Milkman's Exponential Character Development :0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Milkman’s
character frustrated me through most of the book. When we started the novel I
had to constantly remind myself that the main character was a grown man and not
a child even if he behaved like one. By part two of the book, I had given up all
hope that Milkman would grow up and realize he is exactly what Lena accused him
of being. The last 3 chapters of the book surprised me a lot and I had trouble
keeping up with the amount of self-discovery Milkman was experiencing.
Milkman at the beginning of the book was childish, naïve,
and privileged. This was especially obvious when he talked with Guitar about
racism and the killings that were happening. Milkman’s comment about “taking a
plane and leaving” shows how privileged and sheltered he is, and how even
though he’s in his 20’s he has not “seen the world” yet. Milkman didn’t seem to
have any goals or drive and seemed to just exist every day. He was not serious
about Hagar, did not particularly care about his job, and did have a strong
desire for anything. When Milkman’s sister yelled at him about leaving the
house Milkman started to have ideas about freeing himself from his family and
going out on his own. Milkman’s father then introduces the prospect of gold and
Milkman is fueled with the urge to go find this gold and use it to escape.
It’s
the moment Milkman hears the stories about his ancestors that he seems to come
alive. The enthusiasm Milkman feels when he hears about the prospect of flying
and being free is unmatched by anything else in the novel. While reading you
can feel the strong bursts of Milkman’s excitement through the pages. Milkman
also begins to make sense of the people around him. He feels empathy for his
family and looks at things through someone else’s perspective for the first
time. The history of Milkman’s ancestors was a catalyst for his surge in
character development and makes for an unexpected but interesting reading
experience.
Nice post, Bridget. The whole first section of Song of Solomon feels like one long prologue to me, in which it has to be drilled into our brains how seemingly hopeless Milkman's maturity is. The buildup is aggravating, but it makes the eventual payoff of Milkman's journey through Virginia (and Pennsylvania) all the more worth it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a crucial point, about the effects of learning about the legendary more distant past of his ancestors, rather than just his immediate family, solidifying and prompting Milkman's exponential character growth. In Michigan, his immediate family "holds him back," as he's figuratively pinned between his parents, who fight "over" him while he remains indifferent, anchored in the past (reflected in his name, which derives from an event he hardly remembers and has no responsibility for).
ReplyDeleteSo initially family ties are a bad thing that hold him back from flying, but later he learns that his more distant ancestors apparently *really did* fly. And this moment of realization changes everything.
I completely agree with you - Milkman was an extremely annoying character in the first part of the novel, and I would often find myself wondering if we were going to see any development from him in the novel. Despite his identity as a black man, Milkman is remarkably uninterested in the social issues surrounding racism. However, when we think about his life story, it makes sense why Milkman behaved the way he did for so long. Milkman grew up resenting his father, and he had no role models in his life. It is only when he minds out the importance of his family legacy that he truly understands his place in society and starts to care about the world around him. Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your analysis of Milkman's character development. His moments of realization are truly special, as they serve to give him a completely new outlook on life and cause reflection of his perspectives and actions.
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