Introduction
Flight is a central theme in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, exploring various aspects of personal independence and freedom. The struggle for identification and self-discovery in African American culture is powerfully examined. The characters are searching for a solution to escape the constraints and injustices of their world. The protagonist, Milkman Dead, seeks to understand his identity and his place in society. Along the way, he had several life-changing encounters that helped him get closer to the truth about his origin.
Flight Symbolism in the Novel
A desire to fly is symbolic of escaping the miseries that one faces in their life. Robert Smith announces his intention to fly from Mercy Hospital in a brief statement to the public. He writes in his message that he loves everyone and wants to leave soon to pursue his dreams. “Please forgive me. I loved you all” (Morrison 13). As people watched, he stood atop Mercy Hospital with wings ready to fly.
Although his flight mission does not succeed, he sets the tone in the book for the people who desire to fly. His attempted flight led to his death at Mercy Hospital. He was one of the members of a resistance group called Seven Days, devoted to fighting for the rights of black people.
Milkman was born on the same day at Mercy Hospital during Smith’s attempted flight. His failed mission represented the disappointment of never realizing his dreams of independence and self-discovery. True freedom is not found in running away from one’s responsibilities but in accepting them.
Solomon’s Flight
Solomon’s flight is a potent symbol of defiance and freedom. He is an enslaved person who decided to leave slavery in the Virginia cotton fields and fly away. The flight symbolizes his struggle to escape the oppression of slavery. His departure left a lasting impression on his loved ones, who were forced to cope with the consequences. Ryna, deeply in love with her husband, was left devastated by his absence, causing her to scream and lose her mind entirely (Morrison 269). The departure not only affected her emotionally but also had a profound psychological impact on her and her children.
The author illustrated the complexities of personal independence and its effects on those left behind. As Solomon was flying away, he inadvertently brushed against the branches of a tree and accidentally dropped Jake, his youngest son, “Twenty-one children, the last one Jake!” (Morrison 267). Heddy, an elderly Indian woman, cared for Jake after Ryan became mentally unstable. However, after some time, Jake and Heddy’s daughter, Sing, ran away secretly. It showed evidence that Solomon’s flight had a profound impact on his family and descendants.
The escape symbolizes the quest for self-discovery that people face. It was more than just a literal departure from his master; it represented a symbolic departure from the identity that his master had forced upon him. He wanted to reconnect with people from his ancestral roots in Africa. “A lot of them flew back to Africa. The one around here who did was this same Solomon ” (Morrison 284).
The supernatural occurrence of flying to Africa without a plane illustrates how one must sometimes perform the unimaginable in the pursuit of self-discovery. Solomon leaves his family’s suffering legacy and forges his life path by flying into the air. It heightens the symbolic value of flying as a way to leave the past behind and start again.
Milkman’s Journey
In search of self-discovery, Milkman was on a trip to Shalimar, Virginia, where his ancestors settled. His early disinterest in his family history indicated his disconnection from his heritage. However, the search for his family’s history opened his eyes to aspects of himself he had previously denied or disregarded. In his earlier life, he was raised in a materialistic way and could not see anything beyond money (Morris 110).
Milkman experienced a sense of liberation during his initial airplane ride, leading him to believe that freedom exists beyond the confines of reality. He wanted to identify his place in the world and his family’s history because he felt lost and confused. Milkman was interested in learning more about his ancestors and the influences that had shaped them. As he travels, his passion for money and worldly wealth decreases significantly. Along the process, he tackles the persistent racism and prejudice in society, gaining awareness and skill in overcoming his selfishness and lack of compassion.
Pilate’s Flight
Milkman’s aunt Pilate physically flew from home and society because she wanted to break free from their constraints and follow her path. She embraced her individuality as a spirited and autonomous woman rather than adhering to the societal expectations placed on women (Morrison 32). Flight is a metaphor for her freedom from the confines of conventional gender roles. The stigmatization she endures due to having no navel makes her conceal her stomach.
Pilate’s sense of identity stems from embracing her body, including its imperfections, and her lack of a navel, which has led to a social stigma (Morrison 90). She escapes to an island off the coast of Virginia and finds a new lover there. Pilate, after her death, flies with the birds with her name in the air, indicating the spiritual resurrection. It shows that death is not the end of the cycle for those who lived in purity.
Guitar’s Flight
Guitar’s physical flight from society might be seen as a protest against the cruel and unfair society in which he lives. He joins the Seven Days, a secret organization that strives to right past injustices against Black people in America. “They call themselves the Seven Days” (Morrison 142). Guitar believed that the world is naturally violent and inequitable and that violence is the only effective way to oppose this wrong. His flight from civilization enabled him to join an organization of people who can take revenge against those who have abused the black community.
Guitar’s flight has far-reaching effects on his interpersonal relationships. His concern with redressing historical wrongs causes him to grow progressively estranged from everyone around him, especially his best friend, Milkman. Guitar’s activities become increasingly unpredictable, and he finally becomes a threat to the people around him. “Guitar could kill, would kill, and probably had killed” (Morrison 188).
As seen by his intention to attack a building full of white people, he is prepared to sacrifice innocent lives to accomplish his aims. When Milkman does not seem to understand the repercussions of his actions, Pilate acts as a guiding conscience for him. Guitar’s flight eventually takes him down a dangerous road, leaving him alone and overwhelmed by his rage and despair.
Hagar’s Flight
Hagar’s flight from reality represents her anguish and unrequited love for Milkman. Her pursuit of Milkman is a means for her to escape and find pleasure and contentment. Milkman did not love Hagar, as he was only interested in sexual desires. He claimed that she no longer produces the excitement that comes from being in love. “She was the third beer. Not the first one, which the throat receives with almost tearful gratitude” (Morrison 87).
However, her pursuit eventually causes her death, as Milkman cannot return her love and is overwhelmed by her desperation and sorrow. She returned home from shopping tired, disoriented, and burning with fever; she died of a broken heart. The terrible results of the flight act as an example of the limitations and restraints that exist in society for marginalized people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon explores the theme of flight as a symbol of resistance, liberation, and self-discovery, illustrating the struggles and experiences of characters like Robert Smith, Solomon, Milkman, Pilate, and Guitar. Flight represents the desire to escape oppression and pursue personal freedom, confronting societal expectations and prejudices. Although not consistently successful, the characters’ flights have profound implications for themselves and those around them.
Flight symbolizes the quest for self-discovery, identity, and independence. The novel’s complex exploration of these themes reveals the challenges and opportunities that arise from pursuing personal freedom. Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to inspire and challenge readers today.
Work Cited
Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. Vintage, 2020.