Flight In Toni Morrison's The Song Of Solomon

Across many cultures, the idea of flying appears many times. Though spoken in many different languages it ultimately means one thing and universally could mean freedom. The Song of Solomon is a coming-of-age- novel concerning the new generations of the black society. The author gives a strong emphasis on flight and expresses an ideological agenda through the use of of metaphors as well as greek allusions. Throughout the novel, Toni Morrison — the author of the novel — suggests the idea that one must take the slow route of flying and travel, in addition to learning their past to create their own understanding of the world by the use of their life experiences because in doing so, one can create their own history as well as completely understanding

Icarus being a mythical creature who pushed himself to the limits in an attempt to achieve the impossible which, in this case, is flying. The story starts of this way to initially show the effects the society have on individuals that may potentially lead to their downfall. Milkman being born in a white-exclussive-hospital marks the idea that discrimination could be broken if only we learn to accept one another. Milkman grew up with many privileges given to him right from birth which gave him a warped, self-centred view of the world, highly emphasized when his father had told him about his past and why he acts a certain way towards his mother

Corinthians who goes to work for someone else in her own attempt of escaping their father and somehow found happiness with someone she loves. Guitar joins an assassin group called “Seven Days” in his twisted attempt to equalize the ratio of blacks and whites. Guitar goes on killing innocent people and knowing how to kill them by just reading the newspaper or listening to the radio instead of actually going on a journey and observing the inner workings of different society. Pilate travelled around collecting bricks along the way claiming it’s her inheritance meaning that it is as much her right to be in the world as the white people do, by travelling she develops a sense of self as well as a deeper understanding in family, she became the only character throughout the novel who had constant understanding of the world around her. In contrast to Milkman, Hagar is also privileged like him and got what she wanted handed to her, the difference is that she became blinded by the thought of having this privilege all her life that when something does not go her way, for instance, Milkman growing apart from her, she becomes unsure of herself and tries change herself according to someone else instead of herself. By going through a journey may it be emotionally or physically, one can develop a deeper sense of meaning in