Maureen Pie

“A high-yellow dream child with long brown hair braided into two lynch ropes that hung down her back.”  that describes Maureen Peal.  The description of her subtly put me on edge and i didn’t realize why until the third time reading it.  Morrison describes her hair as lynch ropes, the severity of this comparison brings to mind shocking images that contrast with the sunny child that they are describing. During the chapter "Winter", Pecola is being picked on and the other Breedloves rescue her, Maureen steps in afterwards and tries to comfort her conceitedly, as if her mere presence would fix the psychological mayhem just thrown onto young Pecola.  As they continue walking Maureen brings up a question that is obviously disturbing to Pecola and will not let it go rather than consider her adversity to the topic.  When the Frieda and Claudia intervene, things turn ugly and Maureen says “You ugly!  Black and ugly black e mos. I am cute!”  This climactic conclusion to their altercation makes us question her motives for comforting Pecola.  The outburst was likely representative of her conscious’ contemptuous thoughts on the Breedloves.  It Is likely that Maureen is condescendingly helping people who are in her eyes less than her to enable her own self. Morrison foreshadows this calling her hair “lynch ropes” which mirrors her actions which to utilize the misfortunes of others to further her personal agendas in the same way that she utilizes symbolic nooses as a beauty accessory.