Blair Rianhard Ms. Sokolov Southern Writers Wednesday, February 25 Hehrerze title, Can Milkman FIZ A Study of Milkman’s Emotional Evolution in Soi of Stlomos Song of Solomon : Song of Solomon, one of Toni Morrison’s most proclaimed novels, follows ike several distant relatives and their quest to find their family history. More specifically, the ¥e role, AB ens GY novel follows the evolution of Milkman from a young child bound to his parents, toa Ane el successfully changed young adult, Milkman travels throughout the United States in Ponty ole plraging— Atonol Lorch mns people ass search of his family history while also trying to discontinue p soci him with his father. Morrison uses symbols of flight throughout the novel to represent the i his fathe evolution of Milkman. In the novel Song of Solomon, Morrison uses the theme of flight ‘as a symbol of the emotional evolution of Milkman from a detached family member to a connected one. Asachild Milkman realizes that he cannot fly both physically and mentally, slowly making him more detached from his family members and friends. After an unfortunate event of a man trying to “fly” off of a building but really committing suicide, young Milkman is the first colored person bon in Mercy Hospital. Mr. Smith, the man who jumped, is not used by Morrison as a significant character in the book but he sets the tone for Milkman’s persona early on in the novel, Mr, Smith’s suicide significantly effected Milkman, “Because when the little boy discovered, the same thing Mr, Smith had learned earlier—that only birds and airplanes could fly—he lost all interest in himself” (9). Morrison states that Milkman discovered the same thing Mr. Smith diypani enpossitil 4 flight? which way the truth about flight, Ever since he was a young boy Milkman dreamed of flying, and now his dreams were crushed. She ends her quote saying Milkman “lost” all interest in himself. The word “lost” suggests that his interest is lost but not gone, that it wie [could possibly be found again. In this sense, Morrison is foreshadowing a journey in her ays! “avel where Milkman i searching for the intorest he has lost in himself. However, before Millman sets out on his journey, Morrison describes him as a detached person from his family and friends, While shopping for his family on Christmas, Morrison states, “Boredom, now took him over completely. No activity seemed worth doing, no ‘ | conversation worth having” (90). Milkman is becoming more and more detached from people who he used to love. He sees conversations as “unworthy ‘meaning he believes that it is unnecessary to speak with his family and friends. The use of “unworthy” makes Ye sounds as if everyone is unworthy of Milkman and he is better than them. This feeling. ‘will bring him farther and farther away from his family, into further detachment. As the a aie P oo theme of et Sing Miao light evolves, so do Milkman’s emotions. Through such. herd ‘work in searching aria Do’ shay / wan for his family history Milkman begins to change, fosay ot he beging Milkman’s discovery of his great ene Solomon's ability to ae dhe so A gine atte hopeful 4 his emotions from his prove deta Bit pete to a caring mai tS I er at rnditer ea icici hope After ‘Milkman listens to the complete song of Solomon, he thinks about some of the stanzas in STs part Ip ning {he Sooke is be redevont detail and concludes that, “Solomon was the one who left, who flew a\ died or ran off—not Jake[Milkman’s grandfather)\(304). Later Morrison states that, “He E ea [Milkman] was as eager and happy as had ever been in his life” (304). Milkman realizes that Solomon was able to “fly away” giving him hope because Milkman has alwayslooked for a family member to ook up io Mitkman understands that he cannot fh Dg awenaning, or ao ons ill et phy dstisememvances of ely chidhood bute Sal aye Gee etn Seles emotionally. Mtkman’s emotional fight is seen right after his findings about Solomon. -Aicgiet o>, Negru ation ‘The narrator states that he was “eager” and “happy”; his eagerness implies that he is We? 1 ‘teginning to care more about his family history and family in genéral: Milkman is beginning to change from detached to connected. Later in tlie novel, we sée more of a preesign! new Milkman showing more gmotions with Sweet, his new girlfriend, Milkman tells San Greys with ee Sweet, “He could fly! My great -grandaddy could fly!” (328). Directly after, the narrator states, ‘“Hewhipped the water with his fists, then jumped straight, up as though he too could take-off” (Morrison 328). Milkman is very enthusiastic of his grandfather's ability to fly and is very exited to tell Sweet. This is a very different i change i ‘in emotion from nite Connection hoch. Wearliar IP. \—~ before when Milkman did not even,want to have a conversation with anyone, He expresses emotion that has yet to be seen in the novel like “whipping” his hands around a and “jumping” Milkman is actually happy about someting ig him to care more WTS og 15 Bere inapl 2 Gov meen, about his family eNentually leadhig him back home and back Yo Pilate, his aunt, '5¢ hg tone Meares Nel Ed game. At the cid of the novel, Milkman is depicted as able to fly due to his emotional your eat wie Sat, Variable evolution aiid iniprovement. While on a mission to bury Jal{és bones, Pilate gets shot and killed by Guitar, who was aiming for Milkman. Guitar was a friend of Milkmen’ 's who went crazy due to his involvement in theGeven Bays gang where a group of black men aceuvate “would plot o ill white men| The Sovenbys ‘next target was Milman because they ~ Be aonaie he sen teat ade ime In her list dying breaths, _ Mitkman sings to Pilate : to comfort her. Before, Milkman was so detached from his family and never wanted to talk to them. And now, “he knew why he loved her [Pilate] so. Without ever leaving the‘ground, she could fly” (Morrison 336). Milkman expresses his “love” for Pilate that of which he has not shown with any other family member. Expressing his love to Pilate is the first time he has shown true feelings toward someone signifying his true emotional sy >» “ansformation. Milkman became less detached from his family and began to care about them and feting connested to them. In his experience Millman sees hope that hs foo : Could fly emotionally. fer laying Pilate down to rest, Milkman yells after Guitar, looking fora fight. Milkman jumps after Guitar realizing, “for now he knew what ‘Shalimar knew: If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it” (Morrison 337). Morrison uses this imagery to signify Milkman’s emotional evolution throughout the novel. Asa young detached person he was unable to fly, and as a new connected friend and family member hes now abe to fly. Milman was able to “surrender” to the ag esentally Jetting the air control him, This is the first time in his life that he has let someone or something control his future and emotions. The imagery of flight is therefore a key component in the emotional evolution of Milkman. Work Cited: Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Vintage Book, 1977. 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