A Comprehensive Study of Intertextuality in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye

National University of Modern Languages (Karachi)

Name: Sheeza M. Shamim
Class: BS 7th Semester (Bridging)
Subject: Post-Modern Fiction
Submitted to: Sir Afzal
Date: 24-Dec-2023

Abstract
This research paper aims to explore the use of intertextuality in Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye." The
novel is known for its powerful themes of race, beauty, and identity, and this paper seeks to understand
how Morrison's use of literary references and allusions shapes its meaning through a comprehensive
analysis of the novel. The discrimination against African Americans is skillfully interwoven with the use
of intertextual elements in the novel. This study contributes to the existing literature on "The Bluest Eye"
and provides a deeper understanding of how intertextuality conveys complex themes and ideas.

Keywords
Intertextuality, Discrimination, Identity, Allusions, Cultural Norms

Introduction
"The Bluest Eye" is a powerful novel by Toni Morrison, first published in 1970. The story is set in Ohio
during the 1940s and tells the heart-wrenching tale of a young African-American girl named Pecola
Breedlove. Throughout the novel, Morrison explores themes of race, beauty, and identity while
challenging societal norms and prejudices. "The Bluest Eye" is a thought-provoking and emotional read
that has become a staple of modern American literature.

Problem Statement
Despite the extensive analysis of Toni Morrison's use of intertextuality in "The Bluest Eye," there is still a
need for a deeper understanding of how Morrison's literary references and allusions shape the novel's
themes and meaning. This study will explore how Toni Morrison incorporates intertextual elements in her
novel.

Research Questions
What specific intertextual elements does Toni Morrison incorporate in "The Bluest Eye"?
What is the significance of these intertextual elements in the novel?
Research Methodology
The research paper will utilize a qualitative approach, which involves a thorough examination of Toni
Morrison's novel "The Bluest Eye" and her biography. The objective is to gain insight into the author's
ideas and the historical context in which the novel was written.

Literature Review
“The Bluest Eyes” by Toni Morrison was published in the 1970s, however, the novel depicts American
society in the 1940s and sheds light on the discrimination of the Black people, especially the Black
women. Intertextual elements have been masterfully incorporated by Toni Morrison in her novel. There
are numerous intertextual elements throughout the entire book, such as Dick and Jane Primer, the cultural
and historical setting of that period, and Pauline and Pecola's infatuation with white culture, including its
songs, films, and gorgeous actresses.
At the beginning of the novel, the readers are exposed to Dick and Jane Primer. Dick and Jane is the title
of a children's book that teaches reading to young readers and was highly well-liked in the 1940s in the
United States, as the story tells. In addition to teaching youngsters to read, these Dick-and-Jane tales serve
a variety of hidden purposes, such as presenting an idealized view of American families and imparting
cultural ideals such as gender and familial duties.
“Here is the house. It is green and white. It has a red door. It is very pretty. Here is the family. Mother,
Father, Dick, and Jane live in the green-and-white house. They are very happy. See Jane. She has a red
dress. She wants to play. Who will play with Jane? See the cat. It goes meow-meow. Come and play. Come
play with Jane. The kitten will not play. See Mother. Mother is very nice. Mother, will you play with Jane?
Mother laughs. Laugh, Mother, laugh. See Father. He is big and strong. Father, will you play with Jane?
Father is smiling. Smile, Father, smile. See the dog. Bowwow goes the dog. Do you want to play with
Jane? See the dog run. Run, dog, run. Look, look. Here comes a friend. The friend will play with Jane.
They will play a good game. Play, Jane, play.”
The first time, this primer has the perfect punctuation with no grammatical errors depicting the ideal
family structure. The next two versions of this primer represent the two different black families.
“Here is the house it is green and white it has a red door it is very pretty here is the family mother father
dick and jane live in the green-and-white house they are very happy see jane she has a red dress she
wants to play who will play with jane see the cat it goes meow-meow come and play come play with jane
the kitten will not play see mother mother is very nice mother will you play with jane mother laughs laugh
mother laugh see father he is big and strong father will you play with jane father is smiling smile father
smile see the dog bowwow goes the dog do you want to play do you want to play with jane see the dog run
run dog run look look here comes a friend the friend will play with jane they will play a good game play
jane play “
This version of the primer can be interpreted as the representation of the Macteer family which was a
better version of the Black family structure. This family like other African American families was also
marginalized by the white supremacists, however, within the family, the relationship between parents and
children was like any other normal family.
“Hereisthehouseitisgreenandwhiteithasareddooritisverypretty
hereisthefamilymotherfatherdickandjaneliveinthegreenandw
hitehousetheyareveryhappyseejaneshehasareddressshewants
toplaywhowillplaywithjaneseethecatitgoesmeowmeowcomea
ndplaycomeplaywithjanethekittenwillnotplayseemothermoth
erisverynicemotherwillyouplaywithjanemotherlaughslaughm
otherlaughseefatherheisbigandstrongfatherwillyouplaywithja
nefatherissmilingsmilefathersmileseethedogbowwowgoesthe
dogdoyouwanttoplaydoyouwanttoplaywithjaneseethedogrun
rundogrunlooklookherecomesafriendthefriendwillplaywithja netheywillplayagoodgameplayjaneplay”
The third as well as last version of the Primer is completely distorted suggesting a representation of
another Black family in the novel namely the Breedlove. This family was not only marginalized by white
people but within the family the relationship between parents as well as their relationship with their
children especially with the daughter whose name was Pecola.
Another intertextual element that has been interwoven by Toni Morrison is the cultural and historical
context of that time. In the 1940s, Toni Morrison witnessed The Great Depression and World War II.
From the text of the novel, here is an example from the text
"Quiet as it's kept, there were no marigolds in the fall of 1941. We thought, at the time, that it was
because Pecola was having her father's baby that the marigolds did not grow."
The historical background of World War II is reflected in this passage, and the lack of marigolds becomes
an analogy for the difficulties and disruptions that the characters experience during this time.
Another intertextual element in the novel is the inclusion of movies and songs during the time of Pauline
and Pecola as well. The mother and daughter duo were obsessed with the white beauty. For Pauline going
to the Cinemas was a distraction from her daily life of mental torture. The passage highlights the
intertextual connection between Pauline's life and the movies.
"She was never able, after her education in the movies, to look at a face and not assign it some category
in the scale of absolute beauty, and the scale was one she absorbed in full from the silver screen."
This section explains how Pauline's cinematic upbringing has influenced her beauty standards and
contributed to the internalized racial and aesthetic prejudices that are prevalent throughout the novel.
Similarly, in the case of Pecola, like her mother, she was obsessed with the songs in which there were
descriptions of women’s features. Her obsession became one of the reasons for her destruction in the end.

Explanation
As a postmodern author, Toni Morrison expertly combined contradictory materials in her book "The
Bluest Eye”. The Primer plays a significant part in the story because it highlights the differences between
the dysfunctional Black family in the book—the Breedloves—and the ideal White family. As the narrative
develops, this primer continues to take on new forms. The novel's prologue has three repetitions of the
primer. The entire plot of the book is shaped by Toni Morrison's decision to include this primer. The other
intertextual elements have also been greatly interwoven in her novel. The contrast between the Primer and
the protagonist family in the novel is the example of how versatile she was in her work. The obsession of
Pecola and her mother with the white beauty is contradictory to Toni Morrison’s beliefs and hate towards
the same culture. The historical and cultural elements in which it is being shown that America suffered
greatly during 1940s and the references from World War II and its effects on the people of that period.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Toni Morrison's groundbreaking novel "The Bluest Eye" delves deeply into the themes of
race, identity, and societal expectations through a skillful use of intertextual aspects. By carefully
combining historical events, cultural references, and the Dick and Jane primer, Morrison weaves a
complex web that encourages readers to interact with a variety of textual, cultural, and historical settings.
In addition to providing a cultural context that influences the protagonists' experiences, the distorted
primer acts as an effective accusation of societal conventions. The novel's intertextual layers provide a
subtle reflection on the effects of systematic racism and cultural norms, as well as a deeper knowledge of
the difficulties and goals of the characters.

References
Book
Morrison, T. (1970). The Bluest Eye

Article
Ana Sayfa. (n.d.). https://dergipark.org.tr/tr