Daniel Jarrell-Rourke

Period 6
Song of Solomon Reading Journal

Ch. 1
The next day a colored baby was born inside Mercy for the first time.
This line really set the mood for the entire book, for me at least. It represents the
racial struggle that goes on throughout the book and especially around Milkman,
the baby who was born.
What does, Sugarman, mean?
The colors on page 5 are mostly opposites from each other. This represents the
black and white relationship later in the book.
Toni Morrison makes the girls seem mythic by using adjectives that are very
calm, gentle, and gradual. These are traits similar to an angel or goddess.
Motif: Responsibility versus escape
Robert Smith escaped
Ch. 2
he risked a glance at his friend and saw the setting sun gliding Guitars eyes,
putting into shadow a slow smile of recognition.
I enjoyed the imagery in this quote. Also the contrast of the sun and shadow I feel
are representative of the racial contrast at the time.
Why wont Macon Jr. reveal Macon Is real name?
The Dead household is very unhappy, bleak, their father is abusive, and no one is
really at peace. The Dead household is dead in a sense. Pilates family on the
other hand is the opposite. When Hagar admits to bung hungry, Pilate and Reba
were horrified and said she could eat anything at anytime. This contrast
obviously will become more apparent as the novel progresses.
Motif: Materialism versus Spirituality
Macon Jr. flaunts his shiny around while Pilate is concerned with family

Ch. 3
But it lacked coherence, a coming together of the features of a total self.
This particular quote represents Milkman. He doesnt know whom he is, hes lost,
and he has not yet come together to form his total self. I can relate to the feeling
of being lost, which is why this quote stood out to me.
Did Milkman fully realize how he got the name, Milkman, or was he simply
having a vision?
The point of the lecture was to show the boys their harsh reality. At that time,
blacks were treated very unequally. Railroad Tommys goal was to explain to the
boys that they wouldnt have many privileges because of the inequality present in
their society. He uses parallel structure by beginning many sentences with, you
not This emphasizes the reality and gravity of the situation. It shows how
much the boys wont get in comparison to whites.
Motif: Importance of our past
Milkman remembers what his mother did at a young age and begins to put the
pieces of his history together
Ch. 4
Looks like everybodys going in the wrong direction but you, dont it?
Again, this quote shapes an issue that is very prevalent in the novel. I enjoy how
Toni Morrison puts meaning into a lot of different things. Everybody going the
wrong direction except Milkman shows that he is going the wrong way now. All
he is concerned about are parties and girls. But eventually he will be on a path
towards improvement in his life and everyone else will not.
Are these fantastical elements really happening?
Toni Morrison starts the sentence about Macon Jr. with, and, to show the
separation Milkman feels with his father. After everything that happened, he does
not want anything to do with him and this sentence shows the final ties being cut.
Motif: Gender Issues
Macon Jr. abuses his wife, physically and mentally. Also Milkman mistreats
Hagar and does not give her the attention she needs. He uses her for his own
selfish reasons and then eventually dumps her.

Ch. 5
Above all he wanted to escape what he knew, escape the implications of what he
had been told.
The motif of responsibility versus escape shows up in this quote. In this sense the
word, escape, has a negative connotation. Milkman wants to not face his
situation but rather run away from it. But just earlier, Milkman discussed
escaping from the never-ending, pointless cycle most of his people and city is
stuck in.
Ruths tone is very straightforward but also hurt. She wants to put everything out
there but also it is easy to see she is still very upset about her fathers death. She
wants to get sympathy from Milkman, but not in a negative way. She deserves his
sympathy in this instance.
Motif: Responsibility versus Escape
Milkman discusses escaping from his life, mentally and physically. Yet he has
responsibilities like his job with his father.
Ch. 6
The disease they have is in their blood, in the structure of their chromosomes.
(157)
This quote is obviously makes me, being white, uncomfortable. But I understand
that was the point Toni Morrison was trying to make. After all the horrible things
that white people have done to African-Americans, all of that hate is shown in
Guitar except he feels it towards white people. Its very interesting and I feel
Morrison was trying to show how insane racism is towards any race, not just
African-Americans.
Why does Milkman jump to the conclusion that Guitar will try to kill him?
Milkman takes a calmer, more rational approach to the racial situation. While
Guitar, who absolutely has a reason to be upset with white people, takes a very
extreme approach. Guitar could be compared to Malcom X, at least belief-wise.
Both are extreme, passionate, and will do anything to have equality.

Ch. 7
And as if in answer to her recognition, he took a deep breath, rolled his eyes
back, and whispered, Sing. Sing, in a hollow voice before he melted away. (170)
I really enjoy the fantastical elements present throughout the book. Its
interesting that most characters seem to accept them as reality and I feel they add
substance to the novel.
Why was there a man living in that cave?
As a reader, I could almost tell something was going to be off with the green sack
after Macon Jr. acted so strange about it. Again his greediness bubbled to the
surface.
Motif: Materialism versus Spiritualism
Macon Jr. wants to take the dead mans treasure but Pilate urges against it
Ch. 8
Guitar smiled at the sun, and talked lovingly of televisions, and brass beds, and
week long card games, but his mind was on the wonders of TNT. (181)
Its honestly very sad to see Guitar being so lost. Of course, he feels like he is far
from lost however he curbed his daydreams in order to plan a terrorist attack. Its
so sad what oppression can do to people.
What does the peacock symbolize? Is it important that it is white?
Motif: Materialism versus Spirituality
Guitar and Milkman are obsessed with getting the gold and it takes over their
minds
Ch. 9
She didnt know any grown-up women. (196)
This quote says a lot. The fact that a forty-four-year-old woman does not know
any women she can fully look up to. She has no sound role models. All of the
women that surround her have intense issues, are brain-dead, or have some other
quality that is large enough to completely change who they are in a negative way.
Its a very harsh reality and its the result of oppression and sexism.
Why did Milkman feel the need to tell Macon Jr. about First Corinthians and
Porters relationship? (Uncool man)

This chapter takes a shot at the police. Everyone is aware that some police
officers should not have their position of authority. That is a frightening truth
especially when racism comes into the picture. The fact that Milkman and Guitar
were pulled over for no reason finally shows Milkman that the world he is living
in is not an equal one. And the fact of the matter is, this novel reveals the truth
about many things, including the evil side of the police.
Motif: Gender Roles
First Corinthians has no strong woman to look up to because of all the damage
every woman she knows has gone through due to men.
Ch. 10
Maybe it was fatigue, but the touching of palms seemed a little weak. (226)
Although it clearly has been happening for a while, this quote shows the
separation forming between Milkman and Guitar. Its sad because at the
beginning of the novel they were such good friends and now, even though they
should be on the same side of the argument, theyve been twisted into becoming
enemies. Not yet enemies, but they are heading in that direction. This quote
stood out to me, personally just because I hate seeing good things end for
pointless reasons.
What did Milkman lifting the crate onto the scale represent, if anything at all?
The reason Morrison used a fairy-tale like opening was to relate a common story
back to the reality of Song of Solomon. Many people know a lot of fairy-tales;
therefore they can understand the Hansel and Gretel reference. The point of a
myth or fairy-tale is to teach a lesson. The blind hunger Milkman has when
looking for the gold is just like the blind hunger the two children have when they
stumble onto the witchs property. When given the Hansel and Gretel reference,
its easier for a reader to understand what Milkman is going through.
Motif: Materialism versus Spirituality
Milkman is blinded by the gold
Ch. 11
Under the hot sun, Milkman was frozen with anger. (269)
I enjoyed this sentence because its a very artistic way of expressing how angry
Milkman is. Although, its brutally hot, hes frozen. I can relate to being that
angry and its interesting to see a feeling Im familiar with having be expressed in
such an abstract way.
Where did Guitar go after he attempted to kill Milkman?

Morrison did this to create a very eerie effect. She uses many short sentences that
only say simple things happening in the scene. The fact that all the people are
doing nothing and just staring at him reveals how much of an outsider he really
is. Hes not quite white, not quite black. And in an almost completely black town,
he couldnt be more alienated.
Motif: Heritage
Milkman goes back to his fathers hometown and learns things about his family
Ch. 12
They looked at each other for a minute. No, less. Just long enough for the heart
of each man to adjust its throb to the downbeat of the other. (295)
This small excerpt reveals the intimacy between the two men. Not sexually
obviously, but the quiet, intimate relationship the two men have knowing one of
them wants the other dead is very interesting. I remember hearing a quote that
said, There are few things as intimate as killing another man. Its very scary, but
very intriguing to me as well.
Where did Guitar get the notion that the gold was in the crate? Why didnt
Milkman explain the change of heart he had and thats why he was helping the
man lift the crate?
Motif: Heritage
Milkman learns his family history through the Song of Solomon
Ch. 13
Hagar, dont. Its a bad word, belong. (306)
Although hes talking about belonging to someone in a spousal or lover sense, it
seems very apparent to me why Guitar is forbidding the word, belong. His
people were enslaved for hundreds of years and still today are treated unequally.
So it makes sense why he wants Hagar, and all African-Americans to not belong
to anyone anymore.
How long was Hagar in that apartment?
Guitar voices black pride in this chapter. He tells Hagar to basically stick up for
herself. He tells her that she is her own person and does not need Milkman to
survive. She should be proud of the African-American woman that she is.
Motif: Gender Issues
Hagar cannot function without Milkman

Ch. 14
His mind was ahead of hers, behind hers, with hers, and bit by bit, with what she
said, what he knew, and what he guessed, he put it all together.
This is all one long sentence with many different components. But basically all
the different components all show how Milkman is piecing together his heritage. I
think the reason Morrison wrote such a long sentence is to show that the process
of Milkman finding out about his past is so extensive.
The flight motif I feel is representative of the escape theme. Just like these slaves
escaping the plantations and flying back to Africa, milkman is trying his entire
life to escape. Not only his hometown, but also his father, mother, mind state,
and the endless cycle that constantly surrounds him.
Motif: Responsibility versus Escape, Our Heritage
Both are so prevalent in this chapter
Ch. 15
If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it. (337)
This quote, as well as being important simply because it is the last line of the
novel, has a lot of meaning. It means that if you surrender to life, life will
surrender to you. Pilate was by far the wisest of all the characters and Milkman
was a close second by the end. Flight represents life and freedom. Milkman
finally understands this and is at peace.
What was the placement of Guitar and Milkman exactly?
Although its not happy because Pilate dies and Milkman may die, thats not what
is important. The flight of the birds, and of Milkman represents that they will live
on. And although the characters may not be in a physically appealing situation,
Milkman is finally at peace so that part of the ending is happy to me.
Motif: Responsibility versus Escape, Our Heritage

Responsibility versus Escape

For now he knew what Shalimar knew: If you surrendered to the air, you could
ride it. (337)
Milkman is saying that if one wants to master something, in this case life,
they must surrender to it. In order to lead a successful and happy life, one needs
to accept all the realities and issues that come with life. But he is comparing it
metaphorically to flying, or riding the wind. And both flying and living a good life
represent escaping. Whether it is escape of a town, mindset, or race war.
Above all he wanted to escape what he knew, escape the implications of what he
had been told.
In this instance Milkman wants to hide from his issues. But he only thinks
this way he doesnt really. Thats where the responsibility comes in. His
responsibilities motivate him to not escape, only in this small instance.
Infinite possibilities and enormous responsibilities stretched out before him but
he wasnt prepared to take advantage of the former, or accept the burden of the
latter. (68)
Milkman hit his father for hitting Ruth and although he gained the
knowledge that he can stand up to his father, his parents views of him changed.
He felt he had the responsibility to not intervene; yet he wanted to escape his
father and come to his mothers aid. He was upset that he saw his father that way,
yet excited that he could take a stand against him. After the incident Milkman is
feeling very contradictory and torn between these two feelings.

The Importance of Heritage and Our Past

He couldnt be mistaken. These Children were singing a song about his own
people! (304)
This quote is when Milkman discovers children in a town directly related
to his family are singing a song about the history of his family. And when he
begins to learn about his heritage through the song, he learns more about himself
as well as a result. Theres a major correlation between ones heritage and whom
they are inside.
I dont know who and I dont know why. I just know what Im telling you: what,
when, and where. (42)
Pilate has chosen to not delve too far into her heritage. After her and her
brother saw the ghost of their father on the stump, they were traumatized.
Heritage and family is the foundation of ones life, whether its a good thing or a
bad thing. In this case its somewhat negative because of one traumatic event she
cannot receive the closure she needs from her fathers murder.
Macon paused and let the smile come on. He had not said any of this for years.
Had not even reminisced much about it recently. (52)
This quote is revealing in that it becomes apparent Macon has a gentler side. And
what better to bring that out of him than his past? His childhood memories
essentially turn him into a gleeful child again, only for a short period of time.
Regardless, time and time again this novel has given examples of a characters
heritage/past affecting them in a major way. And that idea expands into the real
world as well.

Gender Issues: The Differences Between Men and Women

You dont know a single thing about either one of us. [] Where do you get the
right to decide our lives? (215)
Nearly every woman in this novel is oppressed in some way. Aside from
being treated unequally because of their skin color, theyre treated even more
unequally because they are women. Milkman reported on his sister dating Porter
to their father and ruined the entire relationship. This is simply another instance
of a man disregarding the feelings of a woman close to him and only doing what
he wants. Its hard to read after a while honestly just because of how much it
happens in the novel. Throughout Milkmans entire relationship with his sisters,
gender issues are present. He doesnt know anything about hit own family and
barely pays them any mind because theyre women.
He hadnt thought much of it when shed told him, but now it seemed to him
that such sexual deprivation would affect her, hurt her in precisely the way it
would affect and hurt him. (300)
Milkman spent most of the novel treating Hagar awfully and he altered her
thinking so much that she became obsessed with him. Because of him, a woman
very close to him was diminished to wanting sex from Milkman so badly that it
physically affected her. When a woman in the novel is deprived of sex (Hagar,
Ruth) they become completely different people. They are half insane, sex crazed,
lifeless people and it is very majorly because of the men in their lives.
You dont hear about women like that anymore, but there used to be more the
kind of woman who couldnt live without a particular man. And Love, I guess. But
I always thought it was trying to take care of children by themselves, you know
what I mean? (323)
This is another case of a man leaving a woman in horrible shape. In this
case, Solomon left Ryna with 21 children to take care of. Perhaps Morrison has a
common theme of men leaving their lovers because statistically, many men,
African-American men in particular, leave their lovers/families. I think Morrison
was trying to express what this could do to a home, and also the fact that men are
completely disregarding the women.

Materialism versus Spirituality

[] Because the fact is that I am a small woman. I dont mean little; I mean
small, and Im small because I was pressed small. I lived in a great big house that
pressed me into a small package. (124)
Although it was more comfortable living-wise, Ruths big house, fancy
clothes, and expensive jewelry alienated her from both blacks and white. She was
neither one. She tried so hard to be white, yet she looked black so no one
accepted her. The materialism of her life crushed her spirit and changed who she
really is. All the things she believed were the, white, things to have, the material
things, ruined her in the end.
He should have pulled a stick to check depth before he put his foot down, but his
excitement had been too great. (249)
At this point in the book Milkman is headed to the cave where he suspects
gold is hidden. The gold drives him mad a little bit and he stops caring about
anything else until he can get it. He didnt even think about it he just started
wading through a river to get to the cave and he fell underwater. The idea of
having that much wealth poisoned Milkmans mind and its not the only time a
material item has gotten the best of him. Its rather scary to see someone so
overwhelmed with greed that they will stop at nothing until they acquire it. And
that is materialism in a nutshell.
He turned to his son full face and licked his lips. [] Please get it, son. Get the
gold.
After Macon Jr. convinces himself that Pilate has the gold they both
discovered when they were children he almost is entranced. Very similar to how
Milkman reacts on the hunt for the gold, Macon Jr. becomes blinded by it.
Morrison says he licked his lip in order to show he is literally hungry for the gold.
Again material items take over a character. Luckily, Milkman finds his peace at
the end of the novel. But many peoples judgments were clouded throughout the
book and it was because of objects many times.