A Class Blog exploring American literature and the American experience.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Song of Solomon
In class we discussed that the overall message of the book is the past and weather or not it still matters. From what we read so far have you come across any examples or indicators that the past does matter?
I think the past is very important to the book. We don't know a lot about it yet but it seems like it effects a lot of the characters. Macons past seems to effect him a lot . It effects his attitude and his relationships with his family and sister. Though we don't know what happened in the past it is effecting the characters now. PIlate does not seem to focus on the past. Even though she doesn't focus on it the same way Macon does it still effects the way she acts. So though we don't know a lot about the past now. I think it plays an important role in the characters life and what is going to happen later in the book.
I think the past makes up the core and plot of the book thus far. The past seems to keep ruining relationships and changing characters, as Lauren said. Pilate and Macon are different in the present because of the way they view their past. Pilate is willing to look forward in her life but still keep strong ties to where she came from. Macon tries to avoid his past, and we can see this through his negative feelings towards Pilate. Although we do not necessarily know what happened between Macon and Pilate earlier on in their lives, the book is still basing most of its crucial events on their past. I agree with Lauren that we will eventually find out what happened in the past and the truth will start to unfold between the siblings. We might then find out why Macon is so miserable and unwilling to have a solid relationship with his own sister.
I think that the past affects Macon the most because it is always present in his life, even when he is trying to escape from it. Today in class we were talking about how Macon turned out to be like the people who shot his father and took his land. I think that Macon always wanted to prove to himself that he could be that powerful and that if he could control people and property, nobody could ever be in charge of him. I think this independence is present because of his past experiences. I think that the past has a different meaning in Milkman's eyes, and he wants to move on to new things instead of dwelling on the past in order to prove something. Milkman says that he doesn't like riding backwards in the car because he can't see the future and he can only dwell on the past. He continues to make references that he can't escape the things behind him, but even so he is always looking forward to the future. The past still matters in the way that Milkman views his life, but he is eager to escape it.
i think that the past definitely affects every character in a different way. Macon is very obviously affected by the past and his desire to escape it but trying to be as close to a white person as possible. Milkman has just learned about his past and is now obsessed with it. there are also many references in the book as to how he is looking backwards, instead of towards his future. pilate is affected by the past as well, but she unlike the other Deads, embraces her past and heritage and appreciates it. i think that a major theme in the book is how people are affected by the past
I would say that the past is pretty important in some one'e personality and the way they think. I think that because even though I was born in Belgium and I have lived there all my life, I don't feel Belgian. I feel Swedish because that is where my family is from and that is the country I relate to the most. But I would probably not feel like that if my family had moved to belgium a couple of generations earlier because then we would probably have integrated much more to the culture in Blegium. So yes, what happened to your family in the past is important.
The past is a very important factor in this book. Even characters such as Milkman who unconsciously try to forget the past, end up being affected by it just the same. One case where you could say that the past was a good thing was when Macon was telling Milkman about his childhood. This was one of the very few times that Macon's attitude changed for the better, and him and Milkman were able to have a connection. Another instance when the past is brought up in the book is when the Dead family goes on their Sunday drive. Although the family does not discuss the past or any of their history, the way that Milkman is seated in the car and what occurs between him and his sister in the woods shows that he is very concerned about the past. This example might be foreshadowing about events towards the end of the novel when maybe Milkman makes decisions in his life based on the past.
I think the past is very important to the book. We don't know a lot about it yet but it seems like it effects a lot of the characters. Macons past seems to effect him a lot . It effects his attitude and his relationships with his family and sister. Though we don't know what happened in the past it is effecting the characters now. PIlate does not seem to focus on the past. Even though she doesn't focus on it the same way Macon does it still effects the way she acts. So though we don't know a lot about the past now. I think it plays an important role in the characters life and what is going to happen later in the book.
ReplyDeleteI think the past makes up the core and plot of the book thus far. The past seems to keep ruining relationships and changing characters, as Lauren said. Pilate and Macon are different in the present because of the way they view their past. Pilate is willing to look forward in her life but still keep strong ties to where she came from. Macon tries to avoid his past, and we can see this through his negative feelings towards Pilate. Although we do not necessarily know what happened between Macon and Pilate earlier on in their lives, the book is still basing most of its crucial events on their past. I agree with Lauren that we will eventually find out what happened in the past and the truth will start to unfold between the siblings. We might then find out why Macon is so miserable and unwilling to have a solid relationship with his own sister.
ReplyDeleteI think that the past affects Macon the most because it is always present in his life, even when he is trying to escape from it. Today in class we were talking about how Macon turned out to be like the people who shot his father and took his land. I think that Macon always wanted to prove to himself that he could be that powerful and that if he could control people and property, nobody could ever be in charge of him. I think this independence is present because of his past experiences. I think that the past has a different meaning in Milkman's eyes, and he wants to move on to new things instead of dwelling on the past in order to prove something. Milkman says that he doesn't like riding backwards in the car because he can't see the future and he can only dwell on the past. He continues to make references that he can't escape the things behind him, but even so he is always looking forward to the future. The past still matters in the way that Milkman views his life, but he is eager to escape it.
ReplyDeletei think that the past definitely affects every character in a different way. Macon is very obviously affected by the past and his desire to escape it but trying to be as close to a white person as possible. Milkman has just learned about his past and is now obsessed with it. there are also many references in the book as to how he is looking backwards, instead of towards his future. pilate is affected by the past as well, but she unlike the other Deads, embraces her past and heritage and appreciates it. i think that a major theme in the book is how people are affected by the past
ReplyDeleteI would say that the past is pretty important in some one'e personality and the way they think. I think that because even though I was born in Belgium and I have lived there all my life, I don't feel Belgian. I feel Swedish because that is where my family is from and that is the country I relate to the most. But I would probably not feel like that if my family had moved to belgium a couple of generations earlier because then we would probably have integrated much more to the culture in Blegium. So yes, what happened to your family in the past is important.
ReplyDeleteThe past is a very important factor in this book. Even characters such as Milkman who unconsciously try to forget the past, end up being affected by it just the same. One case where you could say that the past was a good thing was when Macon was telling Milkman about his childhood. This was one of the very few times that Macon's attitude changed for the better, and him and Milkman were able to have a connection. Another instance when the past is brought up in the book is when the Dead family goes on their Sunday drive. Although the family does not discuss the past or any of their history, the way that Milkman is seated in the car and what occurs between him and his sister in the woods shows that he is very concerned about the past. This example might be foreshadowing about events towards the end of the novel when maybe Milkman makes decisions in his life based on the past.
ReplyDelete