Each and everyday the interactions we have with people mold us to be the person we are today. Interactions influence our personality, and the paths we chose in life. Relationships such as parents, relatives, and even ex-girlfriends, can have the most profound impact on our lives. It has been proven that parents play an important role in the emotional development for children. In Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison uses the relationship between Ruth, Hagar, Pilate, and Milkman to demonstrate how the women influence our lives greatly. Being Milkman’s mother, Ruth has a significant impact on Milkman and how he treats others in his life. Ruth is a biblical character who acts to promote the well-being of others. Ruth act out of love to Milkman. She
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Milkman’s and Hagar’s relationship is purely sexual. Milkman objectifies her as the “third beer;” you drink it “because it’s there” (91). This is an indication on how Milkman only looks for his pleasure, and doesn’t think about his partner. Milkman saw Hagar as a lower-class citizen so he had no intentions of marrying her, and also since they were “cousins” it wouldn’t work out anyway (98). To break up with Hagar he wrote a note, and ended it with the word “gratitude,” to thank her for making him “happy all theses years,” (99). Basically calling her a toy he used for a couple year then got bored with. This exemplifying his belief that he can objectify women, and that a relationship is one-sided and once his needs are fulfilled it 's dispensed with. Hagar like her biblical figure, in the book of Genesis, is a servant. Hagar looks in every way to please and serve Milkman and seek any gratification from him. Once being rejected by him several times, you assures herself that new clothes and hair will “dazzle him” (313).Hagar attempted “six times” to murder him after reading the note, but never could go through with it because of her love and devotion to him (126). Milkman saw nothing unusable with any aspects with Hagar and himself, as if this should be normal. This crazy dysfunctional relationship just strengthens Milkman 's predisposition on …show more content…
Pilate is portrayed in the role of a teacher or "guide". She becomes the spiritual leader as well as a spiritual guide for Milkman. She teaches Milkman the necessities of life not with severity but rather by means of being her own self. Her being connected to her heritage such as the old “quilt” she wore, and traditions is also involved in changing Milkman into the hero (20). She gives Milkman what he feels he can 't get at his rich home, care and affection. Pilate takes on the role of mother to Milkman by showing how a family is supposed to be, which is not divided like his house, but rather caring and loving towards one another. She also points out to him that while she is “small-time bootlegger”, she never drinks “on premises,” because it is only to make a good living condition for her daughter and grandchild (150). Her wine store shows how she accomplishes her goals without any interference or word-of-mouth, in the city, bothering her at all. Pilate 's way of teaching helps Milkman comprehend what she is trying to say or teach without her actually instilling it into his brain. After the robbery of the “green sack”, Pilate goes to the police station to ask the police to let the two men go (163). The fact that Pilate doesn 't actually give all of the details behind the green sack is what causes Milkman to begin his journey to self-discovery. Pilate is the
Milkman’s and Hagar’s relationship is purely sexual. Milkman objectifies her as the “third beer;” you drink it “because it’s there” (91). This is an indication on how Milkman only looks for his pleasure, and doesn’t think about his partner. Milkman saw Hagar as a lower-class citizen so he had no intentions of marrying her, and also since they were “cousins” it wouldn’t work out anyway (98). To break up with Hagar he wrote a note, and ended it with the word “gratitude,” to thank her for making him “happy all theses years,” (99). Basically calling her a toy he used for a couple year then got bored with. This exemplifying his belief that he can objectify women, and that a relationship is one-sided and once his needs are fulfilled it 's dispensed with. Hagar like her biblical figure, in the book of Genesis, is a servant. Hagar looks in every way to please and serve Milkman and seek any gratification from him. Once being rejected by him several times, you assures herself that new clothes and hair will “dazzle him” (313).Hagar attempted “six times” to murder him after reading the note, but never could go through with it because of her love and devotion to him (126). Milkman saw nothing unusable with any aspects with Hagar and himself, as if this should be normal. This crazy dysfunctional relationship just strengthens Milkman 's predisposition on …show more content…
Pilate is portrayed in the role of a teacher or "guide". She becomes the spiritual leader as well as a spiritual guide for Milkman. She teaches Milkman the necessities of life not with severity but rather by means of being her own self. Her being connected to her heritage such as the old “quilt” she wore, and traditions is also involved in changing Milkman into the hero (20). She gives Milkman what he feels he can 't get at his rich home, care and affection. Pilate takes on the role of mother to Milkman by showing how a family is supposed to be, which is not divided like his house, but rather caring and loving towards one another. She also points out to him that while she is “small-time bootlegger”, she never drinks “on premises,” because it is only to make a good living condition for her daughter and grandchild (150). Her wine store shows how she accomplishes her goals without any interference or word-of-mouth, in the city, bothering her at all. Pilate 's way of teaching helps Milkman comprehend what she is trying to say or teach without her actually instilling it into his brain. After the robbery of the “green sack”, Pilate goes to the police station to ask the police to let the two men go (163). The fact that Pilate doesn 't actually give all of the details behind the green sack is what causes Milkman to begin his journey to self-discovery. Pilate is the