Song Of Solomon Literary Analysis

Words: 962
Pages: 4

In Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Milkman lives in a time of racism where freedom for blacks is very hard to come by. Milkman’s desires to gain his own freedom from his father and mother Macon Sr and Ruth. For many years, Milkman has been controlled by his parents too much and especially by his mother. As time passes Milkman becomes closely associated with his father and begins to lack economic freedom. The community begins to peg Milkman with his father’s reputation and feels needs to break away from this shadow. When Milkman witness Pilate and sees her anatomy economically and socially; and now desires to reach this level of freedom in his own life. His mother and father have prevented him from obtaining these social and economic independence and now has the desire to go out and get it.
Ruth throughout the early years of Milkman life and adulthood always treated him as a child and could never let go. This treatment of Milkman began when he was first born. His name comes from how over protective his mother was. The name Milkman came from his
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You tough. I know you tough.”
“Not tough. I just don’t let people tell me what to do. I do what I want”
“Pilate tell you what to do”
“But I don’t have to do it, If I don’t want to”
“Wish I could say the same for my mother.”(96) Milkman is controlled by his mother and feels that the way Pilate treats Hagar is a much more favorable way to live his life. This will lead to him wanted to get away from his previous life and find himself as independent person.
In Part 1 of Song of Solomon, Milkman begins to feel a need to break away from the shadow and control of his parents. Whether this be from his mom or father he is beginning to feel the need to break away and become his own person like Pilate. Not a person that has no personal or economic freedom like his life has been up until this point. In part 2 of this book it seems Milkman will start the journey to find himself and gain this independence he so dearly