ugliness of blackness. It is interesting that Morrison chose this issue as one of the book's focuse, because it was written, "at the height of the black is beautiful era"(Lott 1). She uses many different writing tools to depict how "white" beliefs have dominated American and African American culture. The narrative structure of The Bluest Eye is important in revealing just how pervasive and destructive social racism is. Narration in novel comes from several sources. Much of the narration comes from Claudia MacTeer as a nine year old child, but Morrison also gives the reader the insight of Claudia reflecting on the story as an adult, some first person narration from Pecola's mother, and narration by Morrison herself as an omniscient narrator. Pecola yearns to become beautiful and, (she think!
             s) as a result of her beauty, loveable. That beauty is strictly defined by white and unattainable standards; however, a Shirley Temple mug and Mary Jane candies become the emblems of that for which Pecola yearns.
             Pecola's experiences would have less meaning coming from Pecola herself because a total and complete victim would be an unreliable narrator, unwilling or unable to relay the actual circumstances of that year. Claudia, from her youthful innocence, is able to see and relay how the other characters, especially Pecola, idolize the "ideal" o
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