Song of Solomon Essay

In Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison we see the development of characters show their journey
to gain moral reconciliation and its contributions to the theme of flight and the freedom of
African Americans that is represented by it. During the novel the theme of freedom within
African Americans is thoroughly displayed, during the events of the characters’ journeys. Their
morals are readjusted and within the change the characters are able to discover their own
versions of freedom.
In the first section of song of Solomon we are introduced to our main character Milkman who is
a young man caught up within his own vanity. He cares more about the superficial items than he
does the things that really matter. His best friend guitar later in the novel sees a white peacock
that appears to them both and says “Can’t nobody fly with all that shit. Wanna fly, you got to
give up the shit that weighs you down.” (pg. 155) Here with the novels reoccurring theme of
flight we can assume the white peacock is meant to symbolize Milkman and that this quote is
targeted at Milkman who has been letting things like greed hold/weigh him down. Milkman goes
on a Journey throughout the novel to find his family history which ends up morally transforming
him into a more in-depth character. His reconciliation with himself after his entire Journey leads
him to wanting freedom which he finds in flying giving us our last line of the book “If you
surrender to the air, you could ride it.” (pg. 337) This lets us know that Milkman takes his life or
“flys” and is finally free leading his moral reconciliation as a direct cause to his own version of a
happy ending.
In Morrison’s text there is also another character we see get a kind of moral reconciliation and
that’s the character Hagar. Hager is obsessed with obtaining this reciprocated romantic love from
Milkman and she believes it will come through her beauty. Some may argue that she never really
realizes that she was incorrect but in her dying words as she let’s the heartbreak kill her “He’s
never going to love my hair.” (pg.316) can be seen as otherwise. This quote tells us she knows he
isn’t going to love her, and she accepts it’s a loss hope, but the heartbreak kills her before we
really get a redemption arc. But her moral reconciliation that she wouldn’t be able to get
Milkman to feel the same way back is a concept of freedom. Hager dying was her own form of
flight, her own form of freedom.
A final character that we see get a type of moral reconciliation in Morrison’s text is Pilate. Pilate
is character that is already introduced to us as a pretty well-developed person morally. However,
there is an underlying flaw that we see through the novel, Pilate has a mother instinct to care for
everyone and just like milkman it weighs her down from truly flying and being free. IN the text
we see this line “They looked at each other. ‘What you need’ asked Pilate. ‘I need everything,’
she said, and everything is what she got.” (pg.310) Here we see Pilate willing to do everything
for her granddaughter Hagar and this is not the only person in the text that she is willing to do
anything to help. Her own death is even an act of sacrifice for someone she cares for. But her last
words “sing a little somethin’ for me” (pg.336) show her finally passing the torch to Milkman as
song is a symbol within the novel. Her dying knowing Milkman will take her place is her own
form of flying and gaining her version of freedom.
A character’s journey can change them completely, mostly because of what they learn. Within
Toni Morrison’s characters you can see that although unconventional they all do get their own
freedoms. They all get their own chance to fly.