Toni Morrison’s, Song of Solomon Essay Example

invested in his family history and heritage. If without any knowledge of the gold's whereabouts Milkman would have gone back home without any real understanding of his family's past, much like Macon never did.

It is noteworthy that while Milkman embarks on a journey, his father Macon has not completed it and is still struggling with his past. Macon's inability to find peace with his heritage sets a bad example for Milkman. Despite the significance of one's past for shaping the future, Macon disregards this and focuses solely on his future. Pilate serves as a crucial source of authentic information for Milkman's quest. Without Pilate's narrative, Milkman would have been lost after realizing that the gold was gone.

Pilate provides Milkman with clear, concise, and thorough information, including her story about having "people" in Virginia. While a modest statement, it plants a seed of curiosity in Milkman's mind, leading to his search for his birthright. With Pilate's guidance, Milkman uncovers his heritage. Similarly, while Susan Byrd may be a minor character in Song of Solomon, Milkman would not have been able to piece together his family's legacy without the specifics she provides.

Despite initially providing Milkman with incorrect information, Susan Byrd did so because she wanted to protect her family's reputation from being tarnished by her friend Grace. While Milkman had already discovered much of what Susan tells him, her specific revelations about Solomon's flight prove crucial to the plot. It is only at the end that Milkman realizes he could not have unearthed the "power of flight" without Susan's help.

Without Susan's confirmation, Milkman would have lived with mere speculation regarding his family's history. Milkman's quest can be

characterized in several ways, including his pursuit of Pilate's gold, his exploration of his lineage, or his search for something that is lacking within himself. Ultimately, Milkman discovers the most significant of these elements: his sense of identity, rooted in his heritage. Throughout the novel, only Pilate is capable of inspiring Milkman's true love and ultimately guiding him to the truth he seeks.

Despite facing hindrances, Milkman receives help from almost everyone involved with him, including Pilate who offers the most assistance. His past determines his future like all human beings. While searching for his past and consequently his future, Milkman encounters numerous obstacles and aids. However, by the end of the novel, his life is a patchwork of different pieces belonging to various individuals, leaving it no longer truly his own.

When Milkman combines these patches, he finally discovers what he is searching for. Guitar introduces Milkman to Pilate, who plays a significant role in both his past and future. Pilate provides Milkman with Solomon's song and Macon's history. Through Pilate, Milkman uncovers similarities between his present life and his past.

Assisted by Pilate, Morrison demonstrates that Milkman's current existence is actually his family's history. Beginning from Milkman's birth, his family embarks on a journey surprisingly similar to that of his ancestors. From a young age, Milkman appears to be pathetically replicating his father's steps. Paying Pilate a visit acts as a symbolic portal for him, but his father endeavors to shut it firmly.

Ironically, Macon's attempt to prevent Milkman from delving into his past ultimately reveals a closer connection to his father's childhood. Although Milkman's visit to Pilate's house is against Macon's wishes, it ultimately leads

him down the same path taken by his ancestors whether he approves or not. Surprisingly, Macon's decision to prohibit Milkman from interacting with Pilate leads to the opening of even more doors than Pilate herself ever could have provided.

Macon tells his son that he worked alongside his father and suggests that Milkman come to his office after school to learn about reality and detach from Pilate. Macon states, "I worked right alongside my father, right alongside him" (51) and advises Milkman to work a few hours in his office.

Commencing Monday, I will instruct you in the way," declares Macon. Despite his unawareness, Macon's endeavors to divert Milkman from his past prove fruitless, as Macon's instruction method forces his son to reenact Macon's own history silently yet inevitably through their joint labor.

While following the same path as his father, Milkman becomes more and more disenchanted with him. Despite his disdain for both his father and his father's occupation, Milkman begins to adopt his father's mannerisms and traits. One such trait is his yearning for riches, as seen in Milkman's fantasies of opulence and wealth when thinking of Pilate's gold. Macon had similar aspirations in his youth, but these material desires clouded his vision for the future.

Despite his dreams, Milkman feels trapped in his current life and struggles to imagine a different one. Though he despises living with his family, he cannot accept his limited perspective of the future. He longs to escape the past that defines his family and threatens to overshadow his own existence. However, he realizes that his present and future are deeply intertwined with his family's history, and he cannot avoid

following their path through time.

Milkman journeys to Pennsylvania, where his father was born and raised, in his pursuit of the gold. He finds himself in Macon's home, surrounded by the rich history and culture of his ancestors. Along his journey, he encounters Circe, a surreal woman who seems to have lived more years than normal. According to her, she has given birth to almost everyone in the county throughout her many decades of existence (243). Through his interactions with Circe, Milkman discovers even more similarities between himself and his father. During their first encounter, Circe reminds him of the Weimaraners (240).

The importance of the statement is only surpassed by the following words spoken to him. "I always knew you would return, although not entirely accurate. Some days I had doubts and others I didn't think about it at all."

Even though she has lived for two centuries, she mistakes Milkman for Macon and believes in their physical and spiritual resemblance, seeing Milkman as the embodiment of the past. This is evidenced by her statement, “But you see, I was right. You did come” (240).

The deeper Milkman delves into his family tree, the more he embodies their history. A woman whose memories are unmatched recognizes Milkman as a concentrated embodiment of his ancestry. Circe's marks a stepping stone as Milkman journeys farther back in time, eventually ending up in Shalimar, named after his great-grandfather.

Shalimar is where history resides, embodied through folklores, tales, and music. Although silent in the present, the significance of this history remains unknown to many. The younger generation unknowingly sings the songs, while the older generation narrates myths without knowing their origins. A

closer examination of these mythical stories reveals a strong connection to personal experiences, particularly in the tale of Ryna. According to the legend, when Solomon abandoned her, Ryna lost her sanity and screamed uncontrollably until she reached a state of complete madness (318).

Similar to the story of Hagar, Milkman's experience has a peculiar resemblance. When he left Hagar, like Solomon, she became distraught and insane with sorrow. After uncovering Solomon's lineage in Shalimar, Milkman returns to Michigan with a newfound identity that profoundly affects him.

By gaining a newfound understanding and respect for his ancestors, Milkman is able to release himself from his previous material and financial burdens. His former arrogance is replaced with a desire to "go to Pilate's first" upon returning home. Milkman's acceptance and acknowledgement of his past allows him to break free from worldly obligations. Solomon's ability to fly home inspired Milkman to surrender to his own ancestral roots, freeing him to soar as well. During his final journey south, Milkman replicates the actions of his predecessors, ultimately becoming the ultimate embodiment of Solomon through his leap.

Milkman undergoes a significant transformation throughout the novel, grappling with the conflicting nature of his past and future as a child. In his youth, Milkman passively follows in the footsteps of others, failing to actively participate in his own life. However, as he matures, this conflict intensifies and compels him to seek out his past independently. Ultimately, the past he encounters is shrouded in obscurity, existing solely as a collection of fragmented memories and mythical tales.

While these narratives possess differing nuances, all of them are gradually vanishing, leaving behind a transforming and decaying past that

Milkman must unravel. By discovering the stories and experiencing his own life, Milkman effectively personifies his history, epitomizing the tales that are recounted and the teachings that are acquired. In his final journey down south, he realizes how tightly intertwined he is with the past. It is only when confronting death that he ultimately comprehends, "If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it" (337). Morrison situates Milkman in a world excessively preoccupied with anticipating what lies ahead.

The future holds the potential for dreams and is the focus of his father, Macon Dead. He is driven to maximize profits from real estate, neglecting his historical roots and heritage as a black individual.

Milkman strives to maximize his income and attain the pinnacle of success, which encompasses prosperity and physical well-being. However, his fixation on the past conflicts with his father's quest for future wealth on their excursion to Honore. Due to limited space in the car, Milkman can only sit in the front seat between his parents. To observe their surroundings, he must kneel on the dove gray seat and peer out the back window amidst the commotion of their laps, feet, and hands. While Macon ponders the prospects of "buying and renting," Milkman directs his attention to the rearview.

Milkman's fixation on the past, particularly on Macon's journey towards the future, creates conflicts in his relationships. He is unaware of his preoccupation with the past. While on a trip to Honore, Milkman needs to urinate and Magdalene startles him from behind, causing him to accidentally pee on her.

Morrison uses Magdalene and the conflicts surrounding Milkman to bring forth his haunting past

that he continuously focuses on. This tendency to concentrate on things of the past sets Milkman apart from the other characters, making him the only representative of the past in this first part of the story. Morrison may be suggesting the forthcoming search for Solomon or proposing a different direction altogether.