Song Of Solomon Quote Analysis

In the novel “Song of Solomon,” written by Toni Morrison, a character named Milkman is heavily affected by his past in many instances throughout the text. This is constantly shown through both his father and his general past. It can be interpreted that not only is he a different person because of this, but also because he does not feel the need to be in the moment. His father, Macon Dead, was a huge influence on him throughout his life. On pg. 52, it narrates, “His voice sounded different to Milkman. Less hard, and his speech was different. More Southern and comfortable and soft.” This can be shown as a tribute to his father because it shows that his father was about to reveal his childhood story to Milkman, which is certainly a turning

It happened before he was through. She’d stepped away from him to pick flowers, returned, and at the sound of her footsteps behind him, he’d turned around before he was through. It was becoming a habit—this concentration on things behind him. Almost as though there were no future to be had.” This quote can be seen as a lifeline for Milkman because it starts his journey to a new beginning. It simply only could get better from there. The actions of Milkman are strange to some because the future always holds something even if it only turns out to be slightly insignificant. A third part of the passage, on pg. 78, it narrates, “Milkman close his eyes and then opened them. The street was even more crowded with people, all going in the direction he was coming from. All walking hurriedly and bumping against him. After a while he realized that nobody was walking on the other side of the street.” As seen here, this is one of the many dark moments Milkman starts to have on account of his increasing knowledge of his family’s past. Milkman not only demonstrates a real awareness of his surroundings but also a detailed eye while on the street. These quotes all symbolize Milkman’s sense of the past and also his innate ability to analyze a situation