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 How to Read Song of Solomon like an AP student Hello, Seniors. Now that you have had a good break, and have finished reading Thomas Foster'sHow to Read Literature Like a Professor, it is time to embark on our blog posts for Toni Morrison'sSong of Solomon. Refer to the handout I gave you at the end of the school year. You will blog three times and comment on another student's blog three times in July, after chapter 4, chapter 9, and at the end of the book. The first blog will be due by midnight on July 5th.The deadlines will be posted on the blog and they are firm dates. Failure to blog or comment by midnight on the due date will result in a 0 out of 25 points. Once I have received all the blogs, I will approve them and post them, at which point you should choose one classmate to whom to respond. Try to pick someone to whom no one has yet responded, and try to respond to someone different each time. Everyone likes to be included in the conversation. Copy and print out your posts and comments, and whatever comments anyone makes to you. You will hand these in on the first day of class. Your first assignment is to go to the links I have posted on magical realism, Toni Morrison, plagiarism, and the Writers Almanac. The plagiarism site is a good reference in case you have any questions about this issue. The Writers Almanac is a great site that gives you the poem and historical facts of the day. Article posted June 5, 2012 at 09:32 AM • comment (45) • Reads 1138 • Return to Blog List Add a CommentPosted Comments  Dallas, Though I believe your perception of Hagar is right, I do not believe her acts are selfish, but rather impulsive. She gave herself to him, for the longest time, and he ended it so suddenly. Not only that, she seen him with another girl not long after. I believe she feels played with and used, and that belief drives her to impulsively attack him. I do agree that Pilate is strong and empowering, that she is independent, but I believe that she views her burdens more as a responsibility than being alienated. Ruth isn't the strongest of characters, but she won't leave Macon Jr because she has no where else to go and was unknown at the time. Guitar has a radical mind, but sees everything as his problems to solve. I agree that Guitar and Milkman are extreme opposites, but I believe it is because of this that they compliment each other. I never considered Milkman's apathy of discrimination was due to his lack of experience with it. I believe the characters, other than milkman, represent consistency. None of the characters truly change but adapt to their ages.
Comment Posted on July 19, 2012 at 08:36 PM by
Holli H.There are several things noticed when reading this last section the most prominent of which is the color blue which I noted previously. The color blue represents the burden or the secret that is weighted on the individuals in the book. For example the blue on Corinthian's dress and the wings or Mr. Smith, and the blue abyss that is the sky in the mind of Milkman. Letting go of a previous mold and the interpretations of others is a theme that has been shown through each character;s struggle. I enjoyed how Corinthians just became her own person and was not afraid to be alive, rather than red like the velvet roses.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 11:01 PM by
Nicole TThis section goes deeper into societies problems during that time periods. Instead of joining a proactive group against racism, Guitar becomes just as racist as any other person. Guitar's attacks with the Seven days and Hagar's attacks on milkman show how dangerous it was for an African American. I find that Milkman does not acknowledge many problems and he over looks many things such as his mother's crazy nature, Guitar's murderous ways, and societies actions. When he was pulled over he finally starts to realize how society acts. Meanwhile, Guitar's character starts to develop. I am not sure that I like who he turned out to be. Instead of planning how to kill a white person to avenge a death, he should be planning how to avenge the death legally. I feel like this will develop more later on in the story.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 09:00 PM by
KatieChapter 5 continues with Hagar and her obsessive love for Milkman. She feels as though since she cannot have him, he must die. When Milkman spends the night in Pilate's house, Hagar comes to him with a butcher knife and the supernatural aspect of Pilate is displayed as Milkman appears to the spirits for help. After Hagar fails to kill Milkman, Ruth, also being infatuated with Milkman confronts her. Morrison uses Ruth and Hagar's codependence in juxtaposition with Pilate's independence to show how strong of a female role model she really is. It is ironic how, in the novel, Pilate is so strong, but the Biblical character she was named after was known as a weak leader who could not stop the crucifixion. At this point in the novel, the dialogue grows to develop the characters, and the narration becomes more profound. Next, when milkman confronts Guitar about the gang he is in, Guitar says the point is to prevent a Hitler-like genocide of the blacks, but he is ironically acting like Hitler in his hatred of the whites. In chapter 9, the image of the peacock is used first as a symbol of wealth, but is ultimately a symbol of temptation. In both situations, the peacock is illustrated before an act of theft. In the end of chapter 9, readers see the irony in yhat Pilate took the white man's bones as an act of goodness, and her son takes white men's bones as an act of revenge.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 07:41 PM by
Shelby YThis section, so far, has thrown me through a loop. Macon tells a claimed lie about Milkman's mother, but leaves out his own flaws in the situation? Could that be part of the the guilt, or manipulation to get Milkman on his side? I found it important that on page 133, six lines down, that the author capitalized the word way, which is the last word in that sentence. Referring to Pilate, I think the author is trying to make way more than an option or lifestyle, but I cannot pinpoint exactly what it portrays. I find it ironic that Guitar is the Sunday man, the group called Seven Days, both Holy aspects, yet both commit unholy and sinful acts. It seems to me that this shows that what someone may think is right may not always be right. The peacock is symbolic for materialistic dreams that are out of reach. Milkman and Guitar both chase it but never succeed in catching it; same as with the gold. It confuses me on how long it takes some of the characters to take action and change the way life is going for them. Corinthians finally quits having high standards and falls for a guy who likes her even at the age of forty-two. Magdalene for the first time stands up to Milkman and uses her full name instead of timidly hiding behind rose petals. Macon, who held a grudge against Pilate for many years renews his belief that she has taken the gold, which is unlikely since Pilate has no taste for materialistic values. The only character who has yet to really change is Milkman, who seems to walk around befuddled by the choices and actions of those around him but having no real thoughts of his own. The ghost love that is so intricately described reminded me, for some odd reason, of a quote from The Matrix. One had said, "to deny our impulse is to deny the very thing that makes us human". At the same time the author describes Hagar's actions as uncontrollable impulses that she is grateful Pilate punishes her for. I find it appropriate that Pilate named the man killed Mr. Solomon, representing her duty to his life, while Song of Solomon represents a book in the old testament that stands for the relationship between the human soul and Christ. Mr. Solomon could be thought of as that relationship, and brings Milkman's quest to a higher intensity.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 06:50 PM by
Holli H.In this section of Song of Solomon, we learn more about the other characters. We learn Pilate's backstory and the fact she has no navel symbolizes strength and empowerment. She is different and she takes it with stride. Hagar is selfish and needs Milkman's love to make her whole and Ruth is weak and will not leave Macon Dead Jr. even though he is abusive. But Pilate does not need love to go on. She is independent and is capable of doing what she wants. But with this freedom comes a price because although she is empowering and strong, people think of her as evil and alienate her because she is not afraid to be free. Guitar represents those with strong extremely radical minds. Guitar represents those who want to see a change happen but feel the need to use violence to get the point across. Milkman represents those who are passive when it comes to African American rights. He does not care because he is not discriminated against. The pair's views go from one extreme to another. There is no character who thinks that the race issue should be solved peacefully. When Milkman and Guitar steal the tarp from Pilate and get pulled over by the cops for no specific reason, it surprises Milkman that a cop would do that. This is Milkman's first taste of real discrimination. Does anyone else have an opinion on what the characters symbolize?
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 05:47 PM by
Dallas B. At this point in the novel, I find myself wondering if Milkman is, in some way, related to Solomon, as the title suggests. This thought is in the back of my head as I read, and I'm unable to put together the peaces. However, in this section, the symbols jumped out at me. The use of supernatural elements, like Milkman's shrinking leg, ghosts, and even Milkman resisting Hagar's attack. All of these display magical realism. One particular series of events that I noticed was the white ghosts, like the peacock, appeared before something bad happened. This shows me that Milkman and Guitar are greedy as well, searching for the gold and the peacock. Guitar ironically expresses his disdain for whites by justifying revenge for a black's death, believing his cause is right, when in reality, it is not. Although Milkman knows it's not, and says it's not, I wonder why he still is friends with someone like that. The more I think on it, it could be their childhood roots as well as their common desire for money that brings them together. Lastly, I believe that the growing leg represents his character growing. As the book progresses, Milkman begins to work out his inner demons, but still has many to fight off.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 04:48 PM by
Jennifer B.Throughout these next few chapters, I found that Milkman was changing slowly but surely. He still does not know exactly what he wants for himself in his near future, but he has an idea. He knows that he wants to be on his own and be successful, but holding him back is his inability to make decisions for himself. One example of this was him realizing he would go to jail if caught stealing the “gold” from Pilate but letting Guitar talk him into sticking with the plan. Another example of his lack of ability to decide was him choosing to use the idea of stealing from Pilate as a way to enjoy some time with his friend, bring Guitar back to his old self, rather than talk some sense into his friend. When Guitar tells Milkman that the white peacock, which symbolizes their greed, cannot fly because of the weight of its tail, Guitar says one must let go of what is weighing him or her down in order to fly. I think this weight keeping Milkman “grounded” is his indecisiveness. If he wants a successful future, he will have to stand his ground and make his own choices. When Pilate talks about the island man telling her to sing, I figured she just had a good singing voice. But when her father reappeared to tell her to sing, I connected it to the title. Perhaps Pilate lives the life of the narrators in the Bible’s Song of Songs, or Song of Solomon.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 02:46 PM by
Marae SIn this section, Morrison uses opposing characters to get across the point of different views throughout the time period. First, there is the example of Milkman and Guitar. Both have completely opposite outlooks on African American pride. Guitar believes he should get revenge on the white people who have harmed his people, while Milkman sits back with no true interest in the matter. He does not get involved. The second incident is with Hagar and Pilate. Although related, they are completely different in the sense that Hagar feels that she needs a man to survive, while Pilate lives as an independent woman. The white peacock mentioned in this section did not seem like the usual white symbolism portrayed in most novels. The peacock seemed to foreshadow evil and bad for the two boys, Guitar and Milkman. It was almost like the event with the peacock was symbolizing the whole bit with stealing the gold. Stealing the gold was evil, and they continued to pursue it, which showed their greed. The boys still attempted to pursue the peacock. In chapter nine is the first section that Corinthians true character was revealed. In this chapter, it is revealed that she is a materialistic woman who feels she is better than most. She does not want people to know her occupation and does not want people to see her with a man she met on the bus. At the end of this chapter, though, we see a major change in heart after they got into a big fight. She finally decides that she wants him, which makes me anxious to see her character further develop throughout the rest of the novel.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 11:45 AM by
Abbi L.In this section, The Seven Days were brought up in a conversation between Guitar and Milkman. The Seven Days are seven men for everyday of the week who kill any white person the same way a black person was killed. This is seen to Guitar as a good way to even out the different races. Although, to Milkman, it is just another murder and he feels that it is wrong. Guitar's involvement in this group is what begins the transformation of Guitar and Milkman's friendship. Milkman is frequently thinking about how easy it probably is for Guitar to kill someone. The way Hagar wants to kill Milkman just goes along with the theme of battered women. It is just another way a woman is seen as less and is defeated by her way of life. The story of the gold that Macon is set on to find is in the story to show how the gold symbolizes his greed. Macon and Milkman are willing to rob their own family for gold that may or may not still be around. Also, in this section, Pilate mentions her father's ghost repeatedly telling her to sing. Singing seems to be a form of release for Pilate. It is a way for her to be in touch with her past and to be free from it at the same time. I believe the peacock Guitar and Milkman saw in the parking lot was an interesting detail in the story. Guitar wanted to catch the peacock and eat it. While Milkman just wanted it to be free. This is a metaphor for the two different types of people Milkman and Guitar are. Guitar is tied down with his principles and the way he thinks, however, Milkman is wanting to fly away free. Guitar said a quote that I fell in love with: "Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down. (pg 179)" This quote shows that Guitar is willing to give up everything to get away. This mindset may be dangerous to those around him. Finally, in the Chapter nine, Lena finds a spark of empowerment and tells Milkman he will no longer have control of any of the women who live in the house. I believe that this is the beginning of a shift in the book. I just do not know what it will end up meaning overall.
Comment Posted on July 15, 2012 at 11:24 AM by
Sydney M.Chapter 5 seems to be mostly focused on Milkman's relationship with the women in his life, most noticeably Hagar and Ruth. My previous thoughts on the change in Hagar's personality became true as she became so anguished in her love for Milkman, she opted to kill him out of revenge for hurting her. Seeing as how Hagar has become an important character, I looked up the meaning of her peculiar name, which means "Flight." This obviously isn't a coincidence as flight and freedom have become a central part of the novel, and in chapter five Hagar wants to be free of Milkman's hold on her, so she resorts to violence. Later on in chapter 6, Guitar is shown to have completely lost himself in his own hatred, setting himself up as another obstacle for Milkman to overcome. However, Milkman's conversation with Guitar show's Milkman's character development, as instead of being a selfish and arrogant young man, he voices his pleas for Guitar to see people as people, regardless of skin color. Milkman's change as a person is further shown in chapter nine, when his short leg, perhaps symoblizi9ng his own shortcomings as a person, goes back to normal size. This could be foreshadowing that Milkman will attempt to make a change in the future and help others for once.
Comment Posted on July 10, 2012 at 05:28 PM by
Erin T.Andrea, I knew that I would like the book because I had previously read a Toni Morrison book. The way milkman is constantly referred to as milkman and not his actual name is funny also but I think it is meant to degrade him. It plays into a racial role also. He is a wealthier African American but yet he is still degraded as "the milkman". I honestly do not see how he and everyone else blocks the true meaning to his name out. His parents probably blocked it because of social status, but why everyone else? The book is set pre civil rights and their race haults acceptance of any kind from the wealthier people like you said. I think many of the characters are normal people, but the tone of that time period towards them is negative. I can think of many people that I know of all races to fit the description of one of the characters.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 07:13 PM by
KatiePayton D, I absolutely love how you broke down each element in the first chapter or “How To Read Literature Like a Professor.” This shows that you grasped that book and you are capable of applying it to other novels. You even included a reference to another book, “The Odyssey”. I also like how you included a prediction to a future event that could possibly happen in your mind. It helps everyone else see that it could happen but that there are also other possible outcomes. It seems by your last sentence that you are you counting on Milkman to lead you through the book. I assume that you are giving him the role as the main character. Other than the names coming from the bible, I am experiencing the same feeling that you are in the fact that there is something symbolic but that I have not fully grasped it just yet.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 05:47 PM by
Andrea MShelby Y. While I agree with you that Milkman is, to an extent, unsure of who he is, I think that just the fact that he yearns to be so unlike his dad is a defining characteristic for him. He may not know who he is exactly, or what he wants to do with his life, but he knows who he does not want to be, and that is his father. Though, of course, despite these convictions, he does seem to be getting roped into the family business. Perhaps, in trying so hard to be the opposite of his father, he will start to become him instead.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 04:45 PM by
Nick B.Madison R. I believe that Ruth's constant need for washing the water mark is more of her way of coping with being trapped in an unhappy marriage. To me, the table represents Ruth, while the watermark, staining and diminishing the beauty of the table, is Macon. Ruth's constant washing of the mark seems to be her way of trying to wash away Macon, which she cannot do in her normal life. Pilate's name also stood out to me. When I first saw her name and the Biblical connotation that went with it, I thought, "Who would name their child after the person that was responsible for Jesus' crucifixion?" Her name provides further insight into what her early life may have been like.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 02:22 PM by
Erin T.Marae, I’m glad you noticed the eating scene with Malcon and his family. With the help of Foster’s book I was able to sight a lot more in just this first section than I would before. Also I found the driftwood decoration not only as a sort of outlet for her troubles that she cannot get away from but also as a cry for help. That maybe someone will notice it and rescue her from the terror that is her husband. I had also pointed out the importance of the character’s names and how this may describe their actions and maybe their future.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 12:42 PM by
Samuel PNicole, I really liked how you compared Milkman to Dorian Grey towards their innocence. It gives me a new way to examine Milkman’s character in a new and familiar light. I also liked how you pointed out the color comparison with blue and the light blue. I would have never noticed the possible Greek mythology hidden in the text but now I know what to look for which will hopefully give me some great insight.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 12:34 PM by
Samuel PShelby, I like how you compared the characters' personalities as heaven and hell. This comparison reminds me of the magical realism article. The fact that heaven and hell are two different components, gives this plot a great example of magical realism. I disagree that Morrison perfectly illustrates Milkman's longing for independence. Personally, I believe his actions speak louder than his words. Yes, it has been said that he wants to distance himself from the likes of his father. But, for much of the plot, he has conformed to the life that has been laid for him.
Comment Posted on July 9, 2012 at 08:22 AM by
Jayda M.Holli H., I also agree that the names throughout this story hold their own individual meanings that will be found out as the story unfolds. One of my biggest questions is why they do not refer to Lena by her real name. I just wonder how the number three represents the three Wise Men. There have been no signs of three wise people throughout the story. Maybe, Pilate but everyone seems to have an ignorance that keeps them from moving forward in life.
Comment Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:13 AM by
Sydney M.Dallas, I liked how you emphasized Guitar's defiance and angst towards the white opression. His attitude definately symbolizes the feelings of many African Americans during that time period because it was such a severe problem. Milkman will probably become more of his own man. The situations we are being presented with thus far; hard by circumstance father, weirdly affectionate mother, eccentric aunt, and a closet full of skeletons, are setting up a moral in themselves. Perhaps these individuals will all be representing with the different factors of society's engagements with African Americans.
Comment Posted on July 7, 2012 at 03:32 AM by
Nicole TSydney M. I somehow overlooked the fact that milkman was born on the day of the suicide. I think it is important to see the death as not only a suicide, but a means of escape for freedom. As you mentioned, the theme of flight is mentioned in excess, but another way to look at it is a quest for freedom. The racism I noticed, but I saw more of a prejudice between social classes.
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 08:25 PM by
Shelby Y.Nicole, oh how I envy your insightful responses. I never noticed the color imagery or the blue motif. Perhaps the color blue is symbolic of freedom or some form of escape from reality. Robert Smith's blue silk wings, Hagar's bright blue place. Maybe blue is used as a calming mechanism for the characters. I also didn't see the incestuous relationships as an allusion to Greek mythology. Perhaps we will see more of these motifs and allusions as the novel progresses
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 07:33 PM by
Dallas B. Andrea M., I wish to point out the fact that breast feeding can, according to anthropologists, last up to seven years. Being this novel is set in the thirties, breast feeding could have lasted longer or shorter depending on where they live due to the Great Depression. I couldn't really differentiate a good African American from a bad one, but rather the strength of their desire to be treated equal. Being Milkman was from a richer family, he has yet to see that racism still exists and to hear it on the radio rather than see it makes it more fantasy rather than reality. Others, like the men in the bar, have seen racist incidents first hand and are angrier than ever to hear how much it has escalated. Though there may be some humor in the novel, I have yet to pick up on any, though humor is strictly an opinion. I do, however, agree that this book is a good read due to the Biblical references, the characters, and Toni Morrison's writing style.
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 07:20 PM by
Holli H.Madison R. Looking at our responses side by side, I have realized that I missed quite a few points in the novel so far. For example, I did not notice the mentioning of Milkman's eyes. However, I disagree on one point. You wrote that the water stain is a symbol of Ruth's desire to please Macon. I believe that the water stain is a symbol of Ruth's feelings for her father. She mentions several ways to get rid of it, but never does. She always brings it up in conversation. I believe that is how she feels about her father. She does not want to get rid of it because she wants to always remember him. She always brings it up because she wants everyone else to remember him too. In a way, it could also be her trying to displease Macon. It is an imperfection in his home. She mentions ways to get rid of it to please him, to make him think she is working on it. However, she never does anything to try to remove it. Samantha D.
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 07:09 PM by
Samantha DegeyterThroughout chapters 1-4 of Toni Morrison's The Song of Solomon, the title of the novel struck me as symbolic of the biblical character Solomon. Within Thomas C. Foster's novel How to Read Literature Like a Professor, the chapter "... or the Bible" states that many books relate to the Bible as to connect symbols with an author's intentions on a subject. At first, I thought that Macon was Solomon, or perhaps Ruth. I then realized that, at the moment, I believe Milkman is the figure of Solomon. Both characters are different, and yet the same in many ways, such as Milkman hitting his father for abusing Ruth in chapter 3, a sign that Milkman is good. Yet, his indulgence in sin, like Solomon, hurts him. Flight as a means to escape is an important topic to this novel, as flight is used as the characters' wistful thinking to escape the situation they are in. Quests are prevailent within the novel, especially with the protagonist, Milkman. He wants to be exactly the opposite of his father (growing facial hair, wearing different clothes), and yet wants to be similar to him. Morrison points out that successful blacks are rejected by both colors--misfits within the community. Some of Guitar's friends dislike Milkman because they know he is from a successful family. Because of this rejection, Milkman is on a quest to discover who he really is. Lastly, the one aspect I'm curious to see is if Pilate will play a bigger role. Out of all of them, she is my favorite. Her and Macon's relationship is tragic, however.
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 01:55 PM by
Jennifer B.Andre, You had some very intriguing things too say. It really does seem as if the only character mentioned in a consistent fashion is Milkman, and maybe Guitar. I would be interested to see what became of his sisters and how their presence in his childhood is more important than their presence in his years as a young adult. As for the jumps in time, I think Ms. Morrison is leading into a specific event in time that requires the explaining of Milkman's life. The big detail never makes sense without the little ones, am I right?
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:53 AM by
Payton D.Lindsey, I think the incident with Milkman riding backward in the car was one of my favorite symbolic parts thus far in the novel. You said you see it as trouble in the future, and I could not agree more. I see this trouble occurring, though, because of his upsetting past. It makes him uneasy facing backward because he cannot face his horrid past.
Comment Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:07 AM by
Abbi L.The first aspect of the novel that I picked up on is the names. Milkman, Guitar, Empire State, and the name of any man near to Milkman in age reminds me of Native American names; both were given due to situations they were found in. Milkman seemed to reluctantly accept his name because of his refusal to be anything like his father. Mr. Smith, a common name that proves his existence is solely for the plot, is symbolic for freedom. He never flies, symbolic that freedom for blacks is yet to come. His sister, Magdalene, never goes by her full name, is shortened to Lena. I find this to have importance, unknown at this point, because the author stresses this point. Three is a number that comes up; he is the third child, compares Hagar to a third drink, the three women who are his relatives. This number, in the Bible, usually represents the three days between Jesus' death and resurrection, but I look upon it more as the three wise men. The author uses her life as a political backgrounds with some social similarities. Hopefully light will be shed more on how the story of Mr. Smith is linked to Milkman's life.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:49 PM by
Holli H.When I first got interested to this book, I assumed that I most likely would not enjoy it by just looking at the cover. But one should never judge a book by its cover, because I have mistaken myself. I started reading Song of Solomon and fell in love with it. I fell I love with Toni Morrison’s writing style, the characters, and the biblical references that were made. In chapter one, I thought it was funny when the part about Milkman being breast fed way past infancy was mentioned. In reality today, no one does this sort of action. It was entertaining that even though the book has a serious set mood, there is still humor in it to keep a reader’s attention. You can definitely tell the racial differences and conflicts in the novel whether it is the good or bad African Americans. You can tell if they are usually good or bad by their appearance, their language, and where they are from. Reading Foster’s book, How To Read Literature Like A Professor, helped me make predictions on certain situations and also helped me as a reference.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:45 PM by
Andrea MSo far, I am genuinely enjoying this novel, honestly much more than I expected to. Milkman's struggle to find who he is, to become a "whole man," as his father Macon says, is very aptly described in a way that is not too wordy or lengthy. While not going into detail about every happening in his life, the major events are covered, and, to me, at least, this relative brevity makes this novel much easier to digest. The elements of magical realism throughout the book so far are fantastic. Everything magical seems to happen in a dreamlike state for milkman, with odd inexplicable things seeming perfectly normal to him. And in one instance of it, when his mom was consumed by the rapidly growing flowers, he actually does describe it to Guitar as a dream, "because he didn't want to tell him that it had really happened, that he had really seen it." This shows that, perhaps, he is in a state of disbelief of these events himself, that maybe he is just crazy and sees things, or dreams when he thinks he is awake.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:38 PM by
Nick B.Song of Solomon has been a unique read so far. I have found that there are many correlations in her piece to the distinctions in Foster's "How to Read Literature like a Professor". In the beginning I noticed that there was such rich imagery especially when using colors. When the velvet rose petals are scattered people found themselves more engaged with the petals than Mr. Smith on the roof. The petals are symbols of how the children were sheltered, and more accurately, controlled. By them being exposed to such an event, the control over what they were given to experience, was lost. In reference to How to Read Literature like a Professor, I noticed intertextuality, that is the way texts communicate and live through one another. In the first section Milkman reminds me of Dorian Gray. Having lost his innocence, he is turning into a more indulgent "boy-hood"(93), rather than the matured life of a 31 year old and it is becoming degenerative. Guitar also comments on the negative effect this lifestyle is having on Milkman. One motif I found interesting was blue and light blue. The events that this color is being related to, are not ones that have the connotation that the color usually conveys.Hagar goes into a "bright blue place" (99) when she reads Milkman's letter, and Mr. Smith has "blue silk wings"(3) as he about to jump off the hospital. Does the color symbolize a kind of rebirth? Also, thinking in terms of Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor, the insestuous sextality occuring might have some Greek mythiological relevance.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:10 PM by
Nicole TMy attention was first brought to the water mark on the table in the Dead's household. Ruth Dead's constant need to clean and bring attetnion to this water mark and is also compared to a man in prison and a life house.This symbolizes the constant lonliness Ruth feels and need for attention and approval that Ruth tries to grasp from her husband, Macon Dead. Ruth's intimate relationship with her father was also very interesting and has effected her deeply. Ruth is a struggling character through these four chapters and one can predict, will be through out the entire book. One's attention can also be brought to the fact that Milkman's eyes are mentioned more than once and is also mentioned in a way to distract Ruth from the fact that she has been breastfeeding him for longer than needed. One can find this interesting because not only are the eyes of a person said to be the path to their soul but it is also a barrier for Ruth, to not allow her to face the fact that she has been brestfeedig her child for longer than needed. Pilate Dead's name can be brought to one's attention because, her name was found out of the Bible, regarding, Pantious Pilat, the man who was responsible for Jesus being crucifide, Pilate Dead, when born, killed her mother.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:08 PM by
Madison R.I like how the characters are first introduced. Instead of starting the story off in the viewpoint of milkman, Morrison throws in a story from his past. It connects Guitar, Ruth, Pilate and the other characters. It is as if Mr Smith died in order for Milkman to be born. Milkman is born into a very unusual family. I have sympathy for Ruth, but she also repulses me. Her husband is abusive but that does not mean she can act like she does. I think the ring on the table represents her passion for a different life. She wants an exciting life, one without her husband. When Hagar, Reba, and Pilate are introduceditbis ironic how Reba is lucky and always guesses right but yet she is not married, the wrong race for that time period, poor, and lives with her mother. The biblical references jump out at me on almost every page. Pilate is seen as mystical or the devil while Macon and his family are named after biblical passages. This seems hypocritical. Macon's family is very sinful.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 09:20 PM by
KatieThe first four chapters of Song of Solomon were rather revealing. I find that the novel is filled symbolism in the characters alone. Macon Dead Jr. personifies death in the sense of mercilessness and destruction, but Pilate Dead personifies the freedom in death. In a sense, they are heaven and hell. Milkman, on the other hand, is unsure of who he is. Everything he does seems to be for the sake of opposition and carelessness. He does not wish to be structured like his father, because he longs to personify the opposite of what his father has become. In the third chapter, Morrison perfectly illustrates Milkman's long to be different when he is walking against the flow of traffic on his way to Guitar's house. As for his relationship with Hagar, he treats her carelessly as well and eventually tires of her. I am anxious to see how Morrison further develops the plot and what new characters will be introduced.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 08:51 PM by
Shelby Y.To my surprise I think I am actually going to like this book. I noticed a few symbols in just this first section such as the watermark on the table, the artificial roses, and singing. The watermark symbolizes the destruction in the Dead family and reminds Ruth of her father’s death. Roses symbolize love while to Lena and First Corinthians the artificial flowers they make symbolize the absence of love in their family. What stood out to me the most was the powerful hold that singing takes on the characters, especially on Macon Jr. I think it will serve as a guide and uplift their lives. I found Pilate to be the most interesting character, she is very different and seems mysterious to me. I am starting to see the deeper meaning of each character’s name and I hope to understand the symbolism in it by the next section. I also happened to notice that Milkman feels uneasy when he rides in the car sitting backwards and he concentrates on what is behind him, I think this may foreshadow trouble in the future. If anyone has any ideas or thoughts on the symbolism feel free to comment.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 08:16 PM by
Lindsey TIn chapter 2 it is noted that Macon Dead drives a car labeled as the "hearse" which is very fitting for a man such as he, not only because his last name is strongly connected with hearses, but because of his personality. Macon is a cold, cruel man who's only concern seems to be money, an example being when he is not concerned for his tenant's attempt at suicide. It can be concluded from this that his spirit is "dead," as he seems to have little goodness left in him. This is setting up Macon as an antagonist, or at least a trial to overcome, in the protagonist's life. Milkman's demeanor in this section can only be classified as arrogant. Not only is he disinterested in the racial violence and injustice in his town, but he is "bored" by almost everything in his life. This can be attributed to his own upbringing in an upper-class African American family, which did not suffer the same injustices as other African Americans in their town. Another example of Milkman's arrogance is the way he treats Hagar. After she becomes "his" he loses interest in her, even though she is in love with him, which also echos the mostly dysfunctional relationship he has with women. The way Milkman seems to only care about himself and disregards others may be the obstacle he will have to face and attempt to overcome in the future.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 07:52 PM by
Erin T.In the Song of Solomon, flight as a means of escape of the world is often used. It was used to describe the Insurance Agent in chapter one, as "having to fly away on his own wing". This reoccurring theme presented itself again when the young boy who was born the day of the suicide wondered why he could not fly. He mentioned to live without the gift of flight saddened him deeply. Milkman, acquired his name as a form of ridicule when he was found still nursing from his mother at the age of five. So far, throughout chapters one through four, Milkman's hardest conflict is finding out who he really is in this world. The world is trying to tell him to be like his father, but he wants to be more than what if father is to the world. Milkman is one of the main characters and is also the narrator of the story. The names of the rest of his family(Corinthians, Magdalene name Lena, and Ruth) are allusions to the Bible. Also, the story of Robert Smith(the Insurance Agent) and his wings is an allusion to the story of Daedalus and Icarus. As Foster said, there is many symbols, and it is all political. One of the main conflicts is the racism between blacks and whites. Although, many symbols and allusions were found, I have yet to find the connection between the title of the novel and the plot.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 05:39 PM by
Sydney MIn this section, an issue that seems to be prominent is whether society should test their limits. This issue begins on the very first page when Robert Smith is about to “fly” from Mercy Hospital. Many called him ridiculous, while one woman decided to sing a peaceful song out to him. Instead of supporting his idea, many ridiculed his thoughts of trying his ideas. This issue is brought up again in chapter three when a man named Till is murdered for whistling at a white woman and refusing to deny he had slept with others. After this was announced on the radio, all the men and boys gathered listening to it argued over whether Till should have performed these actions. Many of the men called him ignorant for trying to pull a stunt like that, but one man, Porter, argued that he is a real man for standing up for himself and testing his limits. These two incidents prove that a major theme in this novel will be learning to go against the social norm to better society and gain more freedoms. Another issue is finding one’s true identity. Macon Dead III does not like the idea of sharing his father’s name. He tries as hard as possible to deviate from his father’s shadow. The reason for this is because he feels, although they share a name, they are each their own person. His feelings become even stronger when he discovers that this name was born into the family by accident. Following this discovery, he comes to the realization that his nickname, Milkman, was given to him for corrupt reason. This jumpstarts his want to be his own person and, in a way, earn his own name.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 03:13 PM by
Abbi L.In the first chapter alone, Song of Solomon sets up some key symbols and themes. Robert Smith's vain attempt at flight and ultimate death is symbolic and foreshadowing that any other characters who attempt to deviate from circumstances that are unfavorable are set up to fail. The conflict of racism is evident from the beginning of the novel. This is apparent when the white nurse tells Guitar to go to the admissions desk to get a security officer. Thinking he is too ignorant to spell, she spells the word "admissions" to him but she spells it incorrectly and Guitar notices her error. Another apparent issue is the difference in social class. It is evident that the Dead family has more money than the other African Americans in their community. In chapter two, Milkman's father, Macon Jr., takes the family for a ride through the bad part of town in their brand new car to show them where he wants to build upscale summer homes for African Americans. This shows the Dead family's social status and how Macon Jr. likes to show off his wealth to the lower class. In the rest of chapter two, three and four, we see Guitar's hate for white people grow stronger. He tells Milkman about how his father got killed due to white employers and he speaks passionately against the injustices against African Americans to the men in the barber shop. We also see Milkman diverging from his father's ways more and more. He goes to Pilate's house, even though his father told him not to go there. Milkman also purposefully does everything opposite his father so people do not think that he is like his father. But as the novel progresses Milkman becomes more selfish, not caring about Guitar's problems and expecting to get whatever he wants out of life. Even hitting his father was only to prove his manhood. Milkman only knows a life where everything is handed to him and as the story progresses I think that he will learn how to be appreciative and have more genuine feelings towards other people.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 03:02 PM by
Dallas B. Response to Chapters 1-4 of Song of Solomon We may be only four chapters in, but already I have to admit that Song of Solomon is a very interesting book. Then again, I can now see that it is a smaller book than I first thought, so four chapters is actually a significant ways in. In any case, I am finding it an incredible read causing many different trains of thought. For instance, before even getting to the book, the title jumped out at me, and now, having gotten a through a good portion of the book, I am having several thoughts about it. The “Song of Solomon” is from The Bible, and so we can infer that Morrison’s book will probably have similar themes and base meaning to the biblical song. But, on the other hand, with the Dead family tradition of naming newborns and the large amount of singing that has been going on in these first few chapters I am going to assume that the title also has a more literal meaning, and that there is someone along the Dead family lineage to whom song is significant in some way. On a separate note, I would like us to look at Morrison’s style of writing, specifically her tendency to casually mention situations the audience has no knowledge of, and then wait to explain them fully on a different page, leaving us guessing and pondering all the while. There is a saying, “Don’t put a gun onstage unless you plan to fire it.” Well, by the end of chapter four I think that there are so many guns onstage (so many unresolved subplots and half-mentioned characters) that we won’t be able to fire them all by the end of the book. For instance, I must wonder whether or not we will see more of Lena and Corinthians in the near future. The narration is currently centered on Milkman , and them being his sisters you would think they would have major roles to play, but at the moment they seem no more major than Freddie the Janitor. Or possibly it is the other way around, and there are no minor characters and everyone mentioned will play their part in the chapters to come. And speaking of narration, I have to wonder if it will stay with Milkman for the duration of the story. The narrative voice is centered on him, but only in the third person, leaving room to talk about others and their perspectives. And with all of this time jumping going on, who knows if Milkman will still be alive by the end. At this point we can really only assume. Which leads me to my questions. Do you think everything will be explained by the end of the novel, or will some things be left for the reader to determine for themselves? Will there continue to be these seemingly random jumps forward in time? Is the story really about Milkman, or are we just seeing it mainly through his eyes for the moment?
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:53 PM by
Andre L.Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon" was, if anything, a surprisingly interesting novel for a summer reading assignment. But in analyzing this book, there remains the feeling that everything is symbolic, and I just haven't caught onto it yet. Everything in the first four chapters seems devoted too the forming of Milkman's character as he grows older, which can be related back to the VERY FIRST CHAPTER, "Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not)". It includes all of the elements Foster talked about: a knight (Milkman), a dangerous road (growing up with a particularly abusive father, and meeting with his aunt Pilate), a Holy Grail (as of now seems to be finding a niche, but is rather unclear), at least one dragon (Macon Dead Jr.), and a princess (Hagar) which never has anything to do with the Holy Grail. Now more often than not, our knight will go off for his princess, but Milkman breaks off the relationship, possibly foreshadowing another metaphorical princess, maybe? Which could make Hagar a siren of sorts, like those in Homer's "The Odyssey", keeping him from his Holy Grail. Meaning he may not have even found a princess just yet. I will read on and see what Milkman has in store for me.
Comment Posted on July 5, 2012 at 07:23 AM by
Payton D.How to Read Like a Professor, written by Thomas Foster, refers several times to Toni Morrison’s 1977 novel, Song of Solomon. One of the points that Foster discusses in his novel refers to the characters’ names in Song of Solomon. Toni Morrison uses an interesting technique to describe the reason for each character’s name. She explains that the family randomly chooses a name when a member is born. The random choice is done by opening the Bible and randomly choosing a proper noun. Once I began to read Song of Solomon, I recalled the concept of each character’s names. Moreover, Foster describes the background behind Robert Smith’s attempted flight with Icarus’ story. The relation between the two stories is very similar regarding the fantasies to fly. I am actually enjoying this novel. The characters, themes, and plot grasped my attention within the first chapter. I find Toni Morrison’s style very detailed. By this, I mean she does not leave me lost in the plot. I find many of the characters as different symbols. For example, Macon symbolizes an onion because a layer of his life must be released for me to learn more about him. Also, I believe the secrets behind Guitar will be an image to this story. Furthermore, this story represents magical realism with the flying issue. It is an issue because it is a mind and realistic concept. It is clear that Milkman has the thought in his mind of flying, but the realistic view of that is death.
Comment Posted on July 4, 2012 at 09:03 PM by
Jayda MalveauxHow to Read Like a Professor, written by Thomas Foster, refers several times to Toni Morrison’s 1977 novel, Song of Solomon. One of the points that Foster discusses in his novel refers to the characters’ names in Song of Solomon. Toni Morrison uses an interesting technique to describe the reason for each character’s name. She explains that the family randomly chooses a name when a member is born. The random choice is done by opening the Bible and randomly choosing a proper noun. Once I began to read Song of Solomon, I recalled the concept of each character’s names. Moreover, Foster describes the background behind Robert Smith’s attempted flight with Icarus’ story. The relation between the two stories is very similar regarding the fantasies to fly. I am actually enjoying this novel. The characters, themes, and plot grasped my attention within the first chapter. I find Toni Morrison’s style very detailed. By this, I mean she does not leave me lost in the plot. I find many of the characters as different symbols. For example, Macon symbolizes an onion because a layer of his life must be released for me to learn more about him. Also, I believe the secrets behind Guitar will be an image to this story. Furthermore, this story represents magical realism with the flying issue. It is an issue because it is a mind and realistic concept. It is clear that Milkman has the thought in his mind of flying, but the realistic view of that is death.
Comment Posted on July 4, 2012 at 08:56 PM by
Jayda MalveauxResponse to chapters 1-4: The novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison was originally published in 1977. Milkman Dead, the main character, is son to Macon Dead and Ruth Foster Dead. His sisters are First Corinthians and Magdalene called Lena. Guitar is Milkman's best friend and Freddie is the family's helper. The novel is set in a time span across the nineteen hundreds in North Carolina. In chapters one through four the plot has centered on Milkman growing up. At the beginning of the novel, he was discovered breastfeeding at an age too old for breastfeeding and Freddie deemed him “Milkman.” Later, it becomes known that Macon Dead has no idea how this nickname came into place. The naming system is explained as the firstborn son is always named Macon, and the other children get named by randomly selected Biblical names. Events go smoothly until Pilate, Ruth, and Hagar are introduced into the story. Pilate Dead, Macon's sister, is a family disgrace in Macon's eyes. Macon and Pilate's relationship is explained, then Milkman meets Pilate. A turning point comes when Milkman meets, and falls in love with, Hagar. It is revealed later in the book that Hagar and Milkman have a sexual relationship. Another turning point in the novel is the scene when Macon slaps Ruth, which leads Milkman to slap Macon. After these events, Macon explains to Milkman that Ruth may have had a sexual relationship with her father. This father-son talk changes Milkman. From this point on in the novel, Milkman behaves as more of an adult. A third pivotal scene in the novel is when Guitar and Milkman have their argument in the street. Guitar suggests that all Milkman cares about is sex and parties. From this scene forward, Guitar and Milkman's relationship changes. Three themes in the novel would be: birds, racism, and strangeness. Birds are mentioned several times in the novel; the man in the beginning thought he could fly, Milkman had a childhood fascination with flying, and Pilate, Ruth, and Hagar all get compared to a kind of bird. Racism comes into play heavily when the news of multiple murders come out on the news. Strangeness is a large issue for Milkman and Macon. Both of them see everyone else as strange because they are unlike himself. For example, Macon despises Pilate because she is different from himself. She chooses to live a more humble life than he does, therefor she is strange.
Comment Posted on July 3, 2012 at 07:19 PM by
Samantha DegeyterWhile reading Song of Solomon, I have marked down many of Foster’s hints. Just in the first chapters I found many symbols and key scenes. Foster explains that food has a significant role in novels. When Ruth is preparing dinner, she questions why her dinner is so “inedible” to Macon. This particular scene depicts Macon’s separation from his family. Eating together sends a message of “you and I share the same needs. We are equals for now,” but the fact that Macon does not appreciate Ruth’s dinner reveals that there is separation between him and his family. Another key scene is the people going the opposite direction of Milkman on the street. I thought this symbolized his uncertainty of his future. Rather than face the hardships of life, accomplish goals, and accept the truths set before him, Milkman would rather let life pass him by. To become a real man, Milkman must consider his flaws and change his ways. One of the many symbols I noted was the driftwood decoration. Ruth chooses driftwood rather than roses as decoration. Driftwood compared to fresh roses carries a mood of gloom and loneliness, Ruth’s life under her husband’s terror reign. She says nature has already made it as perfect as it can be but many people don not see anything beautiful in it, speaking of the driftwood but truly describing herself. Foster also warns the reader to pay attention to characters’ names. There is an ironic twist to the Dead family. Macon is “dead” without his proof of a luxurious life. Ruth is “dead” because Macon is constantly putting her down, making her feel worthless and inhuman. The daughters are “dead” in the sense that they live in the fear of their father, only coming to life under his commands. And Milkman is “dead” because he lives in the past, does not see a future for himself. Milkman must realize the dead do not live in the tomorrows or todays; they live in the past.
Comment Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:46 AM by
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