Defining the Blues with Symbolism Essay - 649 Words

As children, we are taught the names and meanings of things. Children trust what they are taught, and they assume what they are told is true. We are taught that the sky is what we look up at when we are outside, and water is what fills up our bathtubs. We also learn that the color of these two examples is â€Å"blue.† In the Merriam-Webster’s School Dictionary, one of the first definitions of â€Å"blue† is stated as â€Å"The color of the clear daytime sky: a color lying between green and violet in the spectrum.† Even though the definition provided for the word â€Å"blue† contains examples, we are easily able to interpret the meaning of the word â€Å"blue† because of what we were taught growing up. As children begin to mature, their vocabulary develops,†¦show more content†¦A â€Å"bluebeard,† on the other hand, is a man who marries and kills one wife after another. The saying originated from a French folktale, where the title described the man’s ugly â€Å"blue† beard. The word â€Å"blue† is also used in figurative meanings. For instance, in Germany, two different sayings containing the word â€Å"blue† have inconsistent meanings. One, â€Å"to be blue (blau sein)† is meant â€Å"to be drunk,† while a person looking at the world with a blue eye is said to be naà ¯ve. As previously noted, the word â€Å"blue† can be used to mean different things, even though the settings are similar. Popular dialect can also give context into the meaning of the word â€Å"blue.† â€Å"Blue in the face† is said when someone is tired, usually from physical exercise. When a person’s face becomes short of oxygen, it is said to be turning blue. Another idiom, â€Å"into the blue,† is a saying used to describe something off into the far distance or unknown. Also, â€Å"out of the blue,† is used to characterize something that is completely unexpected. Both of these expressions involve a destination that is unclear. Not only is everyday language an example of how the word blue is used, but also the â€Å"blues,† a music genre defined by African Americans in the late 19th century, which often describes sadness and melancholy. Even though â€Å"blue† can be used to describe gloomy aspects such as the working class to the African Americans’ â€Å"blues†, blue is one ofShow MoreRelatedRacism And Discrimination On African Americans1210 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican Americans through her frequent use of symbolism.2 In The Bluest Eye, an extremely important symbol is blue eyes (Crayton 73). Blue eyes are used to symbolize racially based beauty standards and the power associated with whiteness (â€Å"Bluest† LitCharts). In the novel, society believes that if a person does not have white skin, he or she is not beautiful. Pecola Breedlove falls victim to this widespread belief and longs to possess blue eyes. 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