Motif

Motifs. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

In the past few chapters of Song of Solomon, songs have played a key role. As Milkman wanders in Shalimar, he listens to a couple of children singing a song. This song serves as a connection between Milkman and his forgotten past, his unknown family history. In the past, songs served as a way to educate in the sense that many people were illiterate and stories through the form of songs were the way to learn. Hearing this song in the present is a hint that songs capture the past. For Milkman, songs have played a large role in discovering family heritage. Pilate songs about Sugarman is another instance that stimulates Milkman’s expedition to Virginia. Other than Milkman, other family members use songs to heal themselves emotionally and mentally.

Along with songs, biblical allusions are significant throughout the entire book. The book is based off of biblical figures, who have exceeded cultural limitations. Many characters are given a names and background events to match with age-old themes. For example, Hagar was Sarah’s handmaiden, who bore Abraham (Sarah’s husband) a son. After, Hagar was banished from Abraham’s sight. On the same coin, Milkman uses Hagar to his desires and pleasures, but never gives the relationship a name, and instead leaves her when he feels fulfilled. Both the men prove to be cold-hearted, selfish individuals who push women below themselves. Milkman’s true value for Hagar is to be determined until the end of the book.

 

The quote is a description of Milkman finding himself. (self-identity)

Contrast

Contrast. The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.

As I read Song of Solomon more and more, the difference in certain characters became more clarified. Despite being connected with a definite understanding of Macon Dead, Pilate and Ruth could not be more different. How does the same single person influence two lives in such a drastically different measure? The answer to the question starts off with the one very strong, similar connection between Pilate and Ruth: Macon. Macon has inflicted much pain on both Pilate and Ruth. Stealing “money” from Pilate and brainwashing Milkman are significant examples from the book to show Macon’s disloyalty, greed, and cold-hearted nature. However, the reception of this hate is differed by the attitude of the women. Although Pilate is poor and lonely, she has a strong sense of justice and faith to her family. On the same coin, Ruth is wealthy and refined, but at the same time she is weak, selfish, and entirely dependent on others. While Pilate values nature and morals, Ruth relies on materialistic possessions. On top of that, Pilate takes control of her life and shapes her future to her liking, while Ruth’s unstableness drags herself to all corners of sadness. Perhaps these very differences are the connecting force for both women. Perhaps these events and characteristics connect both women to their love and care for Milkman. Despite being only Macon's aunt, Pilate saves Milkman time and time again: "she had it all together when she got there" (205). On the surface, no one is more dissimilar that Pilate and Ruth, but both of them together are a symbol of shared love. Shared love is the most important factor in the entire book. It is the exact idea that each of the characters struggle with and hopefully will become their “happily ever after.”

Past

Past. A part of a person's history that is considered to be shameful

“He didn’t mean it. It happened before he was through. She’d stepped away from him to pick flowers, returned, and at the sound of her footsteps behind him, he’d turned around before he was through. It was becoming a habit—this concentration on things behind him. Almost as though there were no future to be had.”

This quote from Chapter 2 is a definite representation of the Milkman following Macon Jr’s footsteps. In this passage, Milkman accidentally urinates on Lena on a trip. Even at this young age, Milkman shows instability and an unfaithful attitude. Unlike anyone his age, Milkman tends to lean towards the past instead of looking forward. He feels more faith and reliance towards the things that have passed, instead of having hope for the future. This is perhaps due to the dysfunctionality of his family and the events that led up to the present. In addition, it is possible that his “concentration on the things behind him” is a way to cope with the present.

Although Milkman may feel that his family is abnormal and dysfunctional, he doesn’t quite realize that he is specially treated. Milkman urinating on his a girl is also a representation of how he views women at a young age. This reveals a large motif in the story: the pain inflicted on women by men. Although he may unintentionally urinated on Lena, the event becomes an example of the treatment of women throughout the book. Even though Milkman is treated highly amongst his sisters and mother, he fails to realize that he isn’t able match their care. In the end, unintentional or intentional, women were treated poorly, and the need for change is pressing.

Women

Women. No definition.

Why are women defined? Why are women categorized? Why are women expected to stay at home and take of the children? It’s disrespectful that women are pushed in a box and forced to remain there. Each woman in The Great Gatsby is pushed in a labeled box. Daisy is portrayed as indecisive, careless, and greedy for more. Even though she is a married woman with a child, she hasn’t been able to cope with the responsibilities of being an adult. Jordan Baker is shown to be hard, direct, and pessimistic personality.  Unlike Daisy, who is bubbly and foolish, Jordan is deceptive and smart about what she wants; “Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men…”(57). Along with Jordan and Daisy, Myrtle is depicted as a vicious character who has no morals. Like Gatsby, Myrtle tries to climb out of her inborn social class. She feels that she married below her “rightful” position and strive to become better and richer. However, Gatsby is depicted as a tragic hero, while Myrtle is an ignorant fool.

William Fitzgerald had a very clear outlook on women in the book. He displayed a woman as a deceitful, selfish, greedy… Fitzgerald was definitely no feminist, consequently, neither was Nick. Nick is considered “observant,” which is supposed to gain credibility in the reader’s eyes. However, Nick transforms from being observant to meddling in relationships and creating subjective statements about events that occur in the book. For example, in the second chapter, Nick is heavily influenced by alcohol, which is connected to being an unreliable narrator. As any person in the book, Nick has his own flaws. Therefore, what gives him the right to give a label to any of the women? From what aspect is he allowed to give the accurate representation of Daisy or Jordan or Myrtle? His perspective is NOT accurate.