Posted: April 6th, 2016

How does racial self-loathing corrode the lives of Pecola and her parents, Cholly and Pauline Breedlove?

Remember that your over-riding goal of analysis writing is to demonstrate some new understanding of the text. Explain WHY something and not WHAT happened. 1. How does Morrison present gender relations in the novel? Are men and women’s relationships generally portrayed positively or negatively? 2. How does racial self-loathing corrode the lives of Pecola and her parents, Cholly and Pauline Breedlove? What evidence is there that racial self-hatred continues to ruin lives? 3. There is no excuse for Cholly’s actions. We cannot forgive him for his violence and brutality. In no way can we justify what he does, yet Morrison makes us understand his story. We cannot easily judge Cholly Breedlove if we read this story carefully. He is a monster, no doubt, but we empathize with him. Write a paper explaining why. 4. Do a character analysis of Pauline Breedlove. In doing so, you may include: a physical description and how this influences her behavior, her ethics- are they just or unjust. Discuss the traits that define and motivate her. How do they effect other characters? How does she change during the novel? Pay attention to the use of repeated words that describe her. 5. Compare the mother figures in the novel, including the three prostitutes who mother Pecola.