A Class Blog exploring American literature and the American experience.
Monday, February 25, 2013
First Corinthians
In chapter 9 the novel picks up with First Corinthian's life; after not hearing from her or about her for a good part of the book. I wonder why Morrison chose now to stick First Corinthian's part in. What's your guy's take on this?
In chapter 9, First Corinthian suddenly becomes a deep, complex character. She quits her old job and starts a new one as a maid despite her college degree. This seems to liberate her economically and socially. We also learn that she meets a man named Henry Porter and falls in love with him. This is ironic because her old job was making artificial flowers which symbolizes fake love. The fact that she finds love outside of her social class is also ironic because Morrison tells us that no man of her social class is interested in marrying her because she is too “accustomed to middle-class life.” So I'm not completely sure why Morrison deepened First Corinthian's character but I think something important will happen in the novel relating to her and that's why Morrison is doing this.
I think that Morrison decided to describe more deeply the character of First Corinthian to show the difference between her and Milkman. The former is really conscious of her social status of wealthy black and she sees the difference between her and other black people while the latter at the beginning doesn't seem to really realize the difference between him and other black people (among which Guitar) and only later on he, with his spiritual growth, will be able to understand this difference. I also think that Morrison decided to put the description of a more complex First Corinthian and of an angry Magdalene that revolts against Milkman (and indirectly against the society she lives in) to show the rebellion of women at that time, that can't live independently and are always subordinate to someone.
I agree with Vale. I think that Morrison described Corinthians in this chapter more complexly, because she wanted to show the reader the difference between the character of Milkman and Corinthians. I think Corinthians is very simmilar to her brother, but also a really opposite of him. Milkman always thinks about thing he could do, but never does anything or if he does something it's the exact opposite of the things he has on his mind. Corinthians thinks about things in a manner she was brought up with. She feels ashamed of other blacks that have lower class than she does, but she does the complete opposite of what she thinks. She works as a maid and dates a poor worker named Porter. I think that she similar to Milkman in this way. However, I think that she also a opposite of him, because even though she is ashamed of Porter and her job; she goes home with Porter and "fights the prejudices" of her parents against lower class black people. While Corinthians has a strength to do what she wants, Milkman never does what he wants. He always does what his daddy wants him to do. Milkman is the "baby doll", and Corrie is the "grown-up lady."
I think this is a great question. I am thinking that Morison brought it up because the entire story needs a carrier. By introducing some conflicts between the 2 sisters and Milkman, helps to lay out Milkman's journey. Otherwise, it would have seem a little bit abrupt and discontinuous. The conflict between Milkman and his sisters kind of in further to decide to leave.
I think Morrison brought First Corinthians back inorder to contrast her with Milkman. In the beginning of chapter 9 she gets a new job in order to not be economically dependent on her family. She takes as a maid that doesn't pay just for the purpose of being free from her family. Milkman on the other hand relies on family gold in order to become independent from their family. She also tries to become socially independent from her family by having a relationship with Porter. Her relationship ends when Milkman tells Macon about it.
I think that the main reason why Morrison added this at this part in the story is because she wanted to start to show the importance that milkmans family has on him even though he may not notice it. Throughout the whole beggining of the story, Corinthians and Lena have almost no importance to milkman. And I think that shining a light on Corinthians life now shows how milkman is just starting to realize that there are bigger things in the world than his own life and problems.
I agree with Vale and Bridge. I think that Morrison definitely wanted to contrast Milkman with his very seemingly different family, yet also help the readers see for themselves that they're not different enough for Milkman to be so exclusive about letting them be a part of his life. He completely ignores his sisters and his mother, but we continuously see his loathing hatred towards his father. While some of that hatred was put to rest earlier in the novel, I think that Morrison introducing a shy, quiet, seemingly submissive female character who turns out to be strong-willed and extremely independent is just another obstacle for Milkman to overcome, or perhaps another missed opportunity to realize who he really is/wants to be.
I think that the reason she was introduced so late in the novel was to emphasize how self-centered Milkman was/has always been. We never really got introduced to the personlity of any other character but Milkman, which brings us to back to the controversial issue of why Milkman is so torn and confused inside. Hopefully, in part 2 we will see him expand into a more likeable character who interacts with his family and other characters as well, so taht we may know of their personalities as well.
In chapter 9, First Corinthian suddenly becomes a deep, complex character. She quits her old job and starts a new one as a maid despite her college degree. This seems to liberate her economically and socially. We also learn that she meets a man named Henry Porter and falls in love with him. This is ironic because her old job was making artificial flowers which symbolizes fake love. The fact that she finds love outside of her social class is also ironic because Morrison tells us that no man of her social class is interested in marrying her because she is too “accustomed to middle-class life.” So I'm not completely sure why Morrison deepened First Corinthian's character but I think something important will happen in the novel relating to her and that's why Morrison is doing this.
ReplyDeleteI think that Morrison decided to describe more deeply the character of First Corinthian to show the difference between her and Milkman. The former is really conscious of her social status of wealthy black and she sees the difference between her and other black people while the latter at the beginning doesn't seem to really realize the difference between him and other black people (among which Guitar) and only later on he, with his spiritual growth, will be able to understand this difference. I also think that Morrison decided to put the description of a more complex First Corinthian and of an angry Magdalene that revolts against Milkman (and indirectly against the society she lives in) to show the rebellion of women at that time, that can't live independently and are always subordinate to someone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vale. I think that Morrison described Corinthians in this chapter more complexly, because she wanted to show the reader the difference between the character of Milkman and Corinthians. I think Corinthians is very simmilar to her brother, but also a really opposite of him. Milkman always thinks about thing he could do, but never does anything or if he does something it's the exact opposite of the things he has on his mind. Corinthians thinks about things in a manner she was brought up with. She feels ashamed of other blacks that have lower class than she does, but she does the complete opposite of what she thinks. She works as a maid and dates a poor worker named Porter. I think that she similar to Milkman in this way. However, I think that she also a opposite of him, because even though she is ashamed of Porter and her job; she goes home with Porter and "fights the prejudices" of her parents against lower class black people. While Corinthians has a strength to do what she wants, Milkman never does what he wants. He always does what his daddy wants him to do. Milkman is the "baby doll", and Corrie is the "grown-up lady."
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great question. I am thinking that Morison brought it up because the entire story needs a carrier. By introducing some conflicts between the 2 sisters and Milkman, helps to lay out Milkman's journey. Otherwise, it would have seem a little bit abrupt and discontinuous. The conflict between Milkman and his sisters kind of in further to decide to leave.
ReplyDeleteI think Morrison brought First Corinthians back inorder to contrast her with Milkman. In the beginning of chapter 9 she gets a new job in order to not be economically dependent on her family. She takes as a maid that doesn't pay just for the purpose of being free from her family. Milkman on the other hand relies on family gold in order to become independent from their family. She also tries to become socially independent from her family by having a relationship with Porter. Her relationship ends when Milkman tells Macon about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the main reason why Morrison added this at this part in the story is because she wanted to start to show the importance that milkmans family has on him even though he may not notice it. Throughout the whole beggining of the story, Corinthians and Lena have almost no importance to milkman. And I think that shining a light on Corinthians life now shows how milkman is just starting to realize that there are bigger things in the world than his own life and problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vale and Bridge. I think that Morrison definitely wanted to contrast Milkman with his very seemingly different family, yet also help the readers see for themselves that they're not different enough for Milkman to be so exclusive about letting them be a part of his life. He completely ignores his sisters and his mother, but we continuously see his loathing hatred towards his father. While some of that hatred was put to rest earlier in the novel, I think that Morrison introducing a shy, quiet, seemingly submissive female character who turns out to be strong-willed and extremely independent is just another obstacle for Milkman to overcome, or perhaps another missed opportunity to realize who he really is/wants to be.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason she was introduced so late in the novel was to emphasize how self-centered Milkman was/has always been. We never really got introduced to the personlity of any other character but Milkman, which brings us to back to the controversial issue of why Milkman is so torn and confused inside. Hopefully, in part 2 we will see him expand into a more likeable character who interacts with his family and other characters as well, so taht we may know of their personalities as well.
ReplyDelete