THE SOCIETY AND THE GIRL CHILD IN THE BLUEST EYE BY TONI MORRISONAND KAINE AGARYS YELLOW YELLOW

The research work reviews the historical encounter between the whites and Africans and argues that the challenges or problems evident in the black society at present are as a result of the white man‟s racism, exploitation and imperialism. It also looks into the social values and system of meaning that promotes male dominance and demeans the woman.

According  to  Cambridge  dictionary,  society  is  defined  as  a  particular

community of people who share the same customs, law etc. It is also defined as the state of being with other people. (1129).

A girl child is described as a female child between infancy and early adulthood. During this period of the development of the girl child, she is under the custody and supervision of adults who may be her parents or guardians and siblings who are older and more mature than she is. The girl child is easily influenced by her experiences as she develops. She models her behaviour during this development process though observations and imitations of those she depends on, and her physical, mental and emotional development start and reach their peak within this stage.

In attempting to establish the relationship between the society and the girl child, we ask certain pertinent questions relating to how she child is received and related with in her contemporary society. What are the struggles, challenges and oppression faced by the girl child? What are the factors that foist on the girl child such challenges and oppression?

From the family circle to the public sphere, the girl child has suffered much hardship and has been greatly dehumanized.