The Bluest Eye: Exploring Gravity and Humor

In the The Bluest Eye, written by Toni Morrison, beauty and the severe consequences of a desire for beauty are written with such ease.  However, although the tone is nonchalant, it creates a massive impact on the reader and makes them question the importance of the event and message behind it.  For example, in the prologue, when we learn about the fact that Pecola's father impregnated her, we seem to skim that over until we reach our senses and understand that Pecola is having her father's child.  The entire novel is extremely serious and so are the events that occur within the story.  But the novel becomes humorous because of Morrison's negligence towards stressing such life changing and consequential events of the book.  

"We thought, at the time, that it was because Pecola was having her father's baby that the marigolds did not grow." (p. 5). 

While reading through this part, Morrison's voice speaks to the reader in a calm voice, almost as if she is trying to ease in the gravity of the situation at hand, Pecola's pregnancy.  But because her tone is so indifferent, it becomes funny, almost ridiculous.  It is almost as if she wants these tragic events to be not taken seriously or sympathetically.  A reader reacts in a humorous way because the tone gives off the feeling that the writer doesn't want us to take it seriously either.  

I was once told that some of the hardest things in life should be laughed off.  What if that is her true motive?  What if Morrison told us this story with no emotion and indifference to show us that at the end of the day, life still goes on and the hardest things should seem ridiculous to ease the pain?  

This also connects with her request to "take refuge in how" and not why.  She implies that knowing why is hard to handle and that the how leaves less room for emotional conflict.  And sometimes the why is not important.  Her nonchalant less appeal in her tone shows that although these events occurred, finding reasons for it won't change the occurrence.  The only thing we can do is laugh about it and minimize the seriousness held on to at the time.  

The tone and hidden motives of Morrison help us realize that although the events that led to Pecola's shame were  indescribably awful and tragic, our mindset should not be fixed on the negative belief towards why it happened and dwell on the sad parts of the story.  Readers should find hilarity and ridiculousness in order for the gravity of the story to be eased off as a heavy burden.