Identity In Toni Morrison's The Song Of Solomon

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The Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison is an interesting and could even been seen as an inspiring novel. From family clashes, to racism, and the compelling journey of a man who finds his identity though his family history; there are a lot of important concepts within this book. Through the psychoanalytical lense, a common theme can be seen within the book. By following the life of the main character, Milkman, the theme of how our surroundings such as those we interact with, along with our life's history, our actions and perception of the world can be controlled and altered.
Throughout his life, Milkman did not have much control over what he did. He was a follower in most situations. His friend Guitar leads Milkman around to places to drink alcohol …show more content…
From the psychoanalytical standpoint, this ties back to the main theme about how society and those around us tend to mold our own lives. An example of how Milkman’s life adopted his parents “materialistic” viewpoint on life is how he treats Hagar by using mainly to make love to her. Even though he had an emotional connection to her at first, Milkman himself then realizes how little he actually knows about Hagar whilst shopping for a Christmas present for her. Smith could not have put it into better words when she talks about how Milkman “perceives the world in much the same way that his father does” before his life changing trip to michigan. Smith writes: “His [Milkman’s] steadiness of vision and lack of compassion allow him to abuse remorselessly and unself-consciously the people around him.” This concept related back to Milkman’s emotional disconnect with Hagar despite the many hours they spent together. From his trip to Michigan, Milkman learns of his past and his ancestors and how that all connects with his life. From feeling like he went from a nobody, to somebody who seemed to matter, Milkman helped create the important concept of the novel. “Knowing oneself derive from learning to reach back into
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