Bluest Eye Lesson Plan

How does Claudia feel about Pecola’s baby?

Claudia feels strongly about the situation with Pecola’s baby. She is deeply affected by it, probably because she is so tied to Pecola. Claudia wishes the adults in her life shared her compassion for Pecola. Claudia also wants the baby to live. “More strongly than my fondness for Pecola, I felt a need for someone to want the black baby to live—just to counteract the universal love of white baby dolls, Shirley Temples, and Maureen Peals.” Claudia’s desire for the baby to live is twofold. Her hope is tied to her love for Pecola, and she feels that if there’s another black baby in the world who can be loved, then maybe that would...