Magical Realism in SoS

I've found that the magical realism in Toni Morrison's novel Song of Solomon is much more subtle than it is in Beloved. Nonetheless, there is still a great deal of magical realism in Morrison's style of writing that plays an integral role in her messages to her readers. The most obvious magical realism in Song of Solomon is the motif of flight and wings. The concept of flying is important in the novel because it represents spiritual and physical liberation for her black characters. However, the ability to fly comes with sacrifices. When Milkman and Guitar encounter the white peacock (another moment of magical realism) in Chapter 8, Guitar exclaims, "Can't nobody fly with all that shit. You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" (179). An example of this is Mr. Smith's suicide with his "blue silk wings" (9). Mr. Smith was never truly able to fly or achieve liberation because of the pressure behind being part of the Seven Days. Another example of magical realism in the novel is Pilate; her lack of a navel, her bag of bones, and her snuff-box earring containing her name make her an important aspect to the magical realism in the novel. Pilate, although a somewhat bizarre character, serves as a foil for Milkman's character because she opens his mind to spirituality instead of materialism.

Storytelling - SoS

In Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, storytelling plays an integral role in the depiction and reputations of different characters. Throughout the story, Milkman listens to the different perspectives of people in his life. This allows him to see how bias affects stories, and how people can manipulate a story by exposing some details over others. In some instances in the novel, the stories told are filled with nostalgia and express fondness of the storyteller's past; however, in other instances, some stories told from different perspectives cause conflicts in the novel. When Milkman first meets Pilate, he doesn't have any pre-meditated judgements about his aunt. Pilate reminisces about her childhood with Macon and speaks about their father's death as Milkman and Guitar listen. However, immediately after his visit to Pilate's house, Milkman is reprimanded by his father for going to see her. Nonetheless, when Macon goes on to talk about his childhood experience, there isn't a significant difference between the two perspectives. In both stories, Pilate and Macon express feelings of immense, crippling, grief and fear surrounding the murder of their father. Later on, the difference between the two stories is revealed to be about the white man's gold and their experience in the cave. Pilate, in stark comparison to Macon, is not concerned with material matters whatsoever. Her motivations surround spirituality and self-guidance whereas Macon is acquisitive and self-absorbed. Therefore, the differences in the stories revolve solely around the motivations of the characters.
Ruth and Macon also have different perspectives in their storytelling that divide the two characters. Macon hates Ruth because he believes that she was in a strange, sexual relationship with her father. Ruth, however, claims that the relationship was not sexual; instead she claims that her father was the only person who cared whether she lived or died. Furthermore, Ruth believes that Macon was involved in expediting her father's death by hiding his medications. In this case, Ruth's craving for love and affection changes her perspective of her story, whereas Macon's jealous and domineering attitude changes his perception of the past.

How can a novel address issues of race and gender and also be universal?

The Toni Morrison quote from Ms. Maxey truly made me think about how issues of race and gender are portrayed by the media and through art. Often times, when a person of one race is portraying the life experiences of a person belonging to another race, there is always more explanation than emotion. This is because the person lacks personal experience and therefore lacks a source of genuine emotion towards the subject. For example, even if a white person tries to empathize with a black person over the topic of racial bias and discrimination in America, they will never be able to entirely understand and feel the weight of the topic because they lack the emotional awareness necessary. As Morrison said, "the black writers always explained something to somebody else," because they thought that the audience would not be able to understand the black experience otherwise. Similarly, white authors writing about the lives of African Americans are explanatory and apologetic. Due to this, the topic of racial issues can polarize the audience of a novel. Nonetheless, Toni Morrison is still able to grasp and explain topics of race because she simply hones in on her writing and the story without direct explanation or apology. However, the way groups experience her writing differs. Members of Morrison's audience from the black community are able to feel the weight of the issues discussed; other races represented in her audience are simply there to appreciate Morrison's writing, to learn, and to listen to the stories in order to further their understanding of racial issues. While the way Morrison's writing style addresses issues of race in America technically allows her to reach a universal audience, the way that one group understands the topics will greatly differ from the comprehension and emotional response of another group.

Definition of Poetry

Though Merriam-Webster defines poetry as metrical writing, this isn't necessarily true. Poetry, like many other art forms, is very open-ended. However, a poem's structure is never random; the format is always thoroughly deliberated in order to arouse certain emotions. There are many other things that help separate poetry from other works of literature. While a novel has several themes and layers to convey a story, a poem often holds a central theme throughout. A poem's syntax and diction is also always intentional and specific. Another thing that defines a poem is that it either has some resolution, or it leaves the conclusion with loose-ends. This allows ambiguity for individual interpretations by the audience. However, even if there isn't a resolution to the poem and there are several different interpretations, this doesn't mean that the poet is indifferent towards the subject; in fact, the poet always has to have a stance on the subject being discussed. Otherwise, if the poet is indifferent towards the subject, then it is simply not a poem because it lacks an emotional source.

Milkman challenges - SoS

In Song of Solomon, Milkman faces much difficulty in rebuilding his reputation and in making an identity of his own. Milkman earns his unfortunate nickname because he was secretly breastfed long past the age of which a child is usually weaned. Although breastfeeding forms a bond between a mother and her child, Ruth’s continuation of this act, something she refers to as one of her “secret indulgences” (13), becomes almost sexually charged. This causes Milkman and his family to be scrutinized. Milkman also faces physical challenges because one of his legs is shorter than the other giving him a limp. Furthermore, Milkman’s relationship with his domineering, misogynistic, and abusive father makes him feel like he is not acknowledged properly in the home. However, when Milkman comes to the defense of his mother and punches his father into the radiator, his attitude changes for a brief moment, “Infinite possibilities and enormous responsibilities stretched out before him, but he was not prepared to take advantage of the former, or accept the burden of the latter” (68). Milkman punching Macon is significant because he was able to overcome his physical challenges and his father’s domineering attitude. Also because of this, when Milkman comes to the defense of his mother, he soon learns from Macon the history behind his hatred for Ruth.

Natality, Vitality, and Mortality - SoS

In Toni Morrison's novel, Song of Solomon, different stages of life are contrasted. In the opening scene of Chapter 1, a black insurance agent named Mr. Smith is drawing attention from passersby as he contemplates jumping off the roof of Mercy Hospital. In his suicide note, he claims "I will... fly away on my own wings" (3). In black folktale literature, the ability to fly represents freedom and the fulfillment of wishes. In Mr. Smith's case, his leap to death represents his liberation from his own suffering. Among the bystanders of his suicide includes a pregnant woman, Ruth, and the "singing woman," Pilate. Pilate, suspected to have supernatural powers, mentions to Ruth "A little bird'll be here with the morning" (9). This moment introduces the motif of birth and connects the theme of flying as a means of liberation. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of birth and death builds a contrast which raises the question of what living truly is. From what I've gathered so far, in Song of Solomon, living can only be achieved when equality among races is attained. For instance, in Chapter 1, one of Macon's daughters says that she has "found a dead bird." The significance of the dead bird is that it symbolizes Mr. Smith's suicide and his unfulfilled wish for freedom while also commenting on the price that others have to pay in order to be truly equal.