In Latin,“intertextus”, means to intermingle while weaving serves as the root for the word “intertextuality” which was introduced in the late 1960s and thoroughly used in novels written by Toni Morrison. Morrison published the Song of Solomon in 1977, which follows the life of Macon “Milkman” Dead III from birth to death, as he travels from his hometown in Michigan to Virginia in search of his family and himself. As a privileged African American, Milkman has a diverse array of experiences, ranging from being tied to his family’s business to robbing his own aunt. Although his life seems to be disconnected as he travels from Michigan to Pennsylvania and Virginia, Morrison includes themes from Greek myths to effectively tie his divisive life together.
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The novel “is structured as an archetypal heroic saga... beginning with a miraculous birth...proceeding to a period of alienation from his family, and culminating in a quest... for gold, but also for his genealogy” (Fletcher 405-406). Milkman has a noble birth since he was the first African-American child to be born at Mercy Hospital. In addition, he experiences alienation from his own family, especially from his sisters because he does not return their love. First Corinthians and Lena gave “him a look of hatred so fresh” (Morrison 68) during a family dinner and right before he embarks on his journey, Lena reminds him that he is a “sad, pitiful, stupid, selfish, hateful man” (Morrison 216). At this moment, the protagonist is egotistical and uncompassionate due to his father’s negative influence, which makes him unlikely to be a hero. With the addition of the physical journey, Morrison forces her character change due to the parallels between the novel and the Odyssey. She compares Odysseus, the quintessential hero who fought in the Trojan War to Milkman who heals as he explores his family history. Both heroes search for their ancestral homes and in Milkman’s case, he develops to be a compassionate man when he flies away to freedom. The hero’s journey is a theme that transcends culture and time, and by understanding the …show more content…
The allusions enriched the novel by comparing the characters to similar characters in myths to help them serve their role to unify Milkman’s life. The allusions made the message of the novel universal since the themes that occur have lasted through time. As a matter of fact, the mix of the past and present narratives integrated the diverse backgrounds of characters to serve a similar role as their influence from Greek myths. Morrison’s deliberate use makes for a novel with rich language to cater to many
The novel “is structured as an archetypal heroic saga... beginning with a miraculous birth...proceeding to a period of alienation from his family, and culminating in a quest... for gold, but also for his genealogy” (Fletcher 405-406). Milkman has a noble birth since he was the first African-American child to be born at Mercy Hospital. In addition, he experiences alienation from his own family, especially from his sisters because he does not return their love. First Corinthians and Lena gave “him a look of hatred so fresh” (Morrison 68) during a family dinner and right before he embarks on his journey, Lena reminds him that he is a “sad, pitiful, stupid, selfish, hateful man” (Morrison 216). At this moment, the protagonist is egotistical and uncompassionate due to his father’s negative influence, which makes him unlikely to be a hero. With the addition of the physical journey, Morrison forces her character change due to the parallels between the novel and the Odyssey. She compares Odysseus, the quintessential hero who fought in the Trojan War to Milkman who heals as he explores his family history. Both heroes search for their ancestral homes and in Milkman’s case, he develops to be a compassionate man when he flies away to freedom. The hero’s journey is a theme that transcends culture and time, and by understanding the …show more content…
The allusions enriched the novel by comparing the characters to similar characters in myths to help them serve their role to unify Milkman’s life. The allusions made the message of the novel universal since the themes that occur have lasted through time. As a matter of fact, the mix of the past and present narratives integrated the diverse backgrounds of characters to serve a similar role as their influence from Greek myths. Morrison’s deliberate use makes for a novel with rich language to cater to many