Essay on Personal Freedom Song of Solomon

Toni Morrison is one of the most talented and successful African-American authors of our time. Famous for works such as The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Beloved, Morrison has cultivated large audiences of all ethnicities and social classes with her creative style of writing. It is not Morrison’s talent of creating new stories that attracts her fans. In contrast, it is her talent of revising and modernizing traditional Biblical and mythological stories that have been present in literature for centuries. Morrison replaces the characters in these myths, whom would have been white, middle-class males, with characters who depict the cultural practices in black communities. The protagonists in Morrison’s works are primarily African-American women

Growing up is a journey, to be specific it 's a journey in a maze. We go around in different directions in hopes to find out who we indeed are. Left to right in every direction we run into things that change our mindset and by the end of the maze, we are entirely different people. Most mazes have doors; open one door new beginning, shut another end of that chapter. Specific events in life alter our young minds, and we tend to grow from these experiences. Personal and social encounters come our way and turn us into adults. Milkman in the novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison goes through various incitements and awakenings that force him to change his ways and enhance his

The article “The Negro Digs Up His Past’’ by Arthur schomburg on 1925, elaborates more on the struggles of slavery as well as how history tend to be in great need of restoration through mindfully exploring on the past. The article, however started with an interesting sentence which caught my attention, especially when the writer says ‘’The American Negro must remark his past in order to make his future’’ (670). This statement according the writer, explains how slavery took away the great deal freedom from people of African descendant, through emancipation and also increase in diversity. The writer (Arthur Schomburg) however, asserts that “the negro has been throughout the centuries of controversy an active collaborator, and often a pioneer, in the struggle for his own freedom and advancement” (670).

Macon Dead’s domineering lifestyle and compulsive obsession reveal how violent actions and decisions impact character. The audience’s perception of Macon as a domineering man is revealed through his obsession with materialistic items, like his keys. “Because of his keys… [he] dare[s] to walk on Not Doctor street,” because the keys are representative of power, which Macon desperately wants (22). The more power he receives, the better he feels about himself, which is why he treats his wife, Ruth, so poorly. While Macon is viewed as a harsh man, Ruth is viewed as a submissive woman. In Milkman’s dream of Ruth, she reacts to the tulips smothering her by “hit[ting] out at them…playfully, mischievously…” and treating them as if they were “harmless butterflies” (105). The flowers symbolize Ruth’s reaction towards Macon’s overbearing qualities and actions by revealing Ruth’s lack of ignorance to the mistreatment. Ruth craves human connection, and therefore views Macon more positively, adopting the fantasy of a perfect relationship. Macon cannot provide this type

The American Civil War was ending and African Americans gained freedom, freedom from slavery and to live life as common folk. However, being set ‘free’ was not enough for African Americans to really experience what freedom was really like. Respect and rights of citizenship are by themselves weak in the ability to survive without also obtaining economic power. This paper will examine the progression of African Americans after the Civil War of 1865.

People often admire and yearn for the natural state of bliss a child has due to their ignorance of what 's going on around them. Although it is said that ignorance is bliss, but it is not always a good thing. As an adolescent, that bliss works to your advantage, but as a person gets older it only hinders your growth. Most times one does not know that they have remained stagnant until it has become known. In the novel Song of Solomon, by Tori Morrison, Milkman was unaware of his current state until it was made known to him.As a result, he unconsciously came of age through inner and external revelations.

Milkman does not have a life of his own and cannot say that he is independent.

In life, there are many decisions that everyone must make. And with decision-making comes consequences, some that we are ready for , and some that we may not be ready for. The author of ' The Man Who Was Almost a Man,' Richard Wright, portrays a young man who wants to be a man, but shows that he is clearly unprepared for manhood and the consequences that come with that responsibility. Through decision making based on self interest, wanting to gain respect from his family, and wanting to prove his dignity, Richard Wright brings forth the main character, Dave, a seventeen year old boy, whose actions show that he is only 'almost a man.'

By the end of he novel, it has become clear that Milkman's sole purpose was to acquire information of his grandparents. Maybe he actually wanted to find a reason for the way his father acts with him and his family. After finding out who his grandparents were, the title of the novel, Song of Solomon, relates to the song that was composed by the people to tell the story of Solomon and the children, including Jake, Milkman's grandfather. His journey can symbolize his journey in becoming a man and becoming mature. At the beginning of the novel, readers were left thinking that the sane person throughout the novel was Guitar. However, by the end of the novel, we question Guitar's sanity and believe that the only sane person is Milkman because Guitar is planning on killing Milkman, "'Why the message? Why'd you warn me with a message at the store?' 'You're my friend. It's the least I could do for a friend.' 'My man. I want to thank you.' 'You're welcome, baby'" (298). In this quote, Milkman thanks Guitar about giving him a warning before killing him. If Milkman was a friend, Guitar would not have the thoughts of killing him. Throughout the novel, Guitar constantly criticizes the white people and the way they can easily murder black people. Guitar does not realize that he is doing the same thing by joining the Seven Days, whose sole

Education has always been valued in the African American community. During slavery freed slaves and those held captive, organized to educate themselves. After emancipation the value of education became even more important to ex-slaves, as it was their emblem of freedom and a means to full participation in American Society (Newby & Tyack, 1971). During this time many schools for African Americans were both founded and maintained by African Americans. African Americans continued to provide education throughout their own communities well into the 1930’s (Green, McIntosh, Cook-Morales, & Robinson-Zanartu, 2005). The atmosphere of these schools resembled a family. The

As children, Guitar poses as Milkmans mentor and best friend. When Milkman was involved in a fight and was injured, Guitar was the one who cleaned him up and put him back on his feet. Milkman expresses Guitar as, “wise and kind and fearless”(Morrison 47). He always envied Guitar because he was the man Milkman always wanted to be. The book describes Guitar to be fully conscious of where he came from which makes Milkman jealous. Guitars pride and confidence in himself is sustained by Milkmans inquisitiveness and obliviousness regarding his identity. As shown in the text, “As the stars made themselves visible, Milkman tried to figure what was true and what part of what was true had anything to do with him”(Morrison 75). This is a point of self reflection Milkman has which shows his vulnerability. Milkman faces this identity crisis because of his upbringing.

Milkman’s journey for an identity takes him down a road in which he becomes as callous as his father.

The fact the Milkman is constantly wishing to get out on his own, and find easy money proves how ignorant he is to what is actually occurring all around him. With his given money Milkman does not realize the struggle many of his fellow African Americans are going through each day. He doesn’t see the struggle, or he just doesn’t seem to worry himself with anyone other than himself. He wants to live on his own, away from his family, but he doesn’t wish to work hard to gain independence, he would rather sit and sulk in self-pity than to stand and make it on his own. As a member of a wealthy African American family, Milkman has it easier than most to succeed, he just doesn’t put forth the effort.

Milkman craves to find out where he really fits in the world and find himself. By him getting rid of his burdens he believes that he will be able. Thus through his venture to learn to fly he learns a lot more about himself and the world in general.

Even though freedom has been our nation’s identity for its entire existence, our nation has suffered “dark ages” when the freedoms of African Americans were repressed. During the period of slavery, African Americans were forced to labor under often cruel and gruesome conditions, for their white masters. Solomon Northup, a free man forcefully made a slave, describes his thoughts on slavery in his 12 Years a Slave: