orchestrate the plot such that the characters are forced to make crucial decisions regarding their most centrally held values and beliefs; whichever action a specific character chooses serves to inform the audience as to what type of individual he or she is. It should not be surprising, therefore, that the motif of abuse, in particular, occurs in tales throughout history; but also, considering each story's social context allows for insight into these singular characterizations, as well as, a better grasp of the underlying values permeating their settings. Through the characters in The Bluest Eye and Bastard out of Carolina their particular moral settings become clear, and the similarities seem to span many of the divides of race. Centrally, the key issues in both novels seem to be poverty, oppression, and their emotional consequences; in other words, the themes within The Bluest Eye and Bastard out of Carolina are similar mostly...
[ View Full Essay]