Social class is a major theme in the book The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison says there are dysfunctional families in every social class, although people only think about it in the lower classes. Toni Morrison also stated that people also use social class to separate themselves from others and to separate themselves from race; social class is something Pauline and Geraldine admire. Claudia, Pecola and Frieda are influenced not only by their own social status, but also by the social status of others, for example Geraldine and Maureen Peal. The characters in the book use their social class as another reason to be ugly. Readers are reminded of the theme every time a new character enters the book. The social lesson begins in the book when Claudia describes her home and current living situation. “Our house is old, cold and green. At night a kerosene lamp illuminates a large room. The others are holed up in the darkness, populated by cockroaches and mice.”(10). Another example of Claudia's lower status is when her mother gets angry when Pecola drinks all the milk. Claudia's family cannot afford to consume milk in this way without losing a lot of money. Claudia's mother says, "It's time for me to get out of the line of giving and into the line of receiving."(24). Social class is also stated early in the book when Claudia talks about being "outed" and being "outed". . This shows the difference between poverty and homelessness. “There's a difference between being put outside and being put outside. If you are irritated, go somewhere else; if you're outdoors, there's nowhere to go. The distinction was subtle but definitive…Knowing that there was such a thing as the outdoors fueled in us a hunger for ownership, for ownership” page 17 (Toni Morrison).Pecola was homeless……middle of paper. .....comfort and care. The quality of her clothes threatened to shock Frieda and me. page 63 (Toni Morrison). These phrases say a lot about what and how people perceive others. In this book people don't just judge others based on their race but also their social class. This links to Geraldine, who believes that a person's skin tone defines them then. Geraldine uses social class to separate blacks from those of color. Call people "colored" if they are not poor and are clean, quiet, sheltered and well dressed. “Niggers were dirty and loud” page 87 (Toni Morrison). The theme of social class in The Bluest Eye can be seen throughout the book. Most examples of social class are hidden in the topic of race. Toni Morrison didn't just write a book about a corrupt and judgmental neighborhood, she also wrote about people's views on life with and without money and how and if it differs.