The Importance of Every Relationship in the Bluest Eye, a Novel by Toni Morrison

All of Pecola's friendships with the rest of the girls are important and offer positive interaction because of both their similarities and differences. The reason each relationship is vital is because Pecola receives knowledge through her experiences with each girl, in different ways. Not having a sister, and having a runaway brother, Pecola can lean on each girl and look at them all as a sibling. Frieda, who is often protective of her own sister and vice versa, has a special "role model" reaction to all of her situations that Pecola cannot only learn from, but stand beside as well. Claudia seems immature at times, but is actually very emotionally intelligent and offers more than she realizes to help Pecola understand the true meaning of sisterhood. Claudia is also brave and takes action very quickly when she has gut feelings that drive her actions and responses.

This constant bond between sisters is apparent and effective to Pecola. Pecola understands that Claudia and Frieda's sisterly bond is special and although Pecola has blatantly different points of views on life and beauty than Claudia, Pecola still feels drawn to each Claudia and Frieda as a family. Maureen alone is different than the rest of the girls and is also an important element in shaping Pecola's experiences as they all grow up together. Because Maureen is treated differently and considered "rare" or "exotic" to most, Maureen stands for something entirely different to Pecola than the other girls. Maureen is unintentionally naïve, but would like the reader to believe that sometimes she does know the power in the difference in the color of her skin. Maureen is a help because she shows in a certain era, how light skinned girls are treated differently than dark skinned black girls, and because she comes from a wealthy family.

Because of Maureen's skin tone, alone, the reader can conclude and contrast the real life struggles between skin tone and race that the 1940's brought to the table. Maureen is a good element to the group. Because she does not seem to care how dark the other girls are and does not need to compare her wealth or her "status" to the girls to want to be friends with them. Although they are all very young, each of their physical and emotional attributes is unique and slowly helping each other recognize their differences while also treasuring their friendships simultaneously.

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