Essay on Control in Song of Solomon -- Song Solomon essays

Fight for Control in Song of Solomon The idea of complete independence and indifference to the surrounding world, symbolized by flying, stands as a prominent concept throughout Toni Morrisons novel Song of Solomon. However, the main character Milkman feels that this freedom lies beyond his reach he cannot escape the demands of his family and feel fulfilled at the equivalent time. As Milkmans scoop friend Guitar says through the novel, Everybody wants a black mans deportment, a statement Milkman easily relates to while seeking escape from his sheltered life at home. Although none of the characters in the story successfully take concur of Milkmans life and future, many make aggressive attempts to do so including his trounce friend Guitar who, ironically, sympathizes with Milkmans situation, his frustrated cousin Hagar, and most markedly his father, Macon Dead. Guitar Bains, Milkmans best friend since childhood, serves as Milkmans only outlet to life outside his cloistral an d reserved family. Guitar introduces Milkman to Pilate, Reba, and Hagar, as well as to normal townspeople much(prenominal) as those that meet in the barber shop, and the weekend party-goers Milkman and Guitar fraternize with regularly. However, despite their close friendship, the opportunity to gain a large amount of princely severs all their friendly ties. Guitar, suspecting Milkman took all the gold for himself, allows his greed and anger to visit his actions and sets out on a manhunt, ready to take Milkman down wheresoever and whenever he could in order to retrieve the hoarded riches. Guitars first few sniper attempts to turn tail Milkman did fail however, the ending of the novel leaves the reader with the imminent death of all Milkman or Guitar. Ironic that t... ... lives of the Dead family members Milkman, unable to live any seven-day in an environment composed of animosity, drives him to leave his home and search for his people. Serendipitously, although no single indi vidual gains control of either Milkmans living or perfectly life, Milkmans need to escape from his collective family and surroundings unwittingly captures him and the life he so fervently aims to keep from the control of others. Works Cited Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. unseasoned York Penguin Books, 1987. Schultz, Elizabeth. African and Afro-American Roots in Contemporary Afro-American books The Difficult Search for Family Origins. Studies in American Fiction 8.2 (1980) 126-145. Story, Ralph. An Excursion into the blackness World The Seven Days in Toni Morrisons Song of Solomon. Black American Literature assemblage 23.1 (1989) 149-158.