Critical analysis of Song of Solomon Essay

Song of Solomon, Toni Morrisons third Novel was published in 1977 and it ascertained her as a key American seed given that, aft(prenominal) its publication, it turned out to be a dress hatseller and drew honor from critics as healthful as readers. The narrative has been particularly admired for the exquisiteness of its spoken language as well as its foundation of international themes in the distinctiveness of the experience of the Afro-American, not to forget its utilization of folklore. (Morrison 34) The narrative is based on an African-American fairy tale concerning slaves who be able to fly back to Africa once they decide.The author fictionalizes this fairy tale through the traits of Solomon who is the great-grandfather of the storys central character, Milkman Dead. through Milkmans discovery of Solomons story and his capability to fly, he learns to be proud of his ancestry as well as valuing his connections to community and family unit. The book won the National Book crit ics Circle Award for fiction in the year 1977 and is currently extensively taught and emerged once more on best-seller lists after Oprah Winfrey chose it so that it could be included in her book club.The book has being loved by readers for a period of more than two decades and it is still deemed whizz of Toni Morrisons roughly excellent books. What touched me most after reading Toni Morrisons book are the biblical references (Morrison 51& 52) The author keeps making biblical references from both the nonagenarian testament as well as the New Testament which are quite useful in bringing out the overall themes, characters as well as in construction up the plot of the novel.To start with, the author gives her book the title Song of Solomon which is a reference taken from the Old Testaments Song of Solomon or rather Song of Songs, or Canticles which is basically on love and relationships and is interpreted in some customs as a figurative demonstration of the relationship of Israel an d God as wife and husband where the principal characters of the song are a man and a woman and the poetry offers progress commencing courtship to consummation.In Morrisons narrative, Solomon, Milkman deads great-grandfather finds out the tale of Solomon and his capability to fly which makes him to be delighted of his heritage and to value associate to family and community. (Furman & Morrison 142) Song of Solomon commences with Robert Smiths flight from the roof of Mercy hospital. Smith emerges on the flush of the hospital with two handcrafted arms on his backside and jumps from the top of the hospital to the shock and amazement of many.Because of him making an attempt to fly, Ruth Foster dead is able to give birth inside the hospice instead of on its stepladder given that during this moment in time, Negro women are not permitted to deliver in the hospital because of segregation which makes Macon Dead turn out to be the first Negro infant to be delivered in Mercy Hospital. (Furman & Morrison 198) Morrison makes biblical inferences in naming his characters which helps in bringing out their personalities. Corinthians Dead, Milkman and Lenas father is called Macon Dead and is the proprietor of apartments and houses.Dead thinks owning property enables one to own oneself, as well as others in like manner. Together with Pilate, Macon grew up in Lincolns Heaven, a farm in Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen, he watches his father murdered by whites who desire the familys land. Macon and Pilate are sheltered by Circle, a maid and midwife who houses them in vacant quarters of the Butler house. They then escape from the Butler place and hide in a cave for the night where they meet a white man whom Macon kills. (Furman & Morrison 231)Macon Milkman dead IIIs mother breastfeeds him for far too long until he is so tall and his feet are touching the floor which makes him swiftly gain the reputation for being a mummys male child which is a direct contrast to Guitar, his b est fri set aside. Milkman has two babes, Magdalene named Lena and showtime Corinthians. The daughters of the family unit are given names by placing a pin inside the password while the males are called after their father. Macon Deads name was the outcome of an administrative fault when Milkmans grandfather had to list following the end of slavery.(Morrison 121) Pilate, Macon Dead Jr. s sister, is identified as fostering an Earth Mother type of personality. Given that he was born lacking a navel, she is rather a mystic character and it is mightily implied that she is Divine i. e. she is a female Christ and that her name is ironical. Macon has not had a word to his sister for years and did not feel greatly of her. She, just like Macon, has had to fend for herself starting from an early age, although she has to deal with her history in a different manner.Reba is her one and only daughter. She also has one granddaughter by the name Hagar who is very much in love with Milkman, and is n ot able to deal with rejection. Milkmans erstwhile best friend, Guitar, attempts to murder him after he mistakenly believes Milkman of deceiving him out of concealed gold. Toni Morrisons narrative comes to an end on a touching and uncertain note after Milkman finally discovers to fly after deciding to confront Guitar. (Furman & Morrison 265)In conclusion, it can be said that Toni Morrison makes use of biblical references in his narrative from time to time. This is pictured from the numerous biblical references taken from both the Old Testament and the New Testament which help in building up the overall plot of the narrative, building up the characters personalities as well as in bringing out the overall themes of the narrative. Eminently, Toni Morrison makes various biblical references through some of the characters names.For instance, Ruth, Dead, First Corinthians, Pilate, Heaven, Guitar, Magdalene named Lena, Lincolns Heaven, maid, bible, divine, Christ, mid wife among others. In addition, the author makes use of other biblical references like Mercy i. e. Mercy hospital, the ability to fly by bearing wings like the Angels key references. Works Cited Furman, Jan & Morrison, Toni. Toni Morrisons Song of Solomon a casebook. Oxford University Press US, 2003. ISBN 0195146352, 9780195146356 276 pages Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. Vintage International, 2004. ISBN 140003342X, 9781400033423. 337 pages