In class today we talked a little bit about the peacock and what it symbolizes/it's importance in the novel. I personally think it symbolizes not just one thing, but a few things. What did the peacock seem to symbolize to you and why is it an important part of the novel?
When I first read the chapter I thought that the peacock represented wealth and as Milkman and Guitar try to steal the gold, they also try to catch the peacock. At the same time the peacock is white and therefore I thought that it could symbolize the white wealthy race, that is full of "vanity". However as people said in the discussion today it could also represent the past and in particular Milkman's past, that he has to give up in order to find his identity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vale in that the peacock symbolizes the past that Milkman will have to give up in order to separate himself from his family. Part of this is that Milkman doesn't want his father's money, in fact he wants to make it on his own. Another, but similar, thing I think the peacock represents is the "vanity" Milkman will have to give up. Meaning he might not have the life that he had before with his parents but at least he knows that he found his own identity from his strange family.
ReplyDeleteI thought the peacock symbolized how Milkman needs to let go of his family's wealth inorder to fly. Guitar mentioned how its the weight of the peacock's gorgeous feathers that keeps it from flying, much like how Milkman is weighed down by his dependance on his family's money and social status to get him the things he wants.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Katie. I think that the peacock represents Milkman and all the superficial things that Milkman valuates so much. He is like the peacock, he has to give up all the "jewelry", that he was brought up with, his father´s money, his mother´s status and the whole way he was brought up in. If he can learn how to live without these things, live on his own and care about other people, not only himself than he will be finally able to fly.
ReplyDeleteI agree with BJJ and Vale that the peacock is represents the family history. The tail is so big that it prevent peacock from flying. Also that the peacock open its tail, which represents that his family history is too big to be neglected completely, and later in the book, Milkman and Guitar screwed up their little robbery since the cops stopped them because they're black. I think the tail-open served as a foreshadow that they were going to screw up.
ReplyDeleteI initially thought that the peacock represents purity and innocence because it was white but then my perception changed to it meaning wealth and greed because every time the gold was discussed there was a reference to the peacock. I believe this is not the last we are going to see of the peacock. I also agree with everybody else that the peacock represents family past and that it is weighing down milkman like the feathers from flying away from all the troubles he has.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie when she said that it mainly represented the burden of his family and its hindrances on his ability to fly, or reach his full potential. I think that Milkman doesn't realize it just yet (though he will eventually), but he is actually the thing keeping himself from "flying", not his family necessarily. They might be annoying and embarrassing at times, but he is his only true obstacle at this point, much like the peacock's almost jewel-encrusted tail which prevents him from flight as well.
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