Narrow-minded

"Little Elihue learned everything he needed to know well, particularly the fine art of self-deception. He read greedily but understood selectively, choosing the bits and pieces of other men's ideas that supported whatever predilection he had at the moment." p. 169

Throughout The Bluest Eye Morrison forces the reader to confront their preconceived ideas about what is and isn't ok in society. It is easy to ignore the problems we face when everyone else feels the same way and Elihue has been included in this work as a warning to those who might potentially follow suit. He harbors the same stubbornness to change that many whites at the time felt. By including this seemingly obscure character she is able to provide an example of the frustrations she deals with. Trying to convince someone narrow-minded to the existence of new ideas and getting denied is infuriating. Her frustrations are personified in Elihue but we see the same slow response to new ideas in nearly every character besides Pecola.

We all have something we feel strongly about which someone could try to change our minds about. Be it religion, politics, or extracurricular activities, do you think you feel strongly enough about a controversial issue that could spark an argument with someone who feels differently but can't change your mind?