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영어

The purpose of this essay is to examine the aspects of black community’s internalization of the dominant cultural discourse and resistance against it in The Bluest Eye. Toni Morrison dramatizes the story of Pecola Breedlove who, internalizing racial self-loathing originated from the dominant culture of white supremacy, wishes to have blue eyes. On the other hand, Claudia MacTeer shows resistant spirit against the white dominant cultural practice in the black community and in white America. The essay, first, focuses on the racial self-contempt for dark skin, which is pervasive in black community. White skin and blue eyes are considered as ideal beauty and dark skin as ugliness in Pecola’s surrounding world, which eventually conspires to make Pecola insane. Second, Morrison delves into the cultural hegemonic process by exploring the connection among consumer goods, Hollywood movies, and alienation, which affect the lives of the female characters. Accordingly, The Bluest Eye unfolds the social process of cultural colonization and alienation in the industrialized northen America in 1940s. Third, with Cholly’s traumatized experiences from the early age to adult life, Morrison suggests the inheritance of trauma from Cholly to his daughter, Pecola. Finally, young Claudia shows a potential black woman critic by revealing her critical attitude toward a white doll and bourgeois ownership. Unlike the case of Pecola’s victimization, Claudia survives by struggling against the white dominant value with her double consciousness.