In the novel Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison obsesses over the sensual memories in her writing. She uses this type of memory to show how and why certain characters remember specific events and details. Different characters remember in a variety of ways throughout the story. Pilate is a very sensual character; she makes wine and does not wear and shoes, both of which are very sensual things. Remembering details and events are a big part of her life and who she is. Other characters remember in different ways, or are reluctant to remembering at all. The men in the village of Southside are reminded of certain things, and think certain ideas because of a smell. Milkman and Macon Dead are both reluctant to remembering and are sparse in their memories, but all of the characters use sensual memory as a way of remembering. I think she uses this method to help the reader become closer and be able to connect more with the characters. Everyone has some form of a sensual memory. !

We can all relate to remembering things because of a particular smell or hearing a certain sound. Morrison tries to capture this type of remembering in her writing and allow the cha

Macon's sensual memory of Pilate and he focused here on the way the raspberries and apples tasted, the way the dewy grass and warm dirt soothed them on that day, and what they had to sleep in. They were not used to being locked up in the house. The two of them were free spirits and so these day-by-day ordinary things were something special to them on that particular day and those are the precise details that they remember about their first day of freedom.

The time, at which a certain incident is happening, one may not recognize that a sensual memory is being formed.

"The first day out was joyous for them. They ate raspberries and apples; they took off their shoes and let the dewy grass and sun-warmed dirt soothe their feet. At night they slept in a haystack, so grateful for open air even the field mice and the ticks were welcome bedmates." (p. 168)

Taste is an especially strong form of sensual memory. The tastes of certain foods can remind a person of particular point in time and place. When I experience the savory taste of a roasted turkey, it takes me back to all the Thanksgivings that I have spent at my aunt and uncle's house. Macon Dead usually is very sparse with his memories and uses them to hurt others. Here the author here has Macon remembering a very good and sensual memory about Pilate and his first day out. I think that she does this to stress how important the effect of a sensual memory is. Macon remembering all these specific details about this day shows that these things were important to him.

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Approximate Word count = 1573
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)