In Toni Morrison's novel "The Bluest Eye," blue eyes symbolize beauty, acceptance, and the societal standards of attractiveness. For Pecola Breedlove, a young African American girl who internalizes the racist beauty ideals of a white-dominated society, blue eyes represent her longing for love, validation, and a sense of worth. Pecola believes that if she had blue eyes, she would be seen as beautiful and would finally be worthy of love and acceptance from those around her, including her own family and community.
Throughout the novel, Pecola's desire for blue eyes signifies her deep-seated feelings of inferiority and her desperate yearning to escape her painful reality. The tragic pursuit of this ideal ultimately leads to her psychological breakdown, illustrating the devastating effects of racism and the impact of unattainable beauty standards on individuals, particularly among marginalized communities. Morrison uses Pecola's fixation on blue eyes to critique societal norms and explore themes of identity, self-worth, and the longing for belonging.