Song of Solomon 2
Toni Morrison begins her novel Song of Solomon in a very unconventional way. Instead of introducing a setting or characters, she retells an incident that without further reading is for the most part incomprehensible. As readers we notice later on in the story the references made throughout the book that relate back to the introductory pages. Some of the main themes such as oral traditions, naming, and especially flight are introduced in the first six pages and are further developed in a very similar format throughout the book. One of the outstanding themes, oral tradition, is used to retell events throughout the book in a manner consistent with the beginning. On the first page we are introduced to an insurance agent by the name of Robert Smith. We shortly thereafter learn that he will "fly" form the top of Mercy Hospital. On the Wednesday of his flight a group of fifty people gather around the building to witness this event. While waiting for his "flight" or jump a woman in a contralto voice begins to sing the words "O Sugarman done fly away/ Sugarman done gone/ Sugarman cut across the sky/ Sugarman gone home..."(6) This lady simply describes Robert Smith's flight "home" which we later learn is re
Clearly through these examples we can see how effectively Toni Morrison introduces complicated ideas into the beginning and later explains them instead of developing them from the start in a clearer manner. Oral tradition, naming, and flight are some of the main ideas that are carried through but other ideas like that of the supernatural are also important in explaining some of the events that occur throughout. Altogether this method is very effective to those who can survive the confusing beginning. Sometimes in life, we encounter problems and dilemmas that at first seem very confusing, but as we proceed in deciphering them we can make sense out of the confusion. A psychoanalyst deals with his or her patients in a very similar manner. They listen to the disorder in their patients minds and them must clarify what they are thinking and help them with their problems. This too occurs for me when doing my math homework. At first the problems don't make sense but after looking at them and trying to understand everything comes together and makes sense. Although we don't like to think in this way, it seems that we often find ourselves dealing under there circumstances more frequently than we think. ally him committing suicide. Much later on in the book Milkman is listening to a group of children singing "O Solomon done fly away/ Solomon done gone/ Solomon cut across the sky/ Solomon gone home."(3) In this song Sugarman, or Robert Smith, is replaced by Solomon, or the Great Grandfather of Milkman. The song describes his "flight" from Shalimar, his home town, and the events that happened after his "flight." In general, oral traditions are u
Some common words found in the essay are:
Toni Morrison, Song Solomon, Milkman Milkman, Grandfather Milkman, Robert Smith, Doctor Street, Dead Jake, Robert Smith's, Mercy Hospital, Seven Days, doctor street, throughout book, robert smith, called doctor street, themes oral, committing suicide, similar event, rest novel, similar manner, similar format, fly away/,
Approximate Word count = 1116
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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