“Quiet as it’s kept, there were no marigolds in the fall of 1941. We thought, at the time, that it was because Pecola was having her father’s baby that the marigolds did not grow.” With these lines Morrison’s child narrator, Claudia MacTeer, invites the reader into a troubling community secret: the incestuous rape of her 11-year-old friend Pecola Breedlove. What advantages do you see in telling Pecola’s story from a child’s point of view? How would the story’s impact be different if narrated by an adult?
Had Claudia told this story in an adult voice there would have been time to reflect on the story and maybe change facts or soften what really happened.
The advantage of Pecola telling the story gives it more authenticity. It certainly tugged at my heartstrings. There were no other adults in the room at the time of the rape. Once the rape became known the adults were not very empathetic. An adult voice would have been more “reporting” and less “feeling”.
From a child’s point of view there could be most any cause and/or effect given many things - Pecola’s pregnancy the case here. An adult version would more than likely include some sort of judgment and condemnation while a child’s version of things is more likely to be naive and guileless, even fanciful.
I thought Claudia’s narration was much less judgmental than an adult version of the story would have been – both with regard to Pecola and with regard to Cholly and Pauline.
An adult telling version would definitely be more judgmental because as adults we are. Although the story was depressing at times, a child’s voice softened it a little.
I think by telling Pecola’s story from a child’s point of view, the author was able to showcase a more real, unbiased story. Adults have enough experiences and education that there is always some element of bias, but a child can give a narration that is pure and unadulterated.
With Claudia telling Pecola’s story about th rape, showed nuisances and empathy towards Pecola. Despite people talking negatively about the pregnancy, Claudia and her sister wanted the Black baby to live, just like white babies. They marigolds was their hope that the baby would live, but neither happened. They sensed that Pecola was innocent and perhaps clueless about having a baby.
We received a complete view and attitudes from Claudia as a child, about Pecola and her baby.
Claudia’s view was more innocent even though she knew of girls who had babies but not from incestuous rape.
With an adult view, the adult view would focus more on the consequences of caring or raising this baby, The baby would not have been wanted or loved ; considering Pecola wasn’t loved or appreciated. She was ugly so the baby would have been considered ugly. Pecola may have been blamed or be responsible for this baby instead of Cholly. Pecola would have to take care of the child and lose more opportunities in an environment that was not favorable for Black people. She wouldn’t have the skills or knowledge to care for a baby. And who would be patient and have time to teach her. Her childhood would have forever lost.
Children mostly accept their reality as ‘the’ reality which makes their rather matter-of-fact accounting of what we know to be unfair or even horrific moreso—their innocence playing against our awareness of a greater reality makes their stories heartbreaking without making them sentimental. I definitely found that to be true in The Bluest Eye.
A child’s point of view is innocent and honest. It lacks an adult understanding. Having another child describe Pecola’s downfall creates sympathy. An adult narrator would be more analytical perspective, more detached and possibly change the focus on self.
Telling the story from a child makes it a clearer/cleaner presentation. A child doesn’t preach or push forward a certain point of view. The story isn’t embellished by society or warped by political leanings
Telling the story from a child’s point of view made it more intimate. That aspect reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird. I also think a child can better feel and understand another child’s pain.