Simultaneously, Milkman gets to know Hagar and is introduced to her as a brother. Although Reba corrects her mother by saying, “That ain’t her brother, Mama. They cousins.” But Pilate counters, “I mean what’s the difference in the way you act toward ‘em? Don’t you have to act the same way to both?” (XX). In this first encounter, the basis of Hagar’s and Milkman’s relationship is set. Pilate makes clear that family is family no matter the degree of kinship. Consequently, Pilate tries to predetermine how Hagar should regard her cousin what reveals the incestuous nature of their coming relationship. Notwithstanding, Morrison writes that “From the first time he saw her, he was twelve and she was seventeen, he was deeply in love with her” (XX).
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Indeed, Hagar suffers from an addiction to Hagar and accordingly, she deviates from truth increasingly. Unable to understand that her personality could exist without Milkman valuing her, she cannot imagine a life without him stating, “He is my home in this world” (XX). Traumatized by her lover, Hagar loses not only her home but also herself in her craving for Milkman. “She loved nothing in the world except [Milkman], wanted him alive more than anybody, but hadn’t the least bit of control over the predator that lived inside her. Totally taken over by her anaconda love, she had no self left, no fears, no wants, no intelligence that was her own” (XX). By using the term “anaconda love”, the author compares Hagar’s emotions to an animal usually suffocating its victims mercilessly. According to this depiction, Hagar’s love attains animalistic features which are all-consuming. Hagar lives in a loving and caring family and is used to getting everything she wants but conversely, she is different than her mother or …show more content…
She needed what most colored girls needed: a chorus of mamas, grandmamas, aunts, cousins, sisters, neighbors, Sunday school teachers, best girl friends, and what all to give her the strength life demanded of her-and the humor with which to live it. (XX)
“Hagar has never learned to cope with the world” and she does not understand why she cannot have Milkman by desiring (Bakerman 558)
When Milkman leaves her, she sees him with several women what engulfs Hagar in misery in which self-doubts and grief torture her. Convinced that he has left her since she does not look like European women, she starts to buy beauty products also thinking that Milkman does not like her hair. Hoping that this will solve her problems, Hagar escapes into a world full of fantasy. Losing herself completely, she finally understands that she will not be successful and loses her will to live.
Hagar’s tragic death indicates the disturbing power of love which is caused by Milkman’s unconscious carelessness on the one hand but on the other hand by a home in which no limits are set. Milkman’s awareness of women’s roles and positions and his maturity comes too late and thus he can just learn from this
Indeed, Hagar suffers from an addiction to Hagar and accordingly, she deviates from truth increasingly. Unable to understand that her personality could exist without Milkman valuing her, she cannot imagine a life without him stating, “He is my home in this world” (XX). Traumatized by her lover, Hagar loses not only her home but also herself in her craving for Milkman. “She loved nothing in the world except [Milkman], wanted him alive more than anybody, but hadn’t the least bit of control over the predator that lived inside her. Totally taken over by her anaconda love, she had no self left, no fears, no wants, no intelligence that was her own” (XX). By using the term “anaconda love”, the author compares Hagar’s emotions to an animal usually suffocating its victims mercilessly. According to this depiction, Hagar’s love attains animalistic features which are all-consuming. Hagar lives in a loving and caring family and is used to getting everything she wants but conversely, she is different than her mother or …show more content…
She needed what most colored girls needed: a chorus of mamas, grandmamas, aunts, cousins, sisters, neighbors, Sunday school teachers, best girl friends, and what all to give her the strength life demanded of her-and the humor with which to live it. (XX)
“Hagar has never learned to cope with the world” and she does not understand why she cannot have Milkman by desiring (Bakerman 558)
When Milkman leaves her, she sees him with several women what engulfs Hagar in misery in which self-doubts and grief torture her. Convinced that he has left her since she does not look like European women, she starts to buy beauty products also thinking that Milkman does not like her hair. Hoping that this will solve her problems, Hagar escapes into a world full of fantasy. Losing herself completely, she finally understands that she will not be successful and loses her will to live.
Hagar’s tragic death indicates the disturbing power of love which is caused by Milkman’s unconscious carelessness on the one hand but on the other hand by a home in which no limits are set. Milkman’s awareness of women’s roles and positions and his maturity comes too late and thus he can just learn from this