Today in class, we related the elder figure in myths to Pilate. We also pointed out Milkman's crossing into an unfamiliar world- when he takes flight to the South- as another common characteristic of the myth.
I also think that the imagery when Milkman visits Circe is reminiscient of a fairy tale (not the Disney spin on things, but the Brothers Grimm versions) because it taps into his primal fears. He describes her as the witch that every child had nightmares of. "Witches in black dresses and red underskirts; witches with pink eyes and green lips, tiny witches, long rangy witches, ... and some that merely glided on the ground" (239). Animals with human characteristics is another element of the fairy tale. Her golden-eyed dogs, "each of which had the intelligent child's eyes he had seen from the window" remind me of the flickering golden eyes of the eels that Ursula always carted around.
The entire idea of the journey for the gold is similar to the theme of a myth. He certainly evolves along the way (especially when he reflects p. 300-301 on how he treated the people around him) and picks up a few morals.
Someone sent this to me a few days ago, and it's surprisingly relevant. Enjoy!: http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheLittleMermaid_e.html
Morrison references Hansel and Gretel the most throughout Song of Solomon. When Milkman goes to the remains of the Butler mansion and finds Circe, Morrison intertwines mythology and fairytale. “Circe, daughter of the sun, was a sorceress best known for her ability to turn men into animals with her magic wand. The daughter of Perse and Helios, and whose daughter is Aega (goddess of the sun) she is remembered for her encounter with Odysseus and his men, and renowned for her knowledge of magic and poisonous herbs.” (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/circe.html) Morrison combines this mythology with Hansel and Gretel by describing Milkman’s lust for gold. This parallels Hansel and Gretel’s lust for candy. Also, the fact that Circe is still alive is a bit magical/fairy tale like. There is also this idea of myth present in Song of Solomon as well with the quest for gold.
I think that while many people relate the myth style to the journey of Milkman the hero, Pilate's story is more linked to the myth of Odysseuss, making her story similar to the path of a hero. For example Odysseus wanders for ten years and Pilate wanders for twenty years and experiences a series of adventures that shape her character and free her to make hard choices concerning her role in society. Further, the hero of the myth tends to be guided by the gods or supernatural powers. While Pilate is not aided by the gods, she is endowed with supernatural powers and completes her journey without aide, which follows the ideas of the hero in a myth.
Milkman's journey in the second part of the Song of Solomon relates with the hero's journey commonly found in a myth. It seems appropriate that at the beginning of this journey, Milkman meets Circe and Morrison named this midwife after a character from Homer's The Odyssey. The second part of the novel also contains the idea of leaving with simultaneously searching for one's home. Be traveling farther away from the place he was born and raised, Milkman moves closer the the roots of his family. In connecting with those roots, he becomes a more complete and compassionate person who may better relate to the plight of African Americans as a whole.
I think Song of Solomon as a whole has a mythic quality to it, because of its epic style and how it exclusively follows the Milkman's journey from the story preceding his conception to his quest in finding the gold, resembling the Holy Grail in a way, as a way of validating or discovering some larger truth. What also makes it a myth is that the story does draw from reality despite its surreal delivery. Milkman can be said to be a literary representation of the wealthy northern black man according to Morrison. He may even be a symbolic composite of many different issues regarding the African American community, personified. Morrison uses an epic style to cut away the excess of reality and focus in on the bits that reveal a greater truth. In that way, drama helps to reveal truth by not being entirely truthful. Myths are based in truth, and Song of Solomon does draw on reality. It also is not just a work of the time but of timeless issues. The issues relating to the first quote: "The fathers may soar/And the children may know their names."
Pilate is definitely the elder figure in the story. She provides wisdom to the other characters in the story.
The Odyssey is also often referenced throughout the book. Circe is the sorceress in that particular myth and the themes in Song of Solomon that flow from the Odyssey definitely add a mythical quality to the book. For example, Pilate wanders for a long time just as Odysseus does in the Odyssey. The elements of the supernatural that alter the course of the story are reminiscent of the various monsters and gods that Odysseus encounters on his journey in the Odyssey.
Milkman's journey to find the gold is an example folk lore. I say this because It is the tale of him going from place to place, on buses and planes, from the cave to his family's old house to Sweet, etc. It is the story of his travels to find the gold, shrouded in mystery. The promise of gold is reduced to a mere tale. Our hero, Milkman, goes to search for it, and this is a very realistic account in the context. Folk lore, although usually having some sort of magical influence, generally accounts events that could happen in reality. Thus, folk lore are the stories of the people, and things that people could do in the present. Milkman searches for the gold to achieve his gold and claim that which his father was denied.
Hello. I think that chapter 10 throughout was a great example of how Morrison involves aspects of fairy tales, folk lores, and myths into her novel. I thought that when Milkman is walking through the woods from the farm to find the cave and he crosses the brook or whatever, the setting was really surreal. This is a perfect example of the myth aspects of the hero traveling before he makes a new union like in the notes. But recently he has made a few unions, one with Circe (friendly relationship I would call it or maybe just more like acquaintances) and also Milkman's friendly union with Reverend Cooper, who like Circe is Milkman's tickets to information from his family's past. The setting also helps the idea that it is like a fairy tale, kind of like Bambi or Snow White, where a lot of the Disney movies all take place in woods with lots of fury friendly forest creatures. But, like Alicia said, this type of fairy tale was not how the chapter was set up. It was more parallel to a creepy fairy tale, the kind that develops ones fear and emphasizes it. When Milkman is having the conversation with Circe I was really creeped out. Circe was all like the chandelier broke in the Butler house and since I hated them I didn't clean it up and I was happy it fell; the house is decaying and its awesome. Also, Milkman's visit to the farm was very much like a folk lore because it was a return to tradition, in which Milkman was able to learn more about his family from Circe.
I think Morrison's novel thus far clearly mirrors the structure of the myth. We see Milkman's so-called call to adventure when he realizes he must find the gold. He makes the crossing between the familiar and unfamiliar world in his journey to Danville because it is where is families from. He encounters his supernatural and elder figure in Circe, where she guides him in the right direction. However, aside from just the myth-like ideas, I also think there are fairytale aspects incorporated as well. We see the natural imagery in both the dogs and the landscape of the journey to the cave. Both of these things are both fantastical and reminiscent of fairytale characteristics.
anyway... well as people already mentioned, Milkman had clearly set out on his hero's journey, most clearly emphasized by the structure of the novel in 2 parts as well as the flight to this familiar/ unfamiliar place.
Pilate has served as a wise, yet often cryptic and mysterious, elder figure. Circe also seems to function as some sort of wise elder figure, though more in the sense that she reveals truths about the past that serve to fuel Milkman's curiosity.
When Milkman visits Circe and is mistkaen for Macon, and simply by nature of teh fact that he has set out to find this gold that his father has been fixated on, seems to serve as a twisted atonement with his father. Though he wishes to escape his father's work, and world, it seems that that is the only way in which he can reconcil some small portion of their relationship.
THE BOON! I think the boon would have to be the freedom that the gold could bring Milkman. All he wants to do is find himself, and fly. He searches of the gold, so that he can go off and be free.
We said in class that fairy tales have a lot to do with consumption, and that seemed to hold true in this chapter. it even begins with an allusion to a specific fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. And in many senses Milkman seems like a lost child on this journey. He is often driven on by primal desires, or hindered by primal fears.
When relating the story of his father's successes to Reverend Cooper and others, they are in awe of him. He tells and hears the stories of his family it is orally passed traditional stories, like the Erie Lackawanna story. Furthermore it is regionally specific.
I feel like I am getting less and less coherent, so I think here I'll end.
I agree with what most people have said about Milkman's journey in part two of the novel mirroring the typical hero's journey in a myth (so far) but I think that elements of fairy tales and folklore also abound. As for fairy tales, there are definitely some fantasic elements (ghosts, Circe the witch, etc). Also, parts of the novel definitely show peoples' primal fears and desires being tapped into (like the whole situation with Hagar, Milkman's encounters with Sweet in tonight's reading, and his fear of being trapped in his life before the journey forever) As for folklore, parts of the novel revolve around oral tradition- like Milkman's excuse for his journey and how he figures out where to go. He uses old stories to help guide his journey.
Fairy Tale- I think that Circe's character contributes to this idea of the suspension of the laws of nature, because she's magical. She helped deliver pretty much everyone in the county, including Macon and Pilate, and it was assumed that she was dead...yet she isn't Also, I think there's an emphasis on primal fears and desires at the end, when Milkman realizes there's no gold...at the farm at least. He becomes weirdly hungry, which i think is symbolic for his hunger for the gold and through that, independence/flight.
Folklore- I think that when Milkman visits his old family home, he realizes that his family is almost a legend there. This could be like regional stories that are passed on, in this case, about Macon Dead and his son's success. Milkman's grandfather is almost a legend, and Milkman even finds himself close to proud of his father-the same one who tried to kill him before he was born. His conversations with Reverend Cooper and others in the area show this respect for his name, and they also show the oral tradition associated with folklore, by passing these stories on to others.
Myth- As many people mentioned, there's the entire call to adventure and beginning of a journey compared to that of the Odyssey.
I think the second part of Song of SOlomon definitely has a lot of mythic qualities. One that really stood out to me was the idea of a revelation, although Milkman has many.
First he realizes that Pilate is not as innocent as he had previously thought. He discovers that she did take the gold, and probably hid it somewhere in Virginia. This changes his entire view of Pilate from someone he fully trusts to someone decietful.
His second realization is about himself and is a repetition of Lena's rant. He realizes that he is always expecting kindness and generosity from others, yet never offers anything in return. He is not happy with this realization, but already begins to change because of it, and wants to find connections with others instead of just use them.
His third realization regards Guitar: he discovers that itis anger that truly blinds and guides Guitar. While he initially naively interprets Guitar's death threat as a friendly greeting, he finally sees clearly that Guitar would kill anyone if he was angry enough.
These three revelations completely change his previous view of reality, and already begins to change his character. The three people closest to him at this point of the novel are himself, Pilate and Guitar. He now discovers that they, including himself, are not what they appear to be.
As unoriginal as the sentiment is, I would certainly have to say that all of this maintains a myth like structure. As Milkman continues on his journey, he visits more and more locations tied to his family history. These locations definitely meet the familiar yet unfamiliar locale requirement in the Joe Campbell Monomyth definition. Also keeping with this definition, Milkman is having turning points in his relations with his parents. Even though they are not there, he is, thinking back, seeing them in an objective manner. Many of these events are a bildungsroman for Milkman. He is in a place where his father’s wealth does not protect or insulate him, he is learning to cope with that environment, and he enjoys it. Personally, I hope as he becomes more in touch with the world around him, he shows greater interest in self preservation against the elements tied to his old life, like malicious best friends or Buckcherry themed girlfriends.
On a side note, I do think that the matter of his family history seems to portray itself as a folk tale within the novel. It is constantly changing and evolving as he encounters different people, and it is heavily tied to the locale.
I thought that Milkman's journey in Danville was quite similiar to the epic trial we talked about in class today. Milkman ponders searching for the gold, then Guitar propels him to go; he decides to go by himself, a somewhat heroic act. When he gets there, he mets the elder figure- Reverend Cooper- who guides him and gives him the advice/information needed to find the gold. Then he takes off and meets another wise, old figure: Circe. She gives Milkman more information about the trial he is about to embark on. Then comes the journey: he traverses forest, swims across a creek, climbs steep rock, and wanders through a dark cave. However, this was his "first crossing," as he finds nothing of use. I feel like the structure of myths that we discussed in class today would suggest Milkman's next trial will be more fruitful (maybe he will find the bones and/or the gold?). It was really cool to view this chapter from the POV of a myth/fairy tale. I also think the chapter had fairy tale properties because of the magic of Circe's house (the stench, the bajillion dogs, its creepy, mansion look) and the natural imagery of the fields and the forests.
I thought the myth, fairy tale, folklore analysis we did in class today was really cool. Personally, I felt that the novel best fits the myth form, with elements of the fairy tale and folklore mixed in.
I think it’s really cool that Morrison references and draws from so many stories to build hers, fitting in with the idea of intertextuality. She alludes to the Bible – the most widely-read storybook in the world. She references the Odyssey and various Greek myths. And of course, her creepy parallel to Hansel and Gretel in the beginning of Chapter 10 is an allusion to yet another type of story.
All of these allusions give her book an even greater mythic quality, since it incorporates so many different elements of all these stories. Indeed, we can even identify themes from the other books we have read this year. For example, being trapped vs. flying was prevalent in Wide Sargasso Sea. In Song of Solomon, Guitar does not identify people as individuals, but rather part of a greater mass of black or white, much like Bigger did in Native Son. Important values – owning land/property and inheritances – is also discussed in the Sound and the Fury. And One Hundred Years of Solitude also contains themes of incest as reflecting solitude, which we see in Song of Solomon with Ruth’s creepy tendencies.
Really enjoying this book. And I agree with Julia's ROAR!
16 comments:
Today in class, we related the elder figure in myths to Pilate. We also pointed out Milkman's crossing into an unfamiliar world- when he takes flight to the South- as another common characteristic of the myth.
I also think that the imagery when Milkman visits Circe is reminiscient of a fairy tale (not the Disney spin on things, but the Brothers Grimm versions) because it taps into his primal fears. He describes her as the witch that every child had nightmares of. "Witches in black dresses and red underskirts; witches with pink eyes and green lips, tiny witches, long rangy witches, ... and some that merely glided on the ground" (239). Animals with human characteristics is another element of the fairy tale. Her golden-eyed dogs, "each of which had the intelligent child's eyes he had seen from the window" remind me of the flickering golden eyes of the eels that Ursula always carted around.
The entire idea of the journey for the gold is similar to the theme of a myth. He certainly evolves along the way (especially when he reflects p. 300-301 on how he treated the people around him) and picks up a few morals.
Someone sent this to me a few days ago, and it's surprisingly relevant. Enjoy!: http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheLittleMermaid_e.html
Morrison references Hansel and Gretel the most throughout Song of Solomon. When Milkman goes to the remains of the Butler mansion and finds Circe, Morrison intertwines mythology and fairytale. “Circe, daughter of the sun, was a sorceress best known for her ability to turn men into animals with her magic wand. The daughter of Perse and Helios, and whose daughter is Aega (goddess of the sun) she is remembered for her encounter with Odysseus and his men, and renowned for her knowledge of magic and poisonous herbs.” (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/circe.html) Morrison combines this mythology with Hansel and Gretel by describing Milkman’s lust for gold. This parallels Hansel and Gretel’s lust for candy.
Also, the fact that Circe is still alive is a bit magical/fairy tale like.
There is also this idea of myth present in Song of Solomon as well with the quest for gold.
I think that while many people relate the myth style to the journey of Milkman the hero, Pilate's story is more linked to the myth of Odysseuss, making her story similar to the path of a hero. For example Odysseus wanders for ten years and Pilate wanders for twenty years and experiences a series of adventures that shape her character and free her to make hard choices concerning her role in society. Further, the hero of the myth tends to be guided by the gods or supernatural powers. While Pilate is not aided by the gods, she is endowed with supernatural powers and completes her journey without aide, which follows the ideas of the hero in a myth.
Milkman's journey in the second part of the Song of Solomon relates with the hero's journey commonly found in a myth. It seems appropriate that at the beginning of this journey, Milkman meets Circe and Morrison named this midwife after a character from Homer's The Odyssey. The second part of the novel also contains the idea of leaving with simultaneously searching for one's home. Be traveling farther away from the place he was born and raised, Milkman moves closer the the roots of his family. In connecting with those roots, he becomes a more complete and compassionate person who may better relate to the plight of African Americans as a whole.
I think Song of Solomon as a whole has a mythic quality to it, because of its epic style and how it exclusively follows the Milkman's journey from the story preceding his conception to his quest in finding the gold, resembling the Holy Grail in a way, as a way of validating or discovering some larger truth.
What also makes it a myth is that the story does draw from reality despite its surreal delivery. Milkman can be said to be a literary representation of the wealthy northern black man according to Morrison. He may even be a symbolic composite of many different issues regarding the African American community, personified. Morrison uses an epic style to cut away the excess of reality and focus in on the bits that reveal a greater truth. In that way, drama helps to reveal truth by not being entirely truthful.
Myths are based in truth, and Song of Solomon does draw on reality. It also is not just a work of the time but of timeless issues. The issues relating to the first quote:
"The fathers may soar/And the children may know their names."
Pilate is definitely the elder figure in the story. She provides wisdom to the other characters in the story.
The Odyssey is also often referenced throughout the book. Circe is the sorceress in that particular myth and the themes in Song of Solomon that flow from the Odyssey definitely add a mythical quality to the book. For example, Pilate wanders for a long time just as Odysseus does in the Odyssey. The elements of the supernatural that alter the course of the story are reminiscent of the various monsters and gods that Odysseus encounters on his journey in the Odyssey.
Milkman's journey to find the gold is an example folk lore. I say this because It is the tale of him going from place to place, on buses and planes, from the cave to his family's old house to Sweet, etc. It is the story of his travels to find the gold, shrouded in mystery. The promise of gold is reduced to a mere tale. Our hero, Milkman, goes to search for it, and this is a very realistic account in the context. Folk lore, although usually having some sort of magical influence, generally accounts events that could happen in reality. Thus, folk lore are the stories of the people, and things that people could do in the present. Milkman searches for the gold to achieve his gold and claim that which his father was denied.
Hello. I think that chapter 10 throughout was a great example of how Morrison involves aspects of fairy tales, folk lores, and myths into her novel. I thought that when Milkman is walking through the woods from the farm to find the cave and he crosses the brook or whatever, the setting was really surreal. This is a perfect example of the myth aspects of the hero traveling before he makes a new union like in the notes. But recently he has made a few unions, one with Circe (friendly relationship I would call it or maybe just more like acquaintances) and also Milkman's friendly union with Reverend Cooper, who like Circe is Milkman's tickets to information from his family's past. The setting also helps the idea that it is like a fairy tale, kind of like Bambi or Snow White, where a lot of the Disney movies all take place in woods with lots of fury friendly forest creatures. But, like Alicia said, this type of fairy tale was not how the chapter was set up. It was more parallel to a creepy fairy tale, the kind that develops ones fear and emphasizes it. When Milkman is having the conversation with Circe I was really creeped out. Circe was all like the chandelier broke in the Butler house and since I hated them I didn't clean it up and I was happy it fell; the house is decaying and its awesome. Also, Milkman's visit to the farm was very much like a folk lore because it was a return to tradition, in which Milkman was able to learn more about his family from Circe.
I think Morrison's novel thus far clearly mirrors the structure of the myth. We see Milkman's so-called call to adventure when he realizes he must find the gold. He makes the crossing between the familiar and unfamiliar world in his journey to Danville because it is where is families from. He encounters his supernatural and elder figure in Circe, where she guides him in the right direction. However, aside from just the myth-like ideas, I also think there are fairytale aspects incorporated as well. We see the natural imagery in both the dogs and the landscape of the journey to the cave. Both of these things are both fantastical and reminiscent of fairytale characteristics.
roar!
don't ask I don't know why.
anyway...
well as people already mentioned, Milkman had clearly set out on his hero's journey, most clearly emphasized by the structure of the novel in 2 parts as well as the flight to this familiar/ unfamiliar place.
Pilate has served as a wise, yet often cryptic and mysterious, elder figure. Circe also seems to function as some sort of wise elder figure, though more in the sense that she reveals truths about the past that serve to fuel Milkman's curiosity.
When Milkman visits Circe and is mistkaen for Macon, and simply by nature of teh fact that he has set out to find this gold that his father has been fixated on, seems to serve as a twisted atonement with his father. Though he wishes to escape his father's work, and world, it seems that that is the only way in which he can reconcil some small portion of their relationship.
THE BOON! I think the boon would have to be the freedom that the gold could bring Milkman. All he wants to do is find himself, and fly. He searches of the gold, so that he can go off and be free.
We said in class that fairy tales have a lot to do with consumption, and that seemed to hold true in this chapter. it even begins with an allusion to a specific fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. And in many senses Milkman seems like a lost child on this journey. He is often driven on by primal desires, or hindered by primal fears.
When relating the story of his father's successes to Reverend Cooper and others, they are in awe of him. He tells and hears the stories of his family it is orally passed traditional stories, like the Erie Lackawanna story. Furthermore it is regionally specific.
I feel like I am getting less and less coherent, so I think here I'll end.
Hi!
I agree with what most people have said about Milkman's journey in part two of the novel mirroring the typical hero's journey in a myth (so far) but I think that elements of fairy tales and folklore also abound. As for fairy tales, there are definitely some fantasic elements (ghosts, Circe the witch, etc). Also, parts of the novel definitely show peoples' primal fears and desires being tapped into (like the whole situation with Hagar, Milkman's encounters with Sweet in tonight's reading, and his fear of being trapped in his life before the journey forever) As for folklore, parts of the novel revolve around oral tradition- like Milkman's excuse for his journey and how he figures out where to go. He uses old stories to help guide his journey.
Fairy Tale- I think that Circe's character contributes to this idea of the suspension of the laws of nature, because she's magical. She helped deliver pretty much everyone in the county, including Macon and Pilate, and it was assumed that she was dead...yet she isn't Also, I think there's an emphasis on primal fears and desires at the end, when Milkman realizes there's no gold...at the farm at least. He becomes weirdly hungry, which i think is symbolic for his hunger for the gold and through that, independence/flight.
Folklore- I think that when Milkman visits his old family home, he realizes that his family is almost a legend there. This could be like regional stories that are passed on, in this case, about Macon Dead and his son's success. Milkman's grandfather is almost a legend, and Milkman even finds himself close to proud of his father-the same one who tried to kill him before he was born. His conversations with Reverend Cooper and others in the area show this respect for his name, and they also show the oral tradition associated with folklore, by passing these stories on to others.
Myth- As many people mentioned, there's the entire call to adventure and beginning of a journey compared to that of the Odyssey.
I think the second part of Song of SOlomon definitely has a lot of mythic qualities. One that really stood out to me was the idea of a revelation, although Milkman has many.
First he realizes that Pilate is not as innocent as he had previously thought. He discovers that she did take the gold, and probably hid it somewhere in Virginia. This changes his entire view of Pilate from someone he fully trusts to someone decietful.
His second realization is about himself and is a repetition of Lena's rant. He realizes that he is always expecting kindness and generosity from others, yet never offers anything in return. He is not happy with this realization, but already begins to change because of it, and wants to find connections with others instead of just use them.
His third realization regards Guitar: he discovers that itis anger that truly blinds and guides Guitar. While he initially naively interprets Guitar's death threat as a friendly greeting, he finally sees clearly that Guitar would kill anyone if he was angry enough.
These three revelations completely change his previous view of reality, and already begins to change his character. The three people closest to him at this point of the novel are himself, Pilate and Guitar. He now discovers that they, including himself, are not what they appear to be.
As unoriginal as the sentiment is, I would certainly have to say that all of this maintains a myth like structure. As Milkman continues on his journey, he visits more and more locations tied to his family history. These locations definitely meet the familiar yet unfamiliar locale requirement in the Joe Campbell Monomyth definition. Also keeping with this definition, Milkman is having turning points in his relations with his parents. Even though they are not there, he is, thinking back, seeing them in an objective manner. Many of these events are a bildungsroman for Milkman. He is in a place where his father’s wealth does not protect or insulate him, he is learning to cope with that environment, and he enjoys it. Personally, I hope as he becomes more in touch with the world around him, he shows greater interest in self preservation against the elements tied to his old life, like malicious best friends or Buckcherry themed girlfriends.
On a side note, I do think that the matter of his family history seems to portray itself as a folk tale within the novel. It is constantly changing and evolving as he encounters different people, and it is heavily tied to the locale.
I thought that Milkman's journey in Danville was quite similiar to the epic trial we talked about in class today. Milkman ponders searching for the gold, then Guitar propels him to go; he decides to go by himself, a somewhat heroic act. When he gets there, he mets the elder figure- Reverend Cooper- who guides him and gives him the advice/information needed to find the gold. Then he takes off and meets another wise, old figure: Circe. She gives Milkman more information about the trial he is about to embark on. Then comes the journey: he traverses forest, swims across a creek, climbs steep rock, and wanders through a dark cave. However, this was his "first crossing," as he finds nothing of use. I feel like the structure of myths that we discussed in class today would suggest Milkman's next trial will be more fruitful (maybe he will find the bones and/or the gold?). It was really cool to view this chapter from the POV of a myth/fairy tale. I also think the chapter had fairy tale properties because of the magic of Circe's house (the stench, the bajillion dogs, its creepy, mansion look) and the natural imagery of the fields and the forests.
I thought the myth, fairy tale, folklore analysis we did in class today was really cool. Personally, I felt that the novel best fits the myth form, with elements of the fairy tale and folklore mixed in.
I think it’s really cool that Morrison references and draws from so many stories to build hers, fitting in with the idea of intertextuality. She alludes to the Bible – the most widely-read storybook in the world. She references the Odyssey and various Greek myths. And of course, her creepy parallel to Hansel and Gretel in the beginning of Chapter 10 is an allusion to yet another type of story.
All of these allusions give her book an even greater mythic quality, since it incorporates so many different elements of all these stories. Indeed, we can even identify themes from the other books we have read this year. For example, being trapped vs. flying was prevalent in Wide Sargasso Sea. In Song of Solomon, Guitar does not identify people as individuals, but rather part of a greater mass of black or white, much like Bigger did in Native Son. Important values – owning land/property and inheritances – is also discussed in the Sound and the Fury. And One Hundred Years of Solitude also contains themes of incest as reflecting solitude, which we see in Song of Solomon with Ruth’s creepy tendencies.
Really enjoying this book.
And I agree with Julia's ROAR!
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