Toni Morrison\'s Song of Solomon

Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

Toni Morrison has the skill and literary experience to be able to create a story in which the reader, who may happen to be Caucasian, can be drawn into the lives of African-Americans and become very empathetic as to what racism, isolation, and family trauma can do to a person. One essential purpose of any book is certainly to entertain the reader; but in Morrison's case, Song of Solomon seems to be also designed to educate the reader too. Through the brilliance of her high quality narrative and through the descriptive thoroughness of her characters, she creates a real world -- the world that African-Americans experience -- for the alert reader to explore. The one fascinating symbolic character in this novel is Milkman Dead, and this paper analyzes Milkman's life, beliefs, and challenges. Morrison's portrayal of Milkman offers messages and lessons the reader should understand and be emotionally moved by.

Critique of the Novel

In this book, Morrison's third novel, Milkman is the symbolic character whose life is not unlike the lives led by many people. But because of Morrison's ability to develop characters, Milkman is the captivating centerpiece of the plot of this book. Milkman a fascinating study and not because a member of the African-American culture that Morrison is writing about. But because he as a character that seems doomed to a life of being alienated; there is brilliant character development revolving around Milkman as he goes through the changes that bring more meaningfulness to his life -- and contribute a rich story within the story.

Milkman grew up in a ghetto-like environment in a northern city, and Milkman's story exposes the reader to many of the contemporary issues that faced African-Americans. It was a deliberate plot manipulation by Morrison that Milkman is not out to seek social justice, he wants to trace the lineage of his family's history.

To begin with, Milkman had a right to be bitter against the Caucasian community -- his white landowners had murdered his grandfather -- but on the other hand his father was financially successful person and so a sense of materialism was instilled in Milkman. Rather than the depressed legacy of abject poverty that many African-Americans experience., Milkman grew up in a different genre. In a way his father helped Milkman relate to the world, but in another way, the money, the property and the excessive pride of ownership took away some of his desire for finding his own meaning and purpose in life.

"Let me tell you right now the one important thing you'll ever need to know; Own things," his father said to him. "And let the things you own other things. Then you'll own yourself and other people too" (Morrison, p. 55). Any father who has had economic success might say those things to his son, especially to a son who is drifting, searching for meaning.

In his search for his family history, which is an inspiration to him, Milkman learns that his great-grandfather had escaped slavery and found his way back to his roots, in Africa. Morrison uses this discovery on the part of Milkman to link with his own metaphorical escape; indeed, Milkman is starting to believe at this point in the book that he is shedding himself of his ignorance, the same way (metaphorically) that his great-grandfather shed himself of the shackles of slavery. He has not previously shown any great desire or motivation to seek out on his own the reasons for who he is, why he is here, and what came before him.

In the process of his discoveries, Milkman also learns that his grandfather, Macon Dead, after he was killed, had his shallow grave dug up and had his body dumped into Hunters Cove. That kind of information can be very disturbing, and it was. But meanwhile, Milkman shows his naivete about race relations in America -- and the history of bigotry and Jim Crow dynamics that were part of America prior to his maturation -- in the dialogue that follows (Morrison, pp. 231-232). "Did anybody ever catch the men who did it -- who killed him?" Milkman asked Reverend Cooper in the parsonage. "Catch?" The reverend asked, "his face full of wonder…Didn't have to catch 'em. They never went nowhere." "I mean, did they have a trial, were they arrested?" Milkman asked.

"Arrested for what?" The preacher returned. "Killing a nigger? Where did you say you was from?" The preacher felt the need to educate Milkman, which is Morrison's way of also educating the reader and contributing to Milkman's character development. "And nobody did anything?" Milkman asked, wondering "at his own anger." "Wasn't nothing to do," the reverend replied. "White folks didn't care. Colored folks didn't dare" (Morrison, pp. 231-232).

In this portion of the book Milkman appears as a symbol of innocence; how could a man not know how vicious the racist society had been in the recent past? One could say he symbolizes a new generation looking back naively upon the previous generations and he is incredulous at the brutality and hatefulness he learns about.