A Class Blog exploring American literature and the American experience.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Song of Solomon
In Song of Solomon, the author uses surrealist symbolism in order to convey overarching themes throughout the story(i.e ghosts and Pilate's lack of a bellybutton). What do you think the most significant symbol is, and what concept does it represent?
I think that ghosts are really important symbols because they represent the past. So far throughout the story we have learned about most of the characters past. All of their pasts play an important role in the way they live their lives and the way they act now. Also I think the rest of the book is about Milkman is trying to figure out his past so ghost may become even more important. However I also think that Pilate not having a belly button is important because it shows how she is different from the other characters and also goes along with ghosts. Pilate uses the ghosts as a way to talk to her father because she feels very alone. She never had a really connection with her mother (not having a belly button) and she also doesn't have a husband or a connection with her brother. I think that the ghosts are important now and relate to the past but I think they will become even more important as we keep reading.
I also think that ghosts are one of the most important surrealist symbols in the book, and I think the distinctions between the characters who do and don't believe in ghosts is significant too. For example, Milkman refuses to believe in ghosts, and the theme of him wanting to escape his family's past and move on is continually present. His reluctance to believe in ghosts and escape the past gives us insight into his character. On the other hand, Pilate believes in ghosts and many references are made to her talking and seeing her dead father. She wants to feel connected to her past and maintain a strong bond with her father, and by believing in ghosts we see her refusal to let go of past events.
I think that Pilate's lack of a belly button is the most important surrealist symbol because it provides us as the reader an explanation of why she is connected to very few people. Pilate's lack of a belly button symbolizes her non-existent relationship with her own mother. This is the main reason that she quickly checks Reba when she is born to make sure that she won't be cursed with the same burden. Also, since she lacks this any time that she almost makes a new family, for instance the farm help that she travels with, as soon as they see that she doesn't have a belly button she is no longer connected to them and thrown out. At first she sees it as a curse and thinks it will only give her a lonely life, but she ends up embracing the freedom and making sure that she is connected to the people she wants to be rather than the ones she would have to be if she had that belly button.
I also think that Pilots Lack of belly Button is the most important symbol in the book because it resembles something that is unnatural. Throughout Song of Solomon people are defensive and afraid of things that are considered unnatural. For example White people thinking that black people are unnatural, Guitar believing that "White people are unnatural."(Pg.156). And Pilots lack of belly button. I believe that it is important to note that Pilot originally did not think that anything was wrong with not having a belly button and she even thought it was natural until some one asked her "child where's your navel?" (pg.143). And more than once she got expelled from different communities because she did not have a navel. By Pilots skin and lack of belly button it made everyone afraid of her. But eventually Pilot accepted herself and did not hide the fact that she did not have a belly button and I think that when she did that is when she started to become one of the most self-content people in the book.
I agree with everyone and can see how both aspects of the story are important to the overall message of the book. I think that both Pilate's lack of a belly button and the ghosts represent unnatural themes in the book. I agree with Nicki because Pilate's lack of a belly button reflects the way she feels about her heritage and race. Pilate has been raised to accept all of the differences she has experienced in her life and learned to deal with them. Pilate has moved on with her life although she is black and living without a belly button. Ghosts in the story represent the re-occurring theme of the past in each character's life. I think that Milkman is 'willing' to accept that ghosts are real, just like he would be willing to completely deny his heritage. Ghosts remain in the story because this is Toni Morrison's way of saying you cannot truly get rid of your past. She wants us to see that your past will always be haunting you in some way or another.
I think the signifigance of Pilate not having a belly button is to show that she does not have many people to connect with because they think its very wierd. But as she grows up, she realizes that she does not care what the people think and she will embrace her lack of a belly button. Also it shows that she really never had a relationship with her mother because you need a belly button to grow in your mother. The book does not show that Pilate wants to think about her mother, but i do not think she does. And ghosts show that you can not escape the past fully even if you try very hard. Somethings you can not run away from in your past.
I think that ghosts are really important symbols because they represent the past. So far throughout the story we have learned about most of the characters past. All of their pasts play an important role in the way they live their lives and the way they act now. Also I think the rest of the book is about Milkman is trying to figure out his past so ghost may become even more important. However I also think that Pilate not having a belly button is important because it shows how she is different from the other characters and also goes along with ghosts. Pilate uses the ghosts as a way to talk to her father because she feels very alone. She never had a really connection with her mother (not having a belly button) and she also doesn't have a husband or a connection with her brother. I think that the ghosts are important now and relate to the past but I think they will become even more important as we keep reading.
ReplyDeleteI also think that ghosts are one of the most important surrealist symbols in the book, and I think the distinctions between the characters who do and don't believe in ghosts is significant too. For example, Milkman refuses to believe in ghosts, and the theme of him wanting to escape his family's past and move on is continually present. His reluctance to believe in ghosts and escape the past gives us insight into his character. On the other hand, Pilate believes in ghosts and many references are made to her talking and seeing her dead father. She wants to feel connected to her past and maintain a strong bond with her father, and by believing in ghosts we see her refusal to let go of past events.
ReplyDeleteI think that Pilate's lack of a belly button is the most important surrealist symbol because it provides us as the reader an explanation of why she is connected to very few people. Pilate's lack of a belly button symbolizes her non-existent relationship with her own mother. This is the main reason that she quickly checks Reba when she is born to make sure that she won't be cursed with the same burden. Also, since she lacks this any time that she almost makes a new family, for instance the farm help that she travels with, as soon as they see that she doesn't have a belly button she is no longer connected to them and thrown out. At first she sees it as a curse and thinks it will only give her a lonely life, but she ends up embracing the freedom and making sure that she is connected to the people she wants to be rather than the ones she would have to be if she had that belly button.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Pilots Lack of belly Button is the most important symbol in the book because it resembles something that is unnatural. Throughout Song of Solomon people are defensive and afraid of things that are considered unnatural. For example White people thinking that black people are unnatural, Guitar believing that "White people are unnatural."(Pg.156). And Pilots lack of belly button.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is important to note that Pilot originally did not think that anything was wrong with not having a belly button and she even thought it was natural until some one asked her "child where's your navel?" (pg.143). And more than once she got expelled from different communities because she did not have a navel. By Pilots skin and lack of belly button it made everyone afraid of her. But eventually Pilot accepted herself and did not hide the fact that she did not have a belly button and I think that when she did that is when she started to become one of the most self-content people in the book.
I agree with everyone and can see how both aspects of the story are important to the overall message of the book. I think that both Pilate's lack of a belly button and the ghosts represent unnatural themes in the book. I agree with Nicki because Pilate's lack of a belly button reflects the way she feels about her heritage and race. Pilate has been raised to accept all of the differences she has experienced in her life and learned to deal with them. Pilate has moved on with her life although she is black and living without a belly button. Ghosts in the story represent the re-occurring theme of the past in each character's life. I think that Milkman is 'willing' to accept that ghosts are real, just like he would be willing to completely deny his heritage. Ghosts remain in the story because this is Toni Morrison's way of saying you cannot truly get rid of your past. She wants us to see that your past will always be haunting you in some way or another.
ReplyDeleteI think the signifigance of Pilate not having a belly button is to show that she does not have many people to connect with because they think its very wierd. But as she grows up, she realizes that she does not care what the people think and she will embrace her lack of a belly button. Also it shows that she really never had a relationship with her mother because you need a belly button to grow in your mother. The book does not show that Pilate wants to think about her mother, but i do not think she does. And ghosts show that you can not escape the past fully even if you try very hard. Somethings you can not run away from in your past.
ReplyDelete