The Bluest Eye - Pages 97-109 (Spring)
Summary
TLDRIn 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison, the narrative delves into the lives of young girls Claudia and Frieda during spring. Claudia's mother's actions hint at a deeper turmoil. Frieda suffers emotional distress after an encounter with Mr. Henry, who inappropriately touched her. The girls seek help from Piccola, who enjoys a privileged life with the Breedloves despite her mother's warnings. A berry cobbler accident leads to Mrs. Breedlove's harsh treatment of Piccola, revealing the complex dynamics of race, class, and self-worth.
Takeaways
- 🌱 Springtime brings a change in punishment style, with green switches replacing the winter strap, leaving a lasting sting.
- 😢 Frida is found crying after an encounter with Mr. Henry, who inappropriately touched her, highlighting themes of innocence lost and violation.
- 👨👩👧👦 The community reacts strongly to Mr. Henry's actions, with violence and retribution, reflecting the protective yet harsh societal norms.
- 🏡 Frida's confusion about 'ruined' shows a child's struggle to understand adult concepts and the fear of losing innocence.
- 🥤 The 'Maganat Line', or Marie, represents a societal outcast, yet offers kindness and treats to the children, challenging their preconceived notions.
- 🏘️ The journey to the lakefront exposes the children to different social strata, from modest to affluent neighborhoods, illustrating class disparities.
- 👗 Piccola's mother, Mrs. Breedlove, provides material comforts but also emotional distance and physical abuse, questioning the true meaning of care.
- 🍰 The incident with the berry cobbler leads to a violent outburst from Mrs. Breedlove, revealing the harsh reality behind Piccola's seemingly privileged life.
- 👗 The contrast between Piccola's treatment and that of Polly, Mrs. Breedlove's biological daughter, underscores issues of favoritism and identity.
- 🌇 The setting sun and the final scene by the lake provide a serene backdrop to the day's turmoil, symbolizing the end of innocence and the complexity of life.
Q & A
What is the significance of the spring season in the story?
-Spring is associated with a change in the way the characters are punished, from the dull pain of a winter strap to the stinging pain of new green switches. It also evokes a sense of remembered ache and loss of cheer in forsythia for the narrator.
How does the narrator describe the behavior of their mother upon returning home with yellow curtains?
-The mother is described as behaving strangely, still wearing her hat and dusty shoes as if she had been walking in deep dirt. She performs a series of tasks out of the ordinary, like sweeping the porch multiple times and not immediately hanging the damp curtains.
What distressing event involving Frida and Mr. Henry does the narrator recount?
-Mr. Henry inappropriately touched Frida, which led to a violent reaction from her parents and the community. This event left Frida feeling upset and afraid of being 'ruined'.
What does the term 'maggot line' refer to in the context of the story?
-The term 'maggot line' refers to a derogatory nickname for a woman known as Miss Marie, who is described as a large, overweight woman. The name is used to imply that she is undesirable or 'ruined'.
Why do Claudia and Frida seek out Piccola?
-Claudia and Frida seek out Piccola because they believe she can provide them with whiskey, which they think will help them deal with their problems, following a suggestion from the 'maggot line'.
How does Piccola's relationship with Miss Marie contrast with the community's view of Miss Marie?
-Piccola has a positive relationship with Miss Marie, who provides her with gifts and treats her kindly. This is in stark contrast to the community's view of Miss Marie as 'ruined' and undesirable.
What is the significance of the wheelbarrow full of flowers by the lake?
-The wheelbarrow full of flowers symbolizes a place of beauty and allure, which is associated with Piccola's mother's workplace. It is a place that Claudia and Frida have only dreamed of visiting.
How does the narrator describe the houses and streets as they approach the lake?
-The houses transition from soft grey and tired to sturdy with newer paint and deeper yards. The lakefront houses are described as the loveliest, with garden furniture, ornaments, and polished windows, symbolizing a world of privilege and exclusivity.
What incident occurs at Mrs. Breedlove's house that leads to Piccola being punished?
-An incident occurs where Piccola accidentally knocks over a pan of berry cobbler, causing a mess on the floor. Mrs. Breedlove punishes Piccola harshly for this accident.
How does the narrator feel about the treatment of Piccola by Mrs. Breedlove?
-The narrator feels dread and is repelled by Mrs. Breedlove's harsh treatment of Piccola, which is highlighted by the violent language and physical punishment.
What is the significance of the color imagery in the story, such as the green switches and the blackish blueberries?
-The color imagery in the story serves to evoke strong emotional responses. The green switches represent the pain and change associated with spring, while the blackish blueberries symbolize the unexpected and painful mess created by Piccola's accident.
Outlines
🌱 Spring's Painful Memories
The paragraph begins with a reflection on spring and the painful memories associated with it, particularly the change from the dull pain of winter whippings to the stinging of new green switches. The narrator describes a scene of domestic violence where her sister, Frida, is crying after being inappropriately touched by Mr. Henry. The family's reaction is intense, leading to a physical altercation involving the father, Mr. Henry, and a neighbor, Mr. Buford. The situation escalates, involving guns and threats, before calming down with the intervention of Miss Dunyan. The paragraph ends with a contemplation of the family's dynamics and the impact of the incident on the narrator and Frida.
😢 Fear of Ruin and a Search for Whiskey
This paragraph delves into the aftermath of the incident with Mr. Henry and the fear it instilled in Frida and the narrator about being 'ruined.' They consider what ruin means to them, comparing it to the physical decay of the 'maggot line' and the metaphorical ruin of countries like China and Poland. In an attempt to cope, they seek out whiskey as a solution, believing it might help them avoid ruin. They approach Piccola for help in obtaining whiskey, leading to a visit to her house where they encounter her mother, Mrs. Breedlove, and witness the stark contrast between their own lives and the apparent affluence and kindness of Piccola's white neighbors.
🏡 A Journey Through Social Hierarchies
The third paragraph describes a journey through various neighborhoods, each reflecting a different social status. Starting from soft grey houses that lean like tired ladies, the narrator and Frida progress through more sturdy houses with newer paint, then to brick houses with well-kept yards, and finally to the lakefront houses that are the epitome of beauty and wealth. The journey culminates in Lake Shore Park, a place of exclusion for black people, yet filled with dreams of a better life. The paragraph ends with a visit to Piccola at her mother's workplace, where the stark contrast between the world of the narrator and Piccola's privileged life is further highlighted.
🍒 An Accident and Its Repercussions
In the final paragraph, Piccola accidentally spills a pan of berry cobbler, leading to a violent reaction from Mrs. Breedlove. The incident exposes the harsh reality of racial and social dynamics, as Mrs. Breedlove's anger is directed at Piccola, Frida, and the narrator, who are all implicated in the mess. The paragraph contrasts the initial kindness shown by Mrs. Breedlove with her sudden, harsh treatment, revealing the fragility of the relationships between the characters. The incident ends with the girls being ordered to leave, and the narrative shifts to focus on the innocent Polly, who is comforted by her mother amidst the chaos.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Self-worth
💡Spring
💡Whipping
💡Mourning
💡Ruined
💡Maganat Line
💡Whiskey
💡Lake Erie
💡Pie
💡Fear
💡Jealousy
Highlights
Spring's change in punishment style from winter's dull pain to green switches that leave a lasting sting.
The protagonist's longing for the steadier pain of a strap or hairbrush instead of the nervous meanness of spring switches.
A vivid description of the protagonist's experience with nature and her contemplation on life and death.
The protagonist's mother's unusual behavior upon returning home, hinting at underlying tensions.
Frida's emotional state after being inappropriately touched by Mr. Henry, and the community's reaction.
The violent response of the community towards Mr. Henry, reflecting the protectiveness and anger.
The confusion and fear Frida feels about being 'ruined' and the misunderstandings surrounding the concept.
The contrast between the physical appearance and the inner nature of the 'maggot line', challenging societal judgments.
The protagonist's and Frida's encounter with the 'maggot line', and their initial fear turning into curiosity.
The description of the journey through different neighborhoods, reflecting the socio-economic divide.
The contrast between the forbidden Lake Shore Park and the梦想中的乐园 for the black community.
Piccola's innocence and the stark contrast between her perception and reality regarding her situation.
The revelation of the materialistic benefits Piccola receives from the white family, raising questions about exploitation.
The incident with the berry cobbler and the harsh punishment Piccola receives, highlighting racial and class tensions.
The juxtaposition of Mrs. Breedlove's affection towards her own child and her cruelty towards Piccola.
The protagonist's and Frida's realization of the complexities and harsh realities of their community's dynamics.
Transcripts
this is pages 97 to 109
of the bluest eye by tony morrison this
is the first section
of spring as you read today
think about this question what messages
does piccola's mother convey to piccola
about her self-worth
page 97 the first twigs are thin
green and supple they bend into a
complete circle
but will not break their delicate showy
hopefulness
shooting from forsythia and lilac bushes
meant only a change in whipping style
they beat us differently in the spring
instead of the dull pain of a winter
strap
there were these new green switches that
lost their sting long after the whipping
was over
there was a nervous meanness in these
long twigs that made us long for the
steady stroke of a strap
or the firm but honest slap of a
hairbrush
even now spring for me is shot through
with the remembered ache of switchings
and forsythia holds no cheer
sunk in the grass of an empty lot on a
spring saturday
i split the stems of milkweed and
thought about ants and peach pits
and death and where the world went when
i closed my eyes
i must have laying long in the grass for
the shadow that was in front of me when
i left the house had disappeared when i
went back
i entered the house as the house was
bursting with an uneasy quiet
then i heard my mother singing something
about trains in arkansas
she came in the back door with some
folded yellow curtains which she piled
on the kitchen table
i sat down on the floor to listen to the
song's story and notice how strangely
she was behaving
she still had her hat on and her shoes
were dusty as though she had been
walking in deep dirt
she put on some water to boil and then
swept the porch
then she hauled out the curtain strut
the curtain stretcher but instead of
putting the damp curtains on it she
swept the porch again
all the time singing about trains and
arkansas
when she finished i went to look for
frida i found her upstairs laying on her
bed
crying the tired whimpering cry that
follows the first wailings
mostly gasps and shudderings i lay on
the bed and looked at the tiny bunches
of wild roses sprinkled over her
dress many washings had faded their
color and dimmed their outlines
what happened frida she lifted a swollen
face from the crook of her arm
shuddering still she sat up letting her
thin legs dangle over the bedside
i knelt on the bed and picked up the hem
of my dress to wipe her running nose
she never liked wiping noses and clothes
but this time she let me
it was the way mama did with her apron
did you get a whipping
she shook her head no then why you
crying because
because what mr henry what do you do
dad and daddy beat him up what for the
maganat line did he find out about the
maganat line
no well what then come on frida how come
i can't know
he picked at me
picked at you you mean like soaphead
church sort of
he showed his privates at you no he
touched me
where here and here she pointed to the
tiny breasts that
like two fallen acorns scattered a few
faded rose leaves on her dress
really how did it feel oh claudia
she sounded put out i wasn't asking the
right questions it didn't feel like
anything
but wasn't it supposed to feel good i
mean free to suck your teeth
what do you do just walk up and pinch
them she sighed
first he said how pretty i was then he
grabbed my arm and touched me
where was mama and daddy over at the
garden weeding
what'd you say when he did it nothing i
just ran out the kitchen and went to the
garden
mama said we was never to cross the
tracks by ourselves
well what would you do sit there and let
him pinch you i looked at my chest
i don't have nothing to pinch i'm never
going to have nothing oh claudia you're
jealous of everything
you want him to no i just get tired of
having everything last
you do not what about scarlet fever you
had that first
yes but it didn't last anyway what
happened at the garden
i told mama and she told daddy and we
all come home
and he was gone so we waited for him and
when daddy saw him come up on the porch
he threw our old tricycle at his head
and knocked him off the porch
did he die nah he got up and started
singing nearer my god to thee
then mama hit him with a broom and told
him to keep the lord's name out of his
mouth
but he wouldn't stop and daddy was
cussing and everyone was screaming
oh shoot i always miss stuff and mr
buford came running out with his gun and
mama told him to go somewhere and sit
down
and daddy said no give him the gun and
mr buford did
and mama screamed and mr henry shut up
and started running
and daddy shot at him and mr henry
jumped out of his shoes and kept on
running in his socks
then rosemary came out and said that
daddy was going to jail
and i hit her real hard real hard
is that when mama whipped you she didn't
whip me i told you
then why you crying miss dunyan came in
after everybody was cr
was quiet and mama and daddy was fussing
about who let mr henry in anyway
and she said that mama should take me to
the doctor because i might be ruined and
mama started screaming all over again
at you no i missed onion but why were
you crying
i don't want to be ruined what's ruined
you know like the maggot not lying she's
ruined mama said so
the tears came back an image of frida
big and fat came to mind
her thin legs swollen her face
surrounded by layers of rouge
skin i too begin to feel tears
but frida you should exercise and not
eat she shrugged
besides what about china and poland
they're ruined too aren't they
and they ain't fat that's because they
drink whiskey mama says whiskey ate them
up
you could drink whiskey where would i
get whiskey
we thought about this nobody would sell
it to us we had no money anyway
there was never any in our house who
would have some
piccola i said her father's always drunk
she can get us some
you think so sure charlie's always drunk
let's go ask her
we don't have to tell her what for now
sure now
what will we tell mama nothing let's
just go out the back one at a time so
she won't notice
okay you go first claudia we opened the
fence gate at the bottom of the backyard
and ran down the alley
pocolo lived on the other side of
broadway we had never been in her house
but we knew where it was
a two-story gray building that had been
a store downstairs and had an apartment
upstairs
nobody answered our knock at the front
door so we walked around to the side
door
as we approached we heard radio music
and looked to see where it came from
above us was the second story porch
lined with slanting
rotting rails and sitting on the porch
was the maganat line herself
we stared up and automatically reached
for the other's hand a mountain of flesh
she lay rather than sat in a rocking
chair she had no shoes on
and each foot was poked between a
railing tiny baby shoes at the tip of
puffy feet
swollen ankles smoothed and tightened
the skin massive legs like tree stumps
parted wide at the knees
over which spread two roads of soft
flabby inner thigh
that kissed each other deep in the shade
of her dress and closed
our dark brown root beer bottle like a
burned limb grew out of her dimpled hand
she looked at us down through the porch
railings and emitted a low
long belch her eyes were as clean as
rain
and again i remembered the waterfall
neither of us could speak
both of us imagined we were seeing what
was to become a frida
the maganat line smiled at us you all
looking for somebody
i had to pull my tongue from the roof of
my mouth to say piccola
she live here uh-huh but she ain't here
now
she gone to her mama's workplace to get
the wash yes ma'am
she coming back uh-huh she got to hang
up the clothes before the sun goes down
oh you can wait for her want to come up
here and wait
we exchanged glances i looked back up at
the broad cinnamon roads that met in the
shadow of her dress
frida said no ma'am well the maggot lion
seemed interested in our problem
you can go to her mama's workplace but
it's way over by the lake
whereby the lake that big white house
with the wheelbarrow full of flowers
it was a house that we knew having
admired the large white wheelbarrow
tilted down on spoked wheels and planted
with seasonal flowers
ain't that too far for you all to go
walking frida scratched her knee
why don't you wait for her you can come
up here and want some pop
those rain-soaked eyes lit up and her
smile was full
not like the pinched and holding back
smile of other grown-ups
i moved to go up the stairs but frida
said no ma'am
we ain't allowed i was amazed at her
courage and frightened of her sassiness
the smile of the maggot line slipped
ain't loud
know him ain't loud to what go in your
house is that right
the waterfalls were still how come my
mama said so
my mama said you ruined the waterfalls
began to run again
she put the root beer bottle to her lips
and drank it empty
with the graceful movement of the wrist
a gesture so quick and small we never
really saw it
only remembered it afterward she tossed
the bottle over the rail at us
it splitted our feet and shards of brown
glass dappled our legs before we could
jump back
the maganat line put a fat hand on one
of the folds of her stomach
and laughed at first just a deep humming
with her mouth closed
then a larger warmer sound laughter at
once beautiful
and frightening she let her head tilt
sideways
closed her eyes and shook her massive
trunk letting the laughter fall like a
wash of red leaves all around us
scraps and curls of the laughter
followed us as we ran
our breath gave out at the same time our
legs did after we rested against
the tree our heads on cross forearms i
said
let's go home frida was still angry
fighting she believed for her life no we
got to get it now
we can't go all the way to the lake yes
we can come on
mama gonna get us no she ain't besides
she can't do nothing but whip us
that was true she wouldn't kill us or
laugh a terrible laugh at us
or throw a bottle at us we walk down
tree-lined streets of soft grey houses
leaning like tired ladies
the streets changed houses looked more
sturdy their paint was newer
porch posts straighter yards deeper then
came brick houses set well back from the
street fronted by yards
edged in shrubbery clipped into smooth
cones and balls of velvet green
the lakefront houses were the loveliest
garden furniture
ornaments windows like shiny eyeglasses
and no sign of life
the backyards of these houses fell away
in green slopes
down to a strip of sand and then the
blue lake erie
lapping all the way to canada the orange
patch sky
of the steel mill section never reached
this part of town
this sky was always blue we reached lake
shore park
a city park laid out with rosebuds
fountains bowling greens
picnic tables it was empty now but
sweetly expectant of clean
white well-behaved children and parents
who would play there above the lake in
summer
before half running half stumbling down
the slope to the welcoming water
black people were not allowed in the
park and so it filled our dreams
right before the entrance to the park
was a large white house with the
wheelbarrow full of flowers
short crocus blades sheathed the purple
and white hearts that so wished to be
first
they endured the chill and rain of early
spring
the walkway was flagged and calculated
disorder hiding the cunning symmetry
only fear of discovery and the knowledge
that we did not belong kept us from
loitering
we circled the proud house and went to
the back
there on the tiny railed stoop sat
piccola in a light red sweater
and blue cotton dress a little wagon was
parked near her
she seemed glad to see us hi hi
what you all doing here she was smiling
and since it was a rare thing to see on
her
i was surprised at the pleasure it gave
me we're looking for you who told you i
was here
the maggot line who is that that big fat
lady she lives over you
oh you mean miss marie her name is miss
marie
well everybody calls her miss megan
outline ain't you scared
scared of what the maggot line piccola
looked genuinely puzzled
what for your mama let you go in her
house and eat out of her plates
she don't know i go miss marie is nice
they all nice
oh yeah i said she tried to kill us who
miss marie she don't bother nobody then
how come your mama don't let you go in
her house if she's so nice
i don't know she says she's bad but they
ain't bad they give me stuff all the
time
what stuff oh lots of stuff pretty
dresses and shoes
i got more shoes than i ever wear and
jewelry and candy and money
they take me to the movies and once we
went to the carnival
china go and take me to cleveland to see
the square and poland gonna take me to
chicago
to see the loop we're going everywhere
together you lying you don't have no
pretty dresses
i do too oh come on piccola what you
telling us all that junk for
frida asked it ain't junk piccolo stood
up ready to defend her words when the
door opened
mrs breedlove stuck her head out the
door and said what's going on out here
piccola who are these children
that's frida and claudia mrs breedlove
whose girls are you
she came all the way out on the stoop
she looked nicer than i had ever seen
her
in her white uniform and her hair in a
small pompadour
mrs mcteer's girls ma'am oh yes live
over on 21st street
yes ma'am what are you doing way over
here just walking
we came to see picola well you better
get on back
you can walk with piccola come on in
while i get the wash
we stepped into the kitchen a large
spacious room
mrs breedlove's skin glowed like te fita
in the reflection of white porcelain
white woodwork polished cabinets and
brilliant copperware
odors of meat vegetables and something
freshly baked
mixed with a scent of phil's naphtha i'm
gonna get the wash
you all stand stock still right right
there and don't mess up nothing
she disappeared behind a white swinging
door and we could hear the uneven flap
of her footsteps as she descended into
the basement
another door opened and in walked a
little girl smaller and younger than all
of us
she wore a pink sunback dress and pink
fluffy bedroom slippers with two bunny
ears pointed up from the tips
her hair was corn yellow and bound in a
thick ribbon
when she saw us fear danced across her
face for a second
she looked anxiously around the kitchen
where's polly
she asked the familiar violence rose in
me
her calling mrs breedlove paulie when
even piccola called her mother mrs
breedlove
seemed reason enough to scratch her
she's downstairs i said
polly she called look frida whispered
look at that
on the counter near the stove in a
silvery pan was a deep dish berry
cobbler
the purple juice bursting here and there
through crust
we moved closer it's still hot frida
said
piccolo stretched her hand to touch the
pan lightly to see if it was hot
polly come here the little girl called
again
it may have been nervousness awkwardness
but the pan tilted under piccola's
fingers and fell to the floor
splattering blackish blueberries
everywhere most of the juice splashed on
piccola's legs and the burn must have
been painful
for she cried out and began hopping
about just as mrs breedlove entered with
a tightly packed
laundry bag in one gallop she was on
piccola
and with the back of her hand knocked
her to the floor piccola slid in the pie
juice
one leg folding under her mrs breedlove
yanked her up by the arm
slapped her again and in a voice thin
with anger abused piccola directly and
frida and me by implication
crazy fool my floor mess look what you
work get on out now now that crazy
my floor my floor my floor her words
were hotter and darker than the smoking
berries and we backed away in dread
the little girl in pink started to cry
mrs breedlove turned to her
hush baby hush come here oh lord look at
your dress
don't cry no more polly will change it
she went to the sink and turned tap
water on a fresh towel
over her shoulder she spit out words to
us like rotten pieces of apple
pick up that wash and get on out of here
so i can get this mess cleaned up
piccola picked up the laundry bag heavy
with wet clothes and we stepped
hurriedly out the door
as piccola put the laundry bag in the
wagon we could hear mrs breedlove
hushing and soothing the tears of
the little pink and yellow girl who were
they polly
don't worry none baby you gonna make
another pie
course i will who were they polly hush
don't worry none she whispered and the
honey in her words complimented the
sundown spilling on the lake
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