"But suppose my eyes aren't blue enough?
Blue enough for what?
Blue enough for...I don't know. Blue enough for something. Blue enough...for you!
...
Will you come back if I get them?
Get what?
The bluest eyes. Will you come back then?
Of course I will" (Morrison 201, 202).
This quote is simultaneously one of the most beautiful and one of the most haunting quotes in the entire novel, and that's saying a lot. Pecola finally believes that she got her wish of blue eyes; however, her joy is immediately quelled by her realization that her eyes might not be the bluest in the world. As Morrison writes, "the horror at the heart of her yearning is exceeded only by the evil of fulfillment" (Morrison 202). Morrison somehow manages to perfectly capture humanity's search for the unattainable in these few sentences--Pecola's insecurity over the possible loss of her imaginary friend brings out her neediness and her desire to be wanted, in the same way that humans themselves do not like being alone. In addition, the fact that Pecola got her blue eyes, but is immediately dissatisfied, symbolizes the ways in which humans are continually dissatisfied with themselves.
Somehow, Morrison manages to convey that it is better for humans to accept themselves for who they are, while at the same time demonstrating that it is impossible for someone to accept themselves, showing the world for what it really is: flawed, twisted, and contradictory.
Blue enough for what?
Blue enough for...I don't know. Blue enough for something. Blue enough...for you!
...
Will you come back if I get them?
Get what?
The bluest eyes. Will you come back then?
Of course I will" (Morrison 201, 202).
This quote is simultaneously one of the most beautiful and one of the most haunting quotes in the entire novel, and that's saying a lot. Pecola finally believes that she got her wish of blue eyes; however, her joy is immediately quelled by her realization that her eyes might not be the bluest in the world. As Morrison writes, "the horror at the heart of her yearning is exceeded only by the evil of fulfillment" (Morrison 202). Morrison somehow manages to perfectly capture humanity's search for the unattainable in these few sentences--Pecola's insecurity over the possible loss of her imaginary friend brings out her neediness and her desire to be wanted, in the same way that humans themselves do not like being alone. In addition, the fact that Pecola got her blue eyes, but is immediately dissatisfied, symbolizes the ways in which humans are continually dissatisfied with themselves.
How does she manage to think of all of this?!
Somehow, Morrison manages to convey that it is better for humans to accept themselves for who they are, while at the same time demonstrating that it is impossible for someone to accept themselves, showing the world for what it really is: flawed, twisted, and contradictory.
I totally agree with your choice of passage. I think it's really amazing how deep a conversation between a girl and her imaginary friend can go. I'm as impressed with Morrison's writing as you are.
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