A roadmap for survival: A literary analysis of the mother-daughter relationship in Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' and 'Sula'

This literary analysis examines three black mothers' love toward their daughters in the contemporary African American literature of Toni Morrison's novels The Bluest Eye and Sula. The purpose of this analysis is to show that the mothers/grandmother's sacrifices of physical and emotional ties not only ensures the lives and well being of their daughters but also provides them with a platform to survive.; While using Morrison's texts as primary sources for the literary portrayals of black mothers, it is imperative to examine the black mother's role during and after slavery. From this, it becomes evident that slavery forced most women to become Mammies and care for their white charges distancing themselves from their families. While during post-bellum, mothers became responsible for the maintenance and survival of their families due to the husband/fathers' disappearance and desertion. Through these extenuating circumstances, black mothers, such as Pauline Breedlove (The Bluest Eye) and Eva and Hannah Peace (Sula), indoctrinate their daughters Pecola Breedlove and Sula Peace, into a world of cruelty and hate by distancing themselves from them emotionally but continuously providing examples of life and the bare necessities—food, shelter and clothing.; Through this literary analysis, it becomes evident that even though Pauline, Eva and Hannah's style of mothering might be viewed as cruel and unloving; these women concentrated on the survival and maintenance of the family structure rather than on emotional and physical tenderness. If these women had bestowed emotional and physical tenderness to their daughters, they would not have been able to navigate their way through the perils of life.