Author of The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
Background of Toni Morrison:
Chloe Anthony Wofford, “Toni Morrison,” was born on February 18th, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio, the setting of the novel. She was the second oldest of four children. Growing up, she lived in an integrated town and didn’t realize racial divisions until her teenage years. She graduated high school in Lorain and then attended Howard University and Cornell University, studying English. It was at this time that she changed her name from “Chloe” to “Toni” because people found it difficult to pronounce “Chloe.” She received her masters degree in 1955. She moved to Texas to teach English, but later returned to Howard University to teach English. There she met Harold Morrison, and they married in 1958. They had their first son, Harold, in 1961. When her husband decided to move back to his home in Jamaica, she moved back with her son to Ohio to be with her family while she had her second son, Slade, in 1964. Then, Toni moved to New York with her sons, working for publishing, writing, and editing companies along the way.
Toni’s first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. She continued writing about African American lives, having many books published like Song of Solomon and Beloved. After becoming a professor at Princeton University in 1989, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for literature in 1993, making her the first African American woman to receive the award. At Princeton, she created the Princeton Atelier in 1994 to help young writers in their fields while she continued to write and publish more stories. She retired at Princeton in 2006. Now in her eighties, she is deemed as one of literature’s best story-tellers.
Setting of The Bluest Eye:
The setting at the beginning of The Bluest Eye is in Lorain Ohio right after the Great Depression.It takes place based on the life of the narrator, Claudia, and her sister Frieda. They are young somewhat naive girls who live a life of poverty. They are also African American, so they also experience and witness discrimination. The two girls, Pecola, the girl who was put outside, and a boarder, Mr. Henry, all live with Claudia and Frieda's parents. You can tell it is a time of racial tension because it is right after the Great Depression, and because the three girls often experience or witness discrimination. The atmosphere almost stresses me out. Claudia and Freida's mom always seem strict and uptight, which stresses me out while reading. Also, knowing the background of the time this book is set, it can be assumed that because of financial stress, mama and father are really stressed. The atmosphere isn't really gloomy, it seems stressful.
Bibliography
"Toni Morrison Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com ." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com . N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. biography.com.
Chloe Anthony Wofford, “Toni Morrison,” was born on February 18th, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio, the setting of the novel. She was the second oldest of four children. Growing up, she lived in an integrated town and didn’t realize racial divisions until her teenage years. She graduated high school in Lorain and then attended Howard University and Cornell University, studying English. It was at this time that she changed her name from “Chloe” to “Toni” because people found it difficult to pronounce “Chloe.” She received her masters degree in 1955. She moved to Texas to teach English, but later returned to Howard University to teach English. There she met Harold Morrison, and they married in 1958. They had their first son, Harold, in 1961. When her husband decided to move back to his home in Jamaica, she moved back with her son to Ohio to be with her family while she had her second son, Slade, in 1964. Then, Toni moved to New York with her sons, working for publishing, writing, and editing companies along the way.
Toni’s first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. She continued writing about African American lives, having many books published like Song of Solomon and Beloved. After becoming a professor at Princeton University in 1989, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for literature in 1993, making her the first African American woman to receive the award. At Princeton, she created the Princeton Atelier in 1994 to help young writers in their fields while she continued to write and publish more stories. She retired at Princeton in 2006. Now in her eighties, she is deemed as one of literature’s best story-tellers.
Setting of The Bluest Eye:
The setting at the beginning of The Bluest Eye is in Lorain Ohio right after the Great Depression.It takes place based on the life of the narrator, Claudia, and her sister Frieda. They are young somewhat naive girls who live a life of poverty. They are also African American, so they also experience and witness discrimination. The two girls, Pecola, the girl who was put outside, and a boarder, Mr. Henry, all live with Claudia and Frieda's parents. You can tell it is a time of racial tension because it is right after the Great Depression, and because the three girls often experience or witness discrimination. The atmosphere almost stresses me out. Claudia and Freida's mom always seem strict and uptight, which stresses me out while reading. Also, knowing the background of the time this book is set, it can be assumed that because of financial stress, mama and father are really stressed. The atmosphere isn't really gloomy, it seems stressful.
Bibliography
"Toni Morrison Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com ." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com . N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. biography.com.