The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison’s
The Bluest Eye
The Wells Theatre
Norfolk, VA
March 2019
Directed by Khanisha Foster
Fight & Intimacy Direction by Sasha Smith
Scenic Design by Josafath Reynoso
Costume Design by Jimmy Bennett
Lighting Design by David Castaneda
Sound Design by Christopher Barnes
Stage Manager: Kathryn Sam Houkom
Produced by Virginia Stage Company
Photo Credit: Josafath Reynoso
“The Bluest Eye” is a novel written by Toni Morrison, first published in 1970. The story is set in Lorain, Ohio, in the 1940s and revolves around a young African American girl named Pecola Breedlove. Pecola yearns for blue eyes and blonde hair, believing that possessing these features would make her beautiful and accepted in a society where Eurocentric standards of beauty prevail.
The novel explores Pecola’s internal struggles with self-esteem and identity as she faces racism, poverty, and abuse in her community. Pecola’s desire for blue eyes is symbolic of the broader societal pressures that shape and distort individual perceptions of beauty, success, and self-worth.
The narrative also delves into the lives of other characters, including Pecola’s friend Claudia, who challenges the prevailing beauty standards, and the Breedlove family, who grapple with their own hardships and fractured relationships. The novel offers a poignant commentary on racism, colorism, and the destructive impact of societal expectations on individuals.
Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” is celebrated for its lyrical prose, deep exploration of complex themes, and its contribution to discussions on race, identity, and the enduring effects of systemic oppression.
