Active Reading BLog for Chapters 11 and 12

Chapter 11 Summary-
This chapter begins with Milkman reflecting on how none of the women in the streets of the South where he is, are holding any sort of hand bag or purse. This is enough for him to know that he really is in the backwoods of Virginia. He is looking for a town called Charlemagne, which he found out was really called Shalimar and bought himself a car for seventy- five dollars. Not only is he getting used to the cheap prices there in the south but he enjoys the genuine hospitality and kindness of the people compared to back home where people only pay attention to him because of his father. Once he gets into Shalimar his car breaks down in front of a small shop Solomons General Store. He goes inside and meets the owner, Mr. Solomon, and the other men who spend thier time there. They pronounce the name of the town Shalimonee. He is informed that a man stopped by earlier with a message for him, that stated something to the extent of "Today is your day". Recognizing this statement as one that the Seven a Days uses, he realized that the man was Guitar. He goes outside of the shop to reflect upon what this must mean and comes across some children playing some game where they sing a song a about a guy named Solomon who has a son named Jay. Watching the children make him reminece about when he was a boy and how he never participated in games like this because he was never able to get over the fact that he couldnt fly. The other kids used to tease him about his nice clothes and Guitar once fought for him. Once he is done reminecing, Milkman goes back in the shop shop and inquires as to where he can find parts to fix his car, explaining that if he cant get it fixed he is going to have to buy a new one, the men in the shop offer to fix it for him but he refuses. This angers the men and Milkman gets in a fight with a man named Saul. After the fight some of the older men invite him to come hunting with them, so Milkman says yes. The men exchange his fancy clothes for army fatigues and equip him with a rifle. They all go together to a place called Ryna's gulch where legend has it that the eerie sounds that the wind make a really the sounds of a women crying in the ravine. All of the men split into partners and Milkman gets paired with a man named Calvin. When milkman has a hard time keeping up with calvin he "makes the mistake of sitting down instead of slowing down" and is left alone in the woods. This is the moment where he has a moment of rrealization of sorts and everything in his life comes into perspective. He comes to realize how he has mistreated almost every person in his life, expecting them to care about his problems, where as he takes everyone for granted and wallows in self pity. He comes to realize that all he has ever done is expect people to share their happiness but never thier pain. while he is still alone in the woods, Guitar comes up from behind and tries to strangle him with a wire. As his life flashes before his eyes, the only image that stays is that of Hagar bending over him. Just as he is about to surrender himself to death, the wire is loosened just a bit around his neck which allows him too reach for his gun and shoot it into the air. This scares Guitar and he flees. Milkman gets up and looks for the other hunters, who are unaware of his confrontation with Guitar and laugh at him for firing his gun out of fear. It is at this time that his limp goes away and he for oncein his life is able to walk normal. While Milkman was alone they managed to capture and kill a bobcat which they take back to the gas station slaugter so that they can eat it. Whilewatching the men cut out different parts of the bobcat Milkman remembers a conversation that he had with guitar. He is given the privlage of taking the heart ou and as he does this he watches a peacock take flight outside the shop. The next morning he finally gets the point as to why he is in Shalimar and asks if anyone knew his father or Pilate. No one knew anything so he asked if anybody knew his grandmother, Sing. He finds out that his grandmother was an Indian daughter of a woman named Heddy Byrd who lived near by. He also finds out that he may have a rlative that lives nearby named Susan Byrd. He decides to go visit her the next day. In the meantime, the men give him directions to a place where he can stay for the night. The owner of the place is a beautiful women named Sweet who offers to bathe him and they end up sleeping together. Milkman in return bathes her, makes her bed, pays her fifty dollars, and says that he will be back later that night. She irons his clothes and kisses him good bye.

Chapter 12 summary-
this chapter opens with a newly refreshed Milkman standing at the door of Susan Byrd. Her yard was neatly kept and when he was invited inside he saw that it was much the same. also at susans house is a lady named grace long her is a teacher at a nearby school. Milkman asks Susan if she has any relatives named Sing and she tells him that her Father , Crowell Byrd, had a sister named sing but that she left on a wagon train to a Quaker School in Virginia and never married. she claims to never have had heard of Pilate either. milkman leaves her house with nothing but a package of cookies and Grace Longs address which was tucked inside the cookie parcel. He decides that he will only stay in town for one day then return home. He once again has a moment of realization where he reflects back on his life. He realizes the the ghost of his gradfather wasnt telling Pilate to "sing" after all but was rather saying the name of his wife, but of course Pilate didnt know these because she had never known her mothers name. He relizes that it is crazy for him to be thinking of ghosts but then decides that if it can be true that Pilate doesnt have a navel then ghosts surley can be real too. While on his way back to Sings, he is once again confronted by Guitar. Guitar claims that he followed Milkman and saw him ship a crate of gold andcame to get the gold for himself. Milkman remembers the scene that Guitar must have seen and explains that he was simply helping a man load a heavy crate onto the train. guitar didnt believe him because he has never seen Milkman do anything to help anyone else. Milkman pretty much leaves Guitar to believe as he wishes and goes to Sweets for the night. The next morning Milkman goes back to the shop and one of the men, Omar, tells him that he was able to get the part needed for his car. Milkman decides that he is not going to leave right a way and decides to go outside. The same children are playing the same game that they were the day before. As he listens carefully to the words, Milkman realizes that the children are singing about his family. Solomon was his Great grand- father and his son Jay must have really been his grandfather Jake. He had noticed before that every thing in the town was named after Solomon. The song also mentions Sings mother Heddy. He realizes that his granmothers name is not really Sing Byrd, but Singing Bird and that her brothers name must have been Crow Bird. He becomes extremly happy and decides to pay Susan Byrd a visit once more.

Characters- (in no particular order)
Milkman- He is finally starting to realize the things that he has done wrong in his life. He started out on a journey to find gold, a worldly thing, and has been set on a new path to self discovery. He still is much the same but is at least starting to realize how much he has taken for granted the people in his life which may lead to a permanet change for the better.

Guitar- Followed Milkman and thinks that he found the gold and shipped it to Virginia. He tried to kill Milkman but didnt succeed.

Mr. Solomon- The owner of Solomon's Store.

Solomon- Milkmans great- grandfather.

Saul- A man that Milkman got into a fight with.

Sweet- A very beautiful woman who Milkman spent two nights with. the seems very kind and hospitable in every way, though I am kind of confused as to how she is significant to the story. Mrs. Blaber can you explain? please. :)

Susan Byrd- The niece of Sing Byrd. Milkman went to visit her but she obviously didnt tell him all that she knows.

Crowell Byrd- Susan Byrds father and Sing Byrds brother. Milkman thinks that his real name may have been Crow Byrd.

Sing Byrd- She is Milkmans grandmother. He thinks her real name may have been Singing Bird. she is indian.

Heddy Byrd- sings Mother. She lived near Shalimar and did not like colored people very much.

Grace Long- She is a friend of Susan Byrd. I think that she may know something because she left her address secretly with Milkman.

Theme- The most dominant theme is Self Discovery and the journey towards finding your self. there are many times in these chapters where Milkman has moments of self realization. The theme of flight was also very relevent in these chapters.

Magical Realism- I think that magical realism was present through the story of Rynas Gulch, even if it wasnt true it is still sort of mysterious and out of the ordinary to hear the sound of a women crying made by the wind. The mention of ghosts was still there which is definatley MR.

Important Quotes-

Chapter 11- Pg. 280 "Maybe all he was really saying was: I am not responsible for your pain; share your happiness with me but not your un happiness." Wow, goodness, i never thought that Milkman was going to realize this. This quote is relevant to almost every person that he met. I think this quote is the beginning of him finally being able to change.

Chapter 11- Pg 286 "A peacock soared away and lit on the hood of a blue buick." Earlier in the bok when a Peacock was mentioned I thought it signified greed and selfishness, here where it is flying a way, I think it is a symbol of these things finally leaving Milkman.

Chapter 12- Pg 303 " What might she have ben like had her Husband loved her." This quote is talking about Ruth. This is one of the many quotes in these chapters that show that Milkman is not only starting to understand himself but his family as well. I think it also shows how Hagar could have turned out differently if milkman only payed her more attention. Acyually, i think this quote could apply to almost all the of women in this book in some way or another.

Chapter 12- Pg 305 " Every body in this towns name is Solomon..." I didnt even realize this until he said it. Finally the name of the book is starting to make sense. the Song of Solomon. Maybe i am wrong but I think that it is significant because it is this song about solomon that will lead Milkman to finally being able to find himself.