The Diaspora Mimics: A Postcolonial Reading of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye

Abstract

Mimicry is a key concept in postcolonial studies. It involves the imitation of the
centre by those at the margins. It is common among diaspora communities, people who have
been displaced and are trying to fit in, and to do so, they mimic the dominant ideology. They
create imperfect copies of themselves and lose their identity. This paper attempts a
postcolonial reading of Toni Morrison’s 1970 novelThe Bluest Eye and analyses the impact
of mimicry on various characters.