Chapter 3 Plot summary-
Milkman is now working for his father, running his errands which makes it possible for him to meet up with his friend Guitar more often and go see Pilate, Hagar, and Reba. When Milkman was 14 he developed a condition in his legs which made one leg shorter then the other. He feels that his leg distances him even more from his father because his Father is so strong and has no imperfection and his leg is just one more way that he can not live up to him. When Milkman is 22 he tries to defend his mother from one of his fathers many rages. Milkman thinks that he is being the hero but his Father explains to him that there are motives behind his actons. He tells a story about how Dr. Foster, Ruths father, was pretty much a rude arrogant man who hated black skin and smoked Ether. He said that Ruth was completly devoted to him and was suspected to have slept with him. When Dr. Foster died Macon Supossedly found her lying naked on his bed with his fingers in her mouth. Macon leaves Milkman alone with this knowledge and tells him to think about it. Milkman becomes confused but mostly angered. Angered that nobody in his life is what he wants them to be. Angered that nothing in his life is what it seems to be. When thinking about the things that he was told Milkman remembers the scene in which his name originated from. Milkman goes the the barber shop where a bunch of man are talking about a murder of a black man who whistled at a white woman. LAter when Guitar and Milkman are talking about it Milkman expresses that he doesnt care. With this Milkmans Self centerdness is revealed.
Chapter 4 Summary:
Milkmans relationship with Hagar is described in the beginning of this chapter. He has become bored of her because she is so avaiable and so willing to be with him. He compares her to the "third beer" because seeing her is just like a harmless past time for him that he might as well do because he can. when Milkman is out buying christmas presents he can't decide what to get her so he writes her a letter breaking of thier relationship but thanking her for everything that she has done for him. The story of Hagar and Abraham is reflected in this. Hagar becomes enraged by the letter and sets of to find Milkman. Milkman goes about life as usual but his relationship with Guitar has grown distant because thay are starting to realize how different they are. Milkman has a susoicion that Guitar is keeping something big from him and Guitar expresses is disgust in the fact that Milkman leaves such a careless self revolved life. Freddie comes into the picture again but this time he is not being the nosy nuisance. He tells the story of his birth where magical realism fianally comes to play. He says that when his mother was pregnant with him she saw a ghostin the form of a white bull. The white bull could be a symbol of the oppresion of white people at the time.
Chapter 5 summary-
Milkman spends alot of time at guitars despite of there previous arguments. Hagar roams the streets about once a month looking for Milkman trying to kill him. Milkman has become afraid and tired of constantly having to make an effort to avoid her. Guitar is still obviously keeping secrets from Milkman and is always sneaking off to unknown places. Milkman is constantly trying to figure himself out but is not succeeding. He knows death is coming and is both eager and fearful. He recalls one day as he is returning home he sees his mother walking down the strret and he follows her. He ends up at the grave yard of her father where he confronts her. She tells him a much different story about her father then the one Macon told in chapter 3. She said that that Macon killed her father by taking away his medicine and that she wasnt naked on his bed but was in her slip. She was about to explain why she was kissing his fingers but Milkman interrupted her. After his reminesing, Hagar shows up and tries to kill him but realizes that she loves him to much and it becomes physically impossible. Ruth soon becomes aware of Hagars fruitless attempts and Storms off to Pilates house. She exclaims that Milkman was her passion and single triumph. It is made known that the reason Hagar craves revenge so badly is because he is the one person she loves and the one person who can take him away, so she hates him for that. Both Hagar and Ruth want to get revenge at the one person who can take Milkman away from them. Pilate distracts Hagar and Ruth by telling them the story of her life. There is more magical realism with the presence of ghosts in her story. Pilate claims that the ghost of her father followed her and whispered to her to "sing".
Chapter 6 Summary
After the whole Milkman Hagar incident, Milkman took Hagar home and chapter six starts of with Milkman talking with Guitar. Milkman gets Guitar to tell him what he has been up to lately and it turns out that Guitar is part of a secret orginazation called Seven Days. It is comprised of seven members who is each assigned to a day of the week and on that day they are to randomly killa white person. The point is to kill a white person in the same way that a black person was previously killed. For example if a black man was hanged the Seven Days will hang a white man. Milkman disagrees with the whole thing completly and doesnt believe that it is accomplishing a single thing, at all. Guitar is the only young man in the group and he is assigned to sunday. This scene really highlights the differences the difference between Milkman and Guitar.
Quotes-
Ch. 3
"It makes me think of dead people and white people, and i start to puke."(pg 61)
This quote is Guitar speaking about how he doesnt like sweets. I think it is sort of ironic that soething that is ussually thought of as good makes him think of something that to him is very bad.
"Milkman closed his eyes and opened them. The street was even more crowded with people, all going in the direction he was coming from. All walking hurriedly and bumping against him. After a while he realized that nobody was walking on the other side of the street"
This reflects Milkmans journey in fiding out oabout his past and how every one always ssems to be going in a different direction then him, but he feels that he is the one going the right way.
Ch. 4
"Also, I want to thank you for all that you have meant me. For making me happy all these years. I am sighning this letter with love , of course, but more than that, with gratitude."
this quote irritates me because its like sayin "Oh well, it was good while it lasted but im just going to leave you now, so have a good life." Goodness.
"She was the third beer."
This describes Milkmans feelings towards Hagar and how he is just with her simply because she is there and it wont harm anything.
Ch.5
"... because the fact is that i am small woman. I dont mean little : i mean small and i am small because i was pressed small"
Is she talking about how her whole life she has been devoted to one person so she hasnt been able to be all that she could be?
""People die then they want to and if they want to. Don't nobody have to die if they don't want to."
i think this quote may not aonly mean physically but menatally and spiritually also. for example Milkman is letting things that happened in his past take so much hold of him that he isnt able to realize the important things.
Chapter.6
"I told you. It's nessasary: its got to be done. To keep the ratio the same."
Guitar is explaining to Milkman why the Seven days orginization has to do what they do. I think this explination is absurd. I dont understand how keepeing the ratio of blacks to white the same is going to help anything.
"White people are unnatural. As a race thay are unnatural."
I think it is sad to see that one race of people could do something so bad that another race would feel this way about them. I think this is repeated all through out history.
Theme-
the theme is definatley something along the lines of finding out who you are through your past. I think another one is definatly mans inhumanity to man. I think this one come into play both on the side of the white man and black man.
Magical Realism-
I was waiting for the magical realism to come into play and it finally did in these chapters. It was evident mostly in the form of ghosts. It is found out that Freddie the nosy neighbors mother saw a ghost. Pilate also said that the ghost of her father follows her and tells her to "sing".
Characters-
Milkman-
He is now an adult and is troubled by not only his past but the past of his parents and in a way feels that he can not have peace without knowing it. He throws a way the one person that truly loved him just because he got bored with her. He does not agree with Guitars veiws.
Guitar- He has developed in to a strong willed young man with a deep hatred for white people.
Hagar- She gave all of he love to Milkman who pretty much just through her away. She tried to get revenge but when she got the chance she realized she loved him to much and she could not do it.
Ruth- Ruth is a very complicated character. She has so many attributes that it is hard to describe her. I cant decide if she is loving and loyal or selfish and vain.
Pilate- She is always there for Ruth when she needs her most and is still the wise old woman archytype. She obviosly has soething different about her taken the fact that she does not have a belly button.
Dr. Foster-
It is made known that he was not a very good man. He was arrogant but the one person that ruth felt she was purley loved by. He didnt like black skin.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Active Reading Blog for Chapters 1 and 2
Plot summary-
The book opens with the scene of a man, a life insurance agent, with blue silk wings who is going to attempt flying of of Mercy Hospital. In the audience is a pregnant African American woman and her daughters who was carrying a basket of velvet rose petals that they sell to stores. The sight of Mr. smith made the African American woman, Ruth Foster Dead, drop the basket , causing the rose petals to be blown with the wind. Ruths sister in law ,Pilate, who is also in the small crowd begins singing a song. She informs Ruth that her baby will be born in the hospital the next day. This is significant because it is too early for the baby to be born and Mercy Hospital never admits black patients, causing it to be called "No Mercy Hospital". Mr. Smith then lost his balance and fell to his death. Ruths baby was indeed born the next day at Mercy Hospital. When the little boy was only four he became sad and dull when he realized that only birds and planes could fly. The Dead residence was more of a prison then a home, all because of the presence of the patriarch of the family Macon Dead. He is is extremely over bearing and violent. He does not acknowledge the attempts of his wife to make things lighter around the house.Ruth's two outlets from her unhappy marriage is through creating flower arrangements to cover up a water spot on her table and by nursing her son, even though he is no longer a baby. When a janitor to the Dead family sees that Ruth is still breastfeeding her little boy he teases her and gives the boy the name Milk Man. this name only makes the relationship between not only Ruth and Macon , but also Macon and Milkman, worse. The name extremely annoys Macon dead because he knows that there is a story behind it that has to do with his wife and it disgusts him. Macon dead is annoyed by his own name because it was given to him by mistake. It is not his real name and he doesn't like not knowing what his real name is. The Motif of brother sister relationship is shown between Macon and his sister , the one who prophesied "Milkmans birth, Pilate. Chapter two opens with the Dead family going on a drive in Macons Packard. They drive to a beach community ona lake that ussually only white people buy from. Macon is considering buying a house there. Milkman has to get out of the car to use the bathroom and ends up peeing all over his sisters dress when she startles him. He says that he is always concentrating on the things behind him. In this chapter Milkman meets Guitar, who even though there age differences become friends. Guitar takes Milkman to see Pilot , His aunt. It is the first time that milkman has ever been to her house, despite the fact that she is his aunt. It is discovered that she has no navel. While at Pilates house the two boys meet her daughter Reba and granddaughter Hagar. Milkman falls in love with Hagar before he even lays eyes on her face. The same guy that gave Milkman his name, tattled on him to his father that he had been at Pilates house. His father then begins to tell Milkman about his life and why he does the things he does and the story behind his name.
Characters-
Milkman- He is the protagonist of the story and is struggling to find his true identity. He is always focusing on the past rather then the future.
Macon Dead- He is the father of Milkman. He seems to be very violent and overbearing. He is troubled about his past and does not feel he was rightly named.
Ruth Foster Dead- She is the mother of Milkman and the wife of Macon dead. She seems to be a patient loving lady but craves the love of her husband. The other ladies in town don't really like her.
Pilate Dead- She is the sister of Macon Dead. She is the archetype of wise old lady.
Hagar Dead- Grand daughter of Pilate. Milkman falls in love with her, with out her knowledge of course.
Reba Dead- Pilates Daughter. She has a knack for winning things.
Guitar Bains- He is Milkman's friends. He shows his intelligence and wit in the beginning of the book when he tries to correct a white women about how to spell admissions.
Mr. Smith- A life insurance agent who tries to fly but fails and ends up dying.
Magical Realism-
I was sure that the man with the blue silk wings was the first sign of magical realism , but changed my mind when it turned out that his wings were fake. There is some mention of ghosts but not much. Also, Pilates daughter ,Reba, has a knack of winning almost every contest that she enters.
Quotes-
"A little bird will be here with you in the morning." (Pilate, pg. 9) This quote introduces Pilate as the wise old women archytype since it comes true. It also might be foreshadowing that milkman will also try to fly.
"She did not try to make her meals nauseating, she simply didn't know how not too." (Pg.11) This quote describes how no matter how hard she tries Ruth just can not seem to do things right.
"It was becoming a habit- this concentration on things behind him. Almost as thought there were no future to be had" (pg. 35 milkman) This quote shows Milkmans intense need to find out about his past, about his familys past.
"Just listen to what i say. That womens no good. Shes a snake, and you can charm a snake, but its still a snake." (pg. 54 Macon Dead) This quote make me wonder why Macon is so against Milkman associating with his sister. A snake is a really harsh thing to compare a person too.
Theme- The theme that I notice the most is self discovery. The key to self discovery in this book seems to be through ones past. Milkman is probably going to go through a long journey to self discovery.
The book opens with the scene of a man, a life insurance agent, with blue silk wings who is going to attempt flying of of Mercy Hospital. In the audience is a pregnant African American woman and her daughters who was carrying a basket of velvet rose petals that they sell to stores. The sight of Mr. smith made the African American woman, Ruth Foster Dead, drop the basket , causing the rose petals to be blown with the wind. Ruths sister in law ,Pilate, who is also in the small crowd begins singing a song. She informs Ruth that her baby will be born in the hospital the next day. This is significant because it is too early for the baby to be born and Mercy Hospital never admits black patients, causing it to be called "No Mercy Hospital". Mr. Smith then lost his balance and fell to his death. Ruths baby was indeed born the next day at Mercy Hospital. When the little boy was only four he became sad and dull when he realized that only birds and planes could fly. The Dead residence was more of a prison then a home, all because of the presence of the patriarch of the family Macon Dead. He is is extremely over bearing and violent. He does not acknowledge the attempts of his wife to make things lighter around the house.Ruth's two outlets from her unhappy marriage is through creating flower arrangements to cover up a water spot on her table and by nursing her son, even though he is no longer a baby. When a janitor to the Dead family sees that Ruth is still breastfeeding her little boy he teases her and gives the boy the name Milk Man. this name only makes the relationship between not only Ruth and Macon , but also Macon and Milkman, worse. The name extremely annoys Macon dead because he knows that there is a story behind it that has to do with his wife and it disgusts him. Macon dead is annoyed by his own name because it was given to him by mistake. It is not his real name and he doesn't like not knowing what his real name is. The Motif of brother sister relationship is shown between Macon and his sister , the one who prophesied "Milkmans birth, Pilate. Chapter two opens with the Dead family going on a drive in Macons Packard. They drive to a beach community ona lake that ussually only white people buy from. Macon is considering buying a house there. Milkman has to get out of the car to use the bathroom and ends up peeing all over his sisters dress when she startles him. He says that he is always concentrating on the things behind him. In this chapter Milkman meets Guitar, who even though there age differences become friends. Guitar takes Milkman to see Pilot , His aunt. It is the first time that milkman has ever been to her house, despite the fact that she is his aunt. It is discovered that she has no navel. While at Pilates house the two boys meet her daughter Reba and granddaughter Hagar. Milkman falls in love with Hagar before he even lays eyes on her face. The same guy that gave Milkman his name, tattled on him to his father that he had been at Pilates house. His father then begins to tell Milkman about his life and why he does the things he does and the story behind his name.
Characters-
Milkman- He is the protagonist of the story and is struggling to find his true identity. He is always focusing on the past rather then the future.
Macon Dead- He is the father of Milkman. He seems to be very violent and overbearing. He is troubled about his past and does not feel he was rightly named.
Ruth Foster Dead- She is the mother of Milkman and the wife of Macon dead. She seems to be a patient loving lady but craves the love of her husband. The other ladies in town don't really like her.
Pilate Dead- She is the sister of Macon Dead. She is the archetype of wise old lady.
Hagar Dead- Grand daughter of Pilate. Milkman falls in love with her, with out her knowledge of course.
Reba Dead- Pilates Daughter. She has a knack for winning things.
Guitar Bains- He is Milkman's friends. He shows his intelligence and wit in the beginning of the book when he tries to correct a white women about how to spell admissions.
Mr. Smith- A life insurance agent who tries to fly but fails and ends up dying.
Magical Realism-
I was sure that the man with the blue silk wings was the first sign of magical realism , but changed my mind when it turned out that his wings were fake. There is some mention of ghosts but not much. Also, Pilates daughter ,Reba, has a knack of winning almost every contest that she enters.
Quotes-
"A little bird will be here with you in the morning." (Pilate, pg. 9) This quote introduces Pilate as the wise old women archytype since it comes true. It also might be foreshadowing that milkman will also try to fly.
"She did not try to make her meals nauseating, she simply didn't know how not too." (Pg.11) This quote describes how no matter how hard she tries Ruth just can not seem to do things right.
"It was becoming a habit- this concentration on things behind him. Almost as thought there were no future to be had" (pg. 35 milkman) This quote shows Milkmans intense need to find out about his past, about his familys past.
"Just listen to what i say. That womens no good. Shes a snake, and you can charm a snake, but its still a snake." (pg. 54 Macon Dead) This quote make me wonder why Macon is so against Milkman associating with his sister. A snake is a really harsh thing to compare a person too.
Theme- The theme that I notice the most is self discovery. The key to self discovery in this book seems to be through ones past. Milkman is probably going to go through a long journey to self discovery.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Reflective Blog for Chapters 1-2
The first thing about the Song of Solomon that caught my attention is on the very first page. It tells about how a certain Mr. Smith was planing on taking a flight on a Wednesday. The first thing that came to my mind was airplanes, until I read the next paragraph that was a letter that he tacked on his door states that he would be taking of with his own wings. His OWN wings? How could that be? It was quite an interesting thing to picture, especially as they were described as blue silk. The first few pages used excellent imagery. I liked picturing Mr. Smiths blue silk wings and also the red velvet rose petals that were blowing in the air. the whole tone, for the most part, seems quite happy. I was sure that this was the first hint of magical realism but it turns out that his wings are fake and he ends up falling to his death. Well i guess it still could be an example of magical realism because it is not everyday that a man tries to jump of a building with his own wings. So much for the happy tone.
I am still not quite sure about the significance of the title of the book "Song of Solomon" Although, I do know that there is a book in the bible called the Song of Solomon. There are quite a few names in the novel that have biblical meaning. Ruth. Hagar. Magdalene. First Corinthians. Pilate. I wonder if the character personalities reflect those of the biblical figures.
While on the subject of names, they seem to have a great importance in the book. It seems that there are alot of characters and places that go by names that are not their given. Mercy Hospital is known as no Mercy Hospital. Main street is known as No Doctor street. The little boy born on the day of the misfourtanate death of Mr. Smith is known as Milkman, much to the dismay of his father, Macon Dead. Macon Dead ,is in a way, obsessed with names because his own name was changed because of a quite stupid incident. I think it is interesting that his last name is Dead because he is, in a way, spiritually and emotionally dead. The subject of names make me think of someones personal identity. So, because names seem to so important I am led to believe that this book is most likely about self discovery.
I find it sad that Ruth Dead feels like she has to breast feed her son for so long because her husband wont give her the attention that she needs. I think it is her way of substituting the love of her husband. Macon Dead makes me upset because he pays so little attention to his wife. When she was talking about her flower arrangement he totally ignored her and made a rude comment about her chicken. I think that the water spot on her table that she can not get rid of no matter how hard she tries symbolizes the distanced relationship between her and her husband. No matter how hard she tries the gap is still there so the beat she can do is mask it with flowers.
I can tell that there is going to be quite an interesting scene with Pilate an d Milkman and Macon. Macon pretty much forbids Milkman to see Pilate, but Milkman is in love with her granddaughter. I sense a little bit of Romeo and Juliet coming on.
So far I like this book even though it is a little confusing. I am anxious to read more so I can find out where all the magical realism comes into play. I also am curious about the title of the book. Oh, and i really want to know if anyone else tries to fly and if they succeed.
I am still not quite sure about the significance of the title of the book "Song of Solomon" Although, I do know that there is a book in the bible called the Song of Solomon. There are quite a few names in the novel that have biblical meaning. Ruth. Hagar. Magdalene. First Corinthians. Pilate. I wonder if the character personalities reflect those of the biblical figures.
While on the subject of names, they seem to have a great importance in the book. It seems that there are alot of characters and places that go by names that are not their given. Mercy Hospital is known as no Mercy Hospital. Main street is known as No Doctor street. The little boy born on the day of the misfourtanate death of Mr. Smith is known as Milkman, much to the dismay of his father, Macon Dead. Macon Dead ,is in a way, obsessed with names because his own name was changed because of a quite stupid incident. I think it is interesting that his last name is Dead because he is, in a way, spiritually and emotionally dead. The subject of names make me think of someones personal identity. So, because names seem to so important I am led to believe that this book is most likely about self discovery.
I find it sad that Ruth Dead feels like she has to breast feed her son for so long because her husband wont give her the attention that she needs. I think it is her way of substituting the love of her husband. Macon Dead makes me upset because he pays so little attention to his wife. When she was talking about her flower arrangement he totally ignored her and made a rude comment about her chicken. I think that the water spot on her table that she can not get rid of no matter how hard she tries symbolizes the distanced relationship between her and her husband. No matter how hard she tries the gap is still there so the beat she can do is mask it with flowers.
I can tell that there is going to be quite an interesting scene with Pilate an d Milkman and Macon. Macon pretty much forbids Milkman to see Pilate, but Milkman is in love with her granddaughter. I sense a little bit of Romeo and Juliet coming on.
So far I like this book even though it is a little confusing. I am anxious to read more so I can find out where all the magical realism comes into play. I also am curious about the title of the book. Oh, and i really want to know if anyone else tries to fly and if they succeed.
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