Instead, she takes pride in her own identity and resists the internalized messages of inferiority that have been forced upon her.

In that sense, Morrison’s novel isn’t just about the damage caused by these standards — it’s also about the possibility of reclaiming beauty. By critically examining and questioning these ideals, characters in The Bluest Eye are able to resist their grip, and in doing so, find a sense of dignity and strength in their true selves.

Finally Seeing Ourselves Through Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye forces us to confront beauty standards in a way that is both uncomfortable and essential. The novel’s enduring strength lies in its ability to ignite an ongoing dialogue. It reminds us that beauty should never be confined to narrow ideals or defined by race. Instead, it’s expansive, inclusive, and ultimately ours to reshape.

Pecola’s heartbreaking journey calls us to action.

We must recognize how beauty standards have been weaponized and begin the work of dismantling them. The healing process starts with a single choice: questioning these imposed norms and reclaiming beauty for everyone — regardless of race, gender, or appearance. This story reflects the narratives we carry and those we continue to rewrite.

Morrison’s exploration of beauty, race, and identity isn’t just a painful look back — it’s a call to change how we see ourselves in the present and future. It’s time to celebrate the diverse stories that remind us of the beauty in every person, in every form...