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A Study of Conceptual Metaphors in The Bluest Eye
GE Ruizhen, GAO Wencheng
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DOI:10.17265/1539-8080/2019.07.003
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
The Bluest Eye is seldom studied from a linguistic perspective. Conceptual metaphor is the latest achievement in cognitive linguistics. Metaphor is a kind way of thinking and action. The research question is: What conceptual metaphors are embodied in the Bluest Eye? And how these conceptual metaphors reflect the theme of the novel? Four conceptual metaphors are discovered in the novel. The first one is ‘LIFE IS FOUR SEASONS’. The cycle of seasons represents birth, growth, death, and regeneration. The second one is ‘A BLACK SLAVE IS A BIRD IN A CAGE’. A bird represents freedom, but Pecola is imprisoned by the social environment. ‘VALUE IS DOLL’ is the third conceptual metaphor. The doll symbolizes beauty; however, Pecola is regarded as an ugly girl, so she has no doll. The fourth one is ‘DEATH OF HOPE IS MARIGOLD’. Marigold is often related to death; Pecola’s miserable life experience made her life rather than death. Through these four conceptual metaphors, the author conveys the unfairness and racial discrimination of the society at that time. The author appeals to the society to treat everyone equally, including black people.
The Bluest Eye, conceptual metaphors, black people, racial discrimination
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