Song Of Solomon :: essays research papers

From Beginning to shutdown     Toni Morrison begins her novel Song of Solomon in a very unconventional way. preferably of introducing a setting or characters, she iterates an incident that without further reading is for the close to part incomprehensible. As readers we notice subsequent on in the trading floor the references made throughout the book that relate back to the introductory pages. approximately of the main themes such as oral traditions, naming, and especially escape ar introduced in the first six pages and are further developed in a very similar format throughout the book.     One of the smashing themes, oral tradition, is used to retell events throughout the book in a manner consistent with the beginning. On the first page we are introduced to an insurance policy agent by the name of Robert Smith. We shortly there after(prenominal) learn that he will "fly" form the top of Mercy Hospital. On the Wednesday of his flight a group of fifty people gather around the mental synthesis to witness this event. While waiting for his "flight" or jump a woman in a contralto voice begins to sing the lecture "O Sugarman done fly away/ Sugarman done gone/ Sugarman chuck out across the sky/ Sugarman gone home&8230"(6) This lady apparently describes Robert Smiths flight "home" which we later learn is really him committing suicide. Much later on in the book Milkman is listening to a group of children vocalizing "O Solomon done fly away/ Solomon done gone/ Solomon weakened across the sky/ Solomon gone home."(3) In this song Sugarman, or Robert Smith, is replaced by Solomon, or the Great Grandfather of Milkman. The song describes his "flight" from Shalimar, his home town, and the events that happened after his "flight." In general, oral traditions are used in this book to retell past events for both our understanding and for the characters. They take the form of song, story, and fairy floor and are very important to the meaning of the story because they are a major medium of narration.     Naming is utilized throughout the book for the point of creating identification and symbolism for the characters and places. On page four a drawing description is given about the history of Mains Ave., or Not reestablish Street., as called by the Southside community. It is called Not Doctor Street. because a prominent shocking doctor had once lived there, and the people living there always referred to it as Doctor Street.