Essay on Milkman’s Search for Identity in Song of Solomon

Milkman’s Search for Identity in Song of Solomon Song of Solomon tells the story of Deads unwitting search for identity. Milkman appears to be destined for a life of self-alienation and isolation because of his commitment to the materialism and the linear conception of time that are part of the legacy he receives from his father, Macon Dead. However, during a trip to his ancestral home, â€Å"Milkman comes to understand his place in a cultural and familial community and to appreciate the value of conceiving of time as a cyclical process†(Smith 58). The Deads exemplify the patriarchal, nuclear family that has traditionally been a stable and critical feature not only of American society but of Western civilization in†¦show more content†¦Pilate Dead, Macons younger sister, provides a marked contrast to her brother and his family. While Macons love of property and money determines the nature and quality of his relationships, Pilates sheer disregard for status, occupation, hygiene, and manners is accompanied by an ability to affirm spiritual values such as compassion, respect, loyalty, and generosity. Pilate introduces a quality of enchantment into the novel. The circumstances of her birth make her a character of supernatural proportions. She delivered herself at birth and was born without a navel. Her smooth stomach isolates her from society. Moreover, her physical condition symbolizes her lack of dependence on others. Her self-sufficiency and isolation prevent her from being trapped or destroyed by the extremely decaying values that threaten her brothers life. Before Milkman leaves his home in Michigan, he perceives the world in materialistic, unyielding terms that recall his fathers behavior. Indeed, the search for gold that sends him to Virginia reveals his perception that escaping from his past and his responsibilities and finding material treasure will guarantee him a sense of his own identity. Milkmans assumption that his trip south holds the key to his liberation is correct, although it is not gold that saves him. In his ancestors world, communal and mythical values prevail over individualism and materialism; when heShow MoreRelatedEssay on Song of Solomon: A Bildungsroman of Milkman 1092 Words   |  5 PagesIt can be said that Song of Solomon is bildungsroman which is defined by The Encyclopedia Britannica as â€Å"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 hisRead MoreReview Of Charlotte Bronte s Jane Eyre 10879 Words   |  44 Pagesmorning...I looked neither to rising sun, nor smiling sky, nor wakening nat ure† (369). The calm and clear weather parallels Jane’s mind after she decides to do what is best for her. When Jane arrives at Moor House, the storm represents her desperate search to find food and shelter. Characters (adjectives, quotes) Bertha Mason Insane â€Å"The honeymoon over, I learned my mistake; she was only mad, and shut up in a lunatic asylum† (352). Beautiful â€Å"My father said nothing about her money; but he told me Miss