Identity In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

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How important is it to be able live for yourself? In Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, the egotistical, self-involved Milkman Dead lives passively and without active response to what goes on around him. He lacks consideration for others and seems to live without a care about anything. However, one night’s event turns into a window that opens Milkman up into changing. Soon after, he begins to be active, responsive human with a passion. Morrison’s Song of Solomon illuminates, through a scene of conflict with Milkman, the importance of independence and individuality while expounding upon the themes of the necessity of identity.
When Milkman hits his father, he realizes the lack of responsibility he holds in his life, leading him to questions …show more content…

The two are arguing; Macon is more agitated than latter. He aggressively tells her, “You by yourself ain’t nobody. You your daddy’s daughter!” only for Ruth to inform him that she “certainly [is her] daddy’s daughter,” with a grin (119). As Milkman watches, Macon punches her. Acting in quick response, Milkman grabs his father violently and warns him: “You touch her again, one more time, and I’ll kill you” (120). Before, Milkman would have allowed for the instance to pass by. However; the abuse Milkman had seen between his mother and father was, on that day, an act “he would not be able to stand” (120). Afterwards, Macon describes to him the context of the argument, and how Ruth mocks Macon about her father and the inappropriate relationship she had with the man. Milkman suddenly feels burdened with the knowledge, and the event causes him to reflect on the choices he has made in life. Before, Milkman was passive, self-involved, and not caring for the pains and struggles of other people. He refused to accept the responsibility of his life, his actions, and any consequences that would follow because of him. For example, in order …show more content…

After listening to what Macon has to say about Ruth, Milkman realizes he knows nothing for himself. Much of what he learns and knows come from what other people tell him. Having an identity-crisis, Milkman becomes motivated to start living by his own accord and to discover life and who is is for himself. The theme transcends throughout Song of Solomon: identity should only be created by the individual. The feeling of self-discovery is universal, and anyone can feel the want at any time. Most people have asked themselves at least once, “who am I?” Conflict between a person and a society is the common impetus for change, such as how Milkman fought his father. Where some people may accept what other people view of them as their identity, many others will go on great odysseys in order to figure out their identity for

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