China, Poland, and Miss Marie Character Analysis in The Bluest Eye

These women are the local prostitutes in Lorain, Ohio. The community knows Miss Marie as the Maginot Line. The women live together in an apartment above the Breedloves. Miss Marie is overweight and kind, China is skinny and sarcastic, and Poland is taciturn. The prostitutes tease each other affectionately and treat Pecola with kindness, while the rest of the community treats her cruelly.

China, Poland, and Miss Marie Character Timeline in The Bluest Eye

The timeline below shows where the character China, Poland, and Miss Marie appears in The Bluest Eye. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Pecola visits three prostitutes—China, Poland, and Miss Marie—who live above her family. She hears Poland singing a blues song... (full context)

Miss Marie tells Pecola about two of her boyfriends. One of the men she turned into the... (full context)

When Pecola asks Miss Marie if she has any children, she says that she does. She immediately pulls a pin... (full context)

...laughter coming from inside the house. Through the window they see Mr. Henry inside with China and Miss Marie, who they refer to as the Maginot Line. Mr. Henry is sucking... (full context)

...legs and an ugly face. Claudia attempts to assuage Frieda's fear by telling her that China and Poland are ruined, but they aren't fat. Frieda replies by telling Claudia they aren't... (full context)

...they walk around the side of the building to try the side door, they encounter The Maginot Line (Miss Marie) sitting on the second-story porch drinking root beer. The girls look up at... (full context)

...the prostitutes give her pretty dresses and shoes, take her to the movies, and that China is going to take her to Cleveland to see the square and Poland is going... (full context)

Claudia believes that the Maginot Line and Cholly loved Pecola, but love is only as good as the person giving it.... (full context)