99 pages • 3 hours read
Toni MorrisonThe Bluest Eye
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1970A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, set in Lorain, Ohio in 1941, follows Pecola Breedlove, a dark-skinned girl from a poor African American family, whose life is marked by trauma and tragedy, culminating in her pregnancy by her father and subsequent mental breakdown after the baby's death. This novel includes themes of child abuse, incest, pedophilia, domestic violence, and racism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye garners acclaim for its profound exploration of race, identity, and trauma, coupled with Morrison’s lyrical prose. Critics laud its emotional depth and social critique but note its intense themes and graphic content may be challenging for some readers. The narrative complexity and poignant characters contribute to its powerful impact.
Who Should Read The Bluest Eye?
Readers who enjoy poignant, introspective narratives about race, identity, and societal standards, such as those in Alice Walker's The Color Purple or Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, will find The Bluest Eye compelling. It delves deeply into the African American experience with powerful, lyrical prose.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
920LBook Details
Relationships: Family
American Literature
Existentialism