...Great Narrative Literature Dr. Kelso 2/10/2014 The Role of the Myth of the Flying Africans in Song of Solomon The central myth in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon is that of flight. This myth ties directly into the Exodus story of the Bible, where flight is understood as escape from the oppression of slavery. The main purpose of this myth of flight in the novel is to give hope to African Americans during a time where racial tensions are very much a part of their everyday lives. In this essay, I will argue that the myth of flight plays both a positive and negative role throughout this novel. It plays a positive role in that it seems to give Milkman a sort of pride in his ancestors that he did not have before he learned of the myth of Solomon’s Leap. Milkman, after learning about his parents’ marriage from both his mother and father, seems to shun his family and lose interest in his people that came before him, but after hearing about his great grandfather, he becomes proud of his lineage and gains a sense of liberation from the life he has led up to this point. However, while this myth of flight enables Morrison’s male protagonist to thrive, there are also negative consequences that Morrison asks us to consider, namely the effects of this myth on the ones left behind, the women and children. The Exodus story tells of the Israelites, who were being held as slaves in Egypt until they were liberated from their oppression by Moses, who was sent by God. The story tells of their...
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...Throughout Song of Solomon, readers are treated to a vast array of experiences, which reflect Toni Morrison’s themes of bearing witness to the disturbed past of black people, exploring divisions within a family that has lived through that past, and chronicling personal quests to reconstruct splintered identity at the personal, family and community levels. To create the conscious experience that brings so much of Morrison’s work to life, she imbues Song of Solomon not only with vibrant, directly encountered realism, but also magical themes and experiences. Magical Realism—in essence—is a way of telling a story with two sides. One based on a so-called rational view of reality and the other on the acceptance of the supernatural as everyday reality. Song of Solomon features many instances of the image of flight as it plays a major role in the narrative. Flight signifies true life and the living of it, as well as a sense of freedom and release for the main characters in the book. Of all the characters in the novel, one seems the most affected and that persona is Milkman—someone whom embarks on a journey of self-discovery and discovers the true meaning of flight. Milkman experiences flight in many different ways—through song, imagery and literal experiences. The onus is on us, the reader, to distinguish what is “real” and what is pure mysticism. The first instance of Morrison's use of the image of flight is at the very beginning of the book. "At 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 18th...
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...Jessica Schaub 12/1/14 Eng. 232/Section 03 Song of Solomon: A Bildungsroman of Milkman Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, is a brilliant synthesis of a mythic journey, family drama and story of origin. This is the story of Macon Milkman Dead, heir to the richest black family in a Midwestern town, as he makes a voyage of rediscovery, travelling southwards geographically and inwards spiritually. Morrison’s narrative rendering of the black community along with her protagonist problematic relationship with himself, his family, and that community all lend them-selves to the very definition of a classic bildungsroman tale; though it is so much richer and fuller than anything that word could connote. A bildungsroman can be defined as “a class of novel that deals with the coming-of-age or formative years of an individual”. Furthermore, in a bildungsroman, a main protagonist usually undergoes some transformation after seeking truth or philosophical enlightenment. In Morrison’s novel, the plot follows the main protagonist Milkman as he matures within his community while developing relationships with others and discovering his individual identity. The symbolism of flying is very relevant to issues of identity. Milkman struggles to break away from dependence of Macon II is really the main struggle throughout the novel on an individual level. As he tries to break away and reach his full potential, he is able to fly at Guitar. He does not do this alone however, through all of the differing...
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...In the novel Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison chooses to explore the idea of masculinity hand in hand with the idea of maturity using Milkman as the prime example of how masculinity does not equal maturity. In the first section of the novel, Milkman uses his gender to his advantage, flaunting the type of masculinity that he has. He sees himself as an ultimate male, one who fulfills this idea of masculinity with drinking and girls. While Milkman does not necessarily see himself as attractive, when he is considering getting married, he believes “There were lots of women around, and he was a very eligible bachelor..” This reinforced his satisfaction with the level that his masculinity was at, but it also reinforced his maturity level. The way that...
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...Song of Solomon Analysis: Gender Roles and Freedom Racism divides communities, but sexism deserts individuals. American history is ridded with oppression on the basis of race and gender that have left individuals and communities alike subjugated and isolated. Toni Morrison, through her fictional novel Song of Solomon, tackles the desire for belonging that so many faced during the oppressive 1960s. Appeals to equal rights for African Americans were met with hateful discrimination and bloody discourse—ultimately dividing people from within groups. But Morrison pushes her discussion beyond just the confines of racism to the treatment of black women in society; the tyrannical repression they faced. Throughout Song of Solomon, a reoccurring theme of dependence and abandonment of women presides. Toni Morrison exploits women’s belonging to men and yet, also, their burdens for men’s freedom. In order to conquer the quest of the novel, the main character must recognize and overcome such female injustices. Foundational to the their societal repression, black women suffered not only from racial segregation but the social obligations to men, children, and their community. Women were the guardian of the family in the 1960s, and lacked the free-will retained by men. The man they married, the structure he created, defined a woman. Song of Solomon directly touches on the heavy racism circling the times. Milkman and Guitar actively talk about racism and the cruelty of the white “nonhumans...
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...Song of Solomon was an interesting book that had me surprised and even sometimes disgusted. From reading the story, I think I got a better appreciation for cultural background and how our ancestors helped get us to where we are today. I may not have gone on some inspiring and eye-opening journey such as Milkman did, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have conversations with my family members and appreciate the roots of my culture. On the psychoanalytical lense aspect of the book, I got a better understanding of the relationship between the characters past, the present, and that allows me to make possible predictions about behavior that characters may have, and even be able to better understand why they think and act the way they do. I think the...
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...Song of Solomon is written in chronological order, but is filled with many flashbacks from a third person “omniscient” narrative. All the while she intertwines myth and reality, using “myths to underpin her narrative” as commented by Leslie Harris, with an ever changing bipolar type tone. To reveal the theme of “fight or flight” and abandonment of women, even Milkman’s rebirth, Morrison, in the Song of Solomon uses biblical allusions, song, symbols and flashbacks. Morrison uses flashbacks to help reveal the “flight” with flashbacks of Sugarman jumping off the hospital building, the community thinks it was a victory by him going through the “escape of segregation and racism of the world”, but then it leaves a “plague on the families” stated by Jill Matus. By leaving the wife to raise the kids alone in an already bad environment in the...
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...PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES AND SONG OF SOLOMON By: C. Bryan ESSAY SUBMITTED In Fulfillment of the Final Requirement For Series 14 At the Pillar of Truth Bible Institute October 5, 2014 First, I want to outline or list some of the demographics of Proverbs. Proverbs is the 20th book in the Bible and the 20th book in the Old Testament. It contains 31 chapters. There were at least four authors of this book. The main author of Proverbs was Solomon. Other writers were Agur, Lemuel and Hezekiah. While there is extensive information about Solomon in the Bible there is little or no Biblical information about Agur or Lemuel. Solomon was the son of King David. The writing of and completion of Proverbs took place somewhere around the year 800 B.C. Proverbs is a book of wisdom and gives us guidance on how we should live our daily lives. For example it instructs us on how to relate to God, our families and others including the people who have been given authority over us such as our elected government officials. Proverbs is like an “operator’s manual” or a hand-book for us to live by. It also teaches us in areas of our life such as pride, the way we talk, the way we work or refuse to work. Additionally, it teaches us about love, lust, anger, the use of intoxicating substances, service to others and even life and death. It outlines our duty to God. We are to trust, praise and worship God in everything we do or say. In our daily living and even in our thoughts....
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...Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, is best known for the work he has done in mythology and religion. His work is massive, covering a variety of characteristics of the human experience. An important work that he has developed is the path of the “Hero’s Journey”. This is a buildings roman story that helps the character find themselves throughout their given experience. In the novel “Song of Solomon” by Tori Morrison, Morrison explains with great detail the Hero’s Journey that Macon encounters. Through his journey, he encounters life changing experiences that shaped him into the person he grew up to be. Joseph Campbell describes the hero's journey as taking place in a cycle that consists of three most important phases,...
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...African Americans can get is from their community. In the novel, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Milkman, the main character, is searching for who he is and his identity. Through the help of people in his community and the lessons they teach, Milkman gains a sense of identity, knowledge of his background and roots, as well as pride for his race and community. Milkman lacks a connection to his family and his community and this causes him to have trouble loving other people. Milkman’s father is the only father figure present in the community but his presence is overbearing and dominant. Macon, Milkman’s father is overcome with greed and believes...
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...In the novel, Song of Solomon, the character Macon Dead’s son, who is named after him, gets stuck with the nick-name, “Milkman”. This nick-name has shaped milkman into a childish character that relies too much on his parents. His name originates from a scene in the novel where his mother is caught breast-feeding him past a normal age, and is a source of shame for both his mother and father. While this takes place at an age where he should remember the happenings of his youth, despite “his legs dangling almost to the floor,” his memory of this moment gets suppressed until he finally finds out the origin of this name. His name is also a major source of shame for his father, which puts strain on both the relationship between Milkman and his father...
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...has a meaning behind it. Some stories are useful to the characters and some aren't. Some of the stories help the characters heal and some just hurt them. Toni Morrison uses village literature in Song of Solomon, to help connect her people and the community. She tries to help people find themselves and who they really are. For example, Milkman one of the main characters is told many different stories. Milkman is very lost when he is young as he grew older he searched for answers. He was told many stories from not only his past but from his family's past. He learns all about his family's history and begins to understand many things he didn't before, after searching many...
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...Song of Solomon: Chapter 11 Journal • In the very last paragraph of Chapter 11, the writer uses a very strange arrangement of words and interesting sentence structure. The sentences are arranged in very short descriptions of Sweet’s actions and Milkman’s actions. Each sentence alternates between the two of them and each sentence describes an action one person is doing to please the other. The sentences describe how Milkman is caring for Sweet and how Sweet is caring for Milkman. The care they are giving and receiving includes bathing one another, providing food for the other and cleaning or completing other chores. The arrangement is unusual because the sentences are so short and to the point. I think these sentences and this paragraph shows...
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...In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Milkman allows the origin of his name to coincide with his own personal value and identity for an unfortunately long duration of the story. He is so curious for most of his life about his name that he subconsciously adds too much value to the origin of it, leading to his growing distress and dissatisfaction with his family and even somewhat himself. Had Milkman liked the story/background of his name, he would of held its meaning high on a totem pole, yet since he disdains its meaning he begins to eventually care less about his own name and more about making a name for himself. Obviously Milkman isn’t trying to change his own name because he knows it is stuck, but he finally comes to the decision to let go...
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...SIGNIFYING CIRCE IN TONI MORRISON’S SONG OF SOLOMON” “Signifying Circe in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon” is a critical essay written by Judith Fletcher. Within the essay Fletcher asserts that Song of Solomon’s structure is that of an archetypal heroic saga mixed with elements of African folklore. Fletcher explores how the character Circe, whose namesake is a figure of the same name in Homer’s Odyssey, is placed by Toni Morrison to guide the protagonist Milkman (Macon) Dead III. Fletcher also discusses how Circe’s character in Song of Solomon mirrors Circe’s character in the Odyssey in that she also sets the protagonist on his path to rebirth. Fletcher also Explores how Circe’s “association with animals is suggestive of her...
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