Within many novels, characters mature and recognize their place in the world they live in. Oftentimes, this change is revealed in terms of a single pivotal moment in which the character realizes their place in the world. An example of a novel in which a main character has a realization such as this is Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Morrison’s novel follows Milkman, the protagonist, from childhood to adulthood and describes his development along the way. Milkman, however, changes most due to the single pivotal moment in which he is left alone in the woods in Virginia after nearly being murdered by his best friend; it is here that Morrison reveals the theme that ancestry shapes the individual.
The novel begins with Milkman in his adolescence …show more content…
In the earlier parts of the novel, Milkman is a judgemental, ignorant, privileged young man who knows nothing of his ancestry except for his father, Macon Dead, and his mother, Ruth. When Milkman was younger, he believed almost everything Macon told him, and he trusted his father’s authority. An example of Milkman’s trust in his father’s judgement is when he first meets his aunt, Pilate, and is surprised by her kindness because his father told him that she was “ugly, dirty, poor, and drunk” (Morrison 37). Milkman learns that Pilate is “unkempt . . . but not dirty,” and “definitely not drunk” (Morrison 38). As he learns more about Pilate, he begins to question his father’s authority and judgement more. Milkman also begins to think for himself. The opinions Milkman forms for himself, and the actions that result from them, can be seen through his continuous visits to Pilate despite Macon telling him not to see her anymore. Milkman was also greedy when he was a young man. An example of his former greed is when Macon tells Milkman why he hates Pilate. Macon says that he …show more content…
Before he learns about his ancestry, Milkman is privileged, ignorant, and entitled, but he is unaware of how horribly he treats people. After learning about his family history, Milkman realizes how ignorant and privileged he is, how horribly he treats people, and how his views on what he “deserves” are completely unrealistic. Through this realization, Milkman understands his connections to his ancestors and how he ended up who and where he is today. Morrison utilizes a single pivotal moment in which the main character finds his place in the world to establish the theme that ancestry shapes the individual. Authors often use single pivotal moments in which characters realize their place in the world to convey the major themes of the
The novel begins with Milkman in his adolescence …show more content…
In the earlier parts of the novel, Milkman is a judgemental, ignorant, privileged young man who knows nothing of his ancestry except for his father, Macon Dead, and his mother, Ruth. When Milkman was younger, he believed almost everything Macon told him, and he trusted his father’s authority. An example of Milkman’s trust in his father’s judgement is when he first meets his aunt, Pilate, and is surprised by her kindness because his father told him that she was “ugly, dirty, poor, and drunk” (Morrison 37). Milkman learns that Pilate is “unkempt . . . but not dirty,” and “definitely not drunk” (Morrison 38). As he learns more about Pilate, he begins to question his father’s authority and judgement more. Milkman also begins to think for himself. The opinions Milkman forms for himself, and the actions that result from them, can be seen through his continuous visits to Pilate despite Macon telling him not to see her anymore. Milkman was also greedy when he was a young man. An example of his former greed is when Macon tells Milkman why he hates Pilate. Macon says that he …show more content…
Before he learns about his ancestry, Milkman is privileged, ignorant, and entitled, but he is unaware of how horribly he treats people. After learning about his family history, Milkman realizes how ignorant and privileged he is, how horribly he treats people, and how his views on what he “deserves” are completely unrealistic. Through this realization, Milkman understands his connections to his ancestors and how he ended up who and where he is today. Morrison utilizes a single pivotal moment in which the main character finds his place in the world to establish the theme that ancestry shapes the individual. Authors often use single pivotal moments in which characters realize their place in the world to convey the major themes of the