"Song of Solomon" - post 2

In this post I will be discussing the very end of part 1.

I found the imagery in the last scene with drunk Milkman and Lena very interesting. Lena shows Milkman the dying maple tree. Lena informs Milkman that the tree grew from a twig that she had gathered with flowers that he had peed on when he was little and accidentally peed on Lena. She claims that by soiling the flowers and the twig (which grew into the tree), Milkman is responsible for their deaths. Lena also claims that by soiling Lena literally and all the women in his house figuratively (by not respecting them caring about them, and making fun of them), he is responsible for what happens as a result of his actions towards them, the most recent of which being ruining Corinthians' relationship with Porter by telling Macon. Lena's ending message ties the image of the dying, soiled tree and the "soiled" women toghether by warning Milkman to be wary of his actions or else Lena will take action in some way. I think that the image of her large eyes after putting on her glasses was very telling of her new watchfulness of her baby brother.  

"Song of Solomon" - post 1

In this post I will be discussing the use of the biblical names of some of the main characters, including the title, in Toni Morrison's novel, Song of Solomon. 

The title, Song of Solomon, comes from the Old Testament. It is a book of wise sayings and stories about King Solomon's wisdom. He was the second King of Israel (after David), and was initially a very good king. However, he became very greedy and focused on money, building ornate temples and places. God punished him by destroying his kingdom and all of his temples based on wealth, not faith.

Macon seems to be very similar to King Solomon. He is a very imporant man in his town in North Carolina (particularly in the African American community). He was very rich, and had followed the doctor (his father-in-law) as the richest African American man in town after the doctor's death. He may have been kinder or more generous with his money when he was first starting out (although I rather doubt it based upon what in the past he reflects upon), but he his now entirely consumed by his money and status, even sending Freddie up to get "his money" down from the pocket of a drunk man who tried to kill himself, but passed out before he could. Macon's name is one of the few non-biblical main character names, which is an interesting contrast to the rest of the main characters.

Pilate is Macon's younger sister. She was named at random when her father pointed to a word in the Bible. Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea when Jesus was crucified. He is thus hated by many Christians, when he really was stuck in the confines of the laws in that province regarding the powers of the Jewish council and the punnishment that they want for their convicted person. However, for a long time, Pilate was seen as the source of all evil and that he had Jesus crucified because he wanted to not because he had to. Similarly, Pilate in the novel is hated by everyone and is seen by her brother as be source of all evil and something that could ruin his reputation. However, when Milkman goes to see her with Guitar, he finds that she isn't scary or evil, but that she is just represented that way because of what she does (runs a home winery), and the fact that she had a child out of wedlock. She is kind, caring, and leads a contented life that draws even Macon in to observe her happiness from afar.

First Corinthians is one of Macon's two daughters. First Corinthians is a letter from Paul (one of the disciples) to the people of Phillippi. The letter contains advice on how to follow the Christian way of being loving towards others (he includes things like love is patient and that love is the most important thing in life). First Corinthians emulates this principle by always being kind, and not very confrontational (except when she was little). She seems to be the "perfect child" -- doing everything her father wants her to, going to college, smoothing over arguments, etc. 

All of these characters resemble qualities of important biblical references that I think will play a large role in events to come in the novel. 

"Pride and Prejudice" - post 2

Why is Mr. Wickham Mr. Bennet's favorite son-in-law?

This question has bothered me every time I have read Pride and Prejudice. Why would the son-in-law he never wants to see again, who nearly ruined his family's reputation, be his favorite over a nice, rich man and another, very rich, man who has grown greatly since being humbled? The only slightly probable explanation I can think of is that Mr. Bennet sees himself in Mr. Wickham (although this is in itself a stretch for an answer).

Mr. Wickham is a servant's son greatly favored by the late Mr. Darcy (the current Mr. Darcy's father), but one who has fallen into gambling, promiscuity, and other "wild" behaviors. Mr. Bennet doesn't seem to have followed the same trajectory, but both men seem to have not been/are not economical and married very similar women with whom they fall quickly out of love. The narrator recounts Mr. Bennet's reflection on his marriage. He was young and thought the future Mrs. Bennet pretty, and as a result, married her. He never truly loved her, or at least not for very long. He is the polar opposite of his wife, and seems to find her quite annoying. In this reflection at the beginning of Chapter 19 of Volume II, he seems to regret that he cannot make her as happy as he perhaps should due to their varying differences and his unwillingness to change. Mr. Wickham appears to be very similar, finding Lydia attractive enough to allow her to come with him and elope when  he runs away from the militia. In the last chapter of the novel, the narrator informs readers that Mr. Wickham rapidly fell out of love with his wife. Neither men saved their money very well, and thus encounter problems in married life with rather expensive, superficial wives. Both men also put all their hopes for security in one person/event -- Mr. Bennet in having a son to ensure that Longbourn stayed in the family, Mr. Wickham in Mr. Darcy to always take care of him and give him whatever he wanted because he was included in his father's will. Neither one finds security in their person/event, thus they must rely on themselves for security, or become resigned to their fate.