YMMV / The Bluest Eye

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Arguably the entire point of the book for most of the characters.
  • Is Pecola’s character change at the end of the book in part of her simply being overzealous of her new gift, or is it just giving her a huge ego boost and making her a jackass? And while we’re at it, did she really get blue eyes at the end of the book?
  • Is Cholly an irredeemable parental figure, or a simply troubled by his past? In part with the second option, is the author trying to make the reader understand his plight, or is she trying to invoke the Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse trope?
• Fashion Dissonance: Or more accurately, beauty dissonance. Some of the reasons the Breedloves consider themselves ugly are their low hairlines and high cheekbones, traits that are now considered desirable.
• Hollywood Homely: Pecola considers herself this, because she does not fit the accepted Caucasian standards of beauty. How ugly she really is remains unclear.
• Squick: You’ve got a strong stomach if you can get through the scene where Cholly rapes his pre-teen daughter.
• The Woobie: A lot of characters, but especially Pecola.