Song of Solomon Post 6

“And there was something more. It wasn’t true what he’d said to Susan Byrd: that it wasn’t important to find his people. Ever since Danville, his interest in his own people, not just the ones he met, had been growing”

This chapter shows a great change in Milkman's mindset. He has finally realized that money and wealth is not the sole reason to walk the earth. He discovers that he has an interest in finding his people and understanding their pasts. Milkman now understands that his past family has an effect on his identity. He is intrigued by all people and no longer sees individuals as a way to make money but as human beings. Also, Toni Morrsion's writing effectively conveys the message of how Africa-Americans pass down their history and stories through oral tradition. In this chapter this is seen when Milkman learns about his past and his past family and traditions though spoken memories. Milkman has changed in this chapter and this quote highlights how he no longer solely cares about himself, but also cares about the rest of his people.  

Song of Solomon Post 5

Chapter 11 begins to show how Milkman is maturing and finally turning into an adult. This chapter throws a lot of obstacles and hardships at him, but it's in these difficult times that Milkman reflects and realizes he needs to change. He is in unfamiliar places and no longer has his father's word to protect him, thus he is forced to grow up and protect himself. This chapter included him getting in a fight at Solomon's store and Guitar almost strangling him to death. In both of these instances there were pauses where Milkman reflected on his life, who he was, and what his actions have been. He evaluates his life up until this point and understands that he has been wrong in the past. This maturing stage that Milkman is going through to leave his childish ways behind and finally fully engage in adulthood can be seen physically in the novel when his limp in his leg disappears. This shows that Milkman is no longer an outsider, but now belongs to the world.

Song of Solomon Post 4

The end of chapter 9 concludes with a big turning point in the novel and in Milkman's life. Lena confronts Milkman saying how he has become nothing better than his controlling and overbearing  father. She continues, saying how he has been oppressive and had been effectively "peeing" on them (Lena, Corinthians, and their mother). She questions Milkman asking, “Where do you get the right to decide our lives?” This confrontation that Lena has with Milkman is a wake up call for him. I don't think he realized or meant to cause this much repression of his sisters and mother, but he now knows that he needs to do something about it. This discovery of self that Lena gives him awakes Milkman and prompts the journey he takes to find the gold. This journey, although, will ultimately be about Milkman's search for his identity.

Song of Solomon Post 3

Milkman finally learns what it is like to be a black in his community in chapter 8. His idealistic and privileged view of the world thus far comes to an end when the cop pulls him over without any reason. Milkman says, “What business they got stopping cars that ain’t speeding?” Macon responds saying, “They stop anybody they want to. They saw you was colored, that’s all.” This experience shows Milkman that in the real world he lives in, he is just another black man, whom cops will find guilty until proven innocent. The cops do not give him the benefit of the doubt because he is black, and this is Milkman's fist encounter with this type of situation. I think that this revelation for Milkman is important because up until this point he has never felt the real struggles of racism like the rest of his black community has. He has been living in this idealistic life and this experience with the cop has brought him back to the harsh reality he lives in.