The Bluest Eye

Main Characters and Their Development

• Pecola Breedlove: The main character of the novel, a young African American girl who dreams of having blue eyes, believing they will bring her beauty and happiness. Throughout the book, Pecola faces cruelty and violence, leading to her mental breakdown and isolation from society.
• Claudia MacTeer: The narrator and one of the main characters, a young girl who, along with her sister Frieda, tries to understand and protect Pecola. Claudia represents a voice of reason and empathy, her development is tied to the awareness of injustice and racism in society.
• Frieda MacTeer: Claudia's sister, who also plays an important role in Pecola's story. Frieda, along with Claudia, tries to support Pecola, her development is linked to understanding the world's cruelty and attempts to maintain her humanity.
• Cholly Breedlove: Pecola's father, a man with a troubled past who ultimately commits violence against his own daughter. His development shows how trauma and cruelty can destroy a person and their family.
• Pauline Breedlove: Pecola's mother, a woman who suffers from low self-esteem and racism. Her development shows how internal and external conflicts can lead to alienation and cruelty towards loved ones.