Song Of Solomon Character Analysis

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An important thematic linking Morison’s first three novels is how the community or society interacts with the individual. More often than not, the society governs a portion of the character’s identity in each novel as in the cases of Pecola and Sula. However, in the Song of Solomon, the community is not as static as seen in Sula and The Bluest Eye, yet provides different views of a character’s identity depending on which community the narration follows (like Danville, Shalimar, or his hometown) each of which frames characters in different respects. Structurally speaking, this thematic makes sense as most portions of Morrison’s novels are narrated from a third person omniscient view where limitations are generally placed on a character’s motives so having a community’s interpretation of a character allows us to be distant when evaluating the characters’ identity ourselves. Pecola and Sula provide the framework as to which community frames characters in Song of Solomon. For instance, as a result of Pecola conceiving a child from her father, the community views her as ugly as seen when she says, “Every time I look at somebody, they look off” (The Bluest Eye 195). As a …show more content…
is an example of how communities judge characters for differently in respect to the same identity. For instance, in Danville, Macon Dead Jr is revered by Reverend Coope for his appetite in acquiring wealth and status. He is even complimented on the fact that his personality is regarded as “if he want it, he’ll get it” (Song of Solomon 235-237). However, in his hometown in Michigan, Macon Dead Jr. is demonized by the community and by his tenants for his capitalistic personality. This is established early on through a conversation between he and Mrs. Bains in which she comments on his business ethics, and is solidified when Milkman attempts to go to the bar with Guitar where Feather says, “He ain’t your landlord, is he, and you ain’t got no operating license to hang on to either”
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