As I read the story of Pecola Breedlove and the other characters in Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye,” I had so many different emotional reactions to this story. Like many others, I was deeply saddened and disheartened to read about the environment in which Pecola was forced to try and survive. As I said in class, I pitied Pecola because she had absolutely no one to look to for encouragement, for security. She had no one to guide her or emphasize that she is valued and appreciated. Pecola did find some solace in China, Poland and Marie – prostitutes. It seemed as if these were the only characters in the novel that expressed their appreciation of Pecola’s company. Somehow it acts as a contradiction for Pecola because the community speaks horribly about the prostitutes and paints a negative picture of the three ladies.

I also felt pity for Sammy’s character. In one particular scene in the novel, Sammy tries to defend his mother after Mrs. Breedlove and Cholly have a fight when Cholly refused to retrieve some coal in order to heat the house. Sammy – angry and frustrated with his father – hits and curses his father. To my surprise, Mrs. Breedlove scolds Sammy for his actions and forces him to go out and get the coal. This has a negative effect on Sammy’s development from a boy to a man. The constant fighting between his parents will impact Sammy heavily; after all, this is all he knows about the dynamics of a “loving” relationship. There is a high possibility that Sammy will treat his future lover, girlfriend or wife (if he has one) the same. Even though he may know this behavior is wrong, there is a high possibility that he will continue the cycle.

It is discouraging to say, but it seems as if Pecola and Sammy would continue the cycle of self-destruction and physical and mental abuse. The story is especially disheartening because it seems as if there is no sense of hope for Pecola. No one reaches out to give her a hand, no one teaches her about self-love and self-appreciation and most especially, no one teachers her that beauty is found within. And, if Pecola was to have had her father’s baby, what could she possibly provide for her daughter emotionally. If she has never been told that she is special, how can she pass that on to her daughter? Those around Pecola fail to show her that she is beautiful within her black skin, therefore, she seeks blue eyes. Consequently, if Pecola’s child is born without blue eyes, Pecola will continue the cycle of her parents and those within her community and make that child grow up believing he or she is ugly.

At the end of the novel, Claudia speaks about the seeds she and her sister planted and the fact that the marigolds never grew. She also blames herself stating that she did not plant the seeds deep enough. Essentially, Claudia is taking responsibility for not “planting the seed” deep enough in Pecola. That seed is the belief that Pecola is someone special. That seed is the belief that Pecola is someone, that she is beautiful and that her friendship is wanted, appreciated and valued. Those seeds were never implanted deep enough in Pecola so that they could not sprout and grow – grow tall and strong so that Pecola could gain a sense of self worth. Claudia also speaks of how the entire town of Loraine failed to plant the seed within Pecola. No one reached out his or her hand to her.

Morrison continues to write about how “the entire country was bad for marigolds” (Hill 1775); and little black girls were the marigolds. Society did not mold, nurture or protect black girls. Society did not watch over them to ensure the seed would bloom into beautiful flowers. Instead, they perpetuated the cycle of insecurity in little black girls.