Research on Stories

Page #

xii              male narrative

Stories

Song of Solomon – Stories

The novel “Song of Solomon,” revolves around stories as the basis for explanation of how things have come to happen. Instead of the author directly telling us how things occurred in the past, she uses the characters and their flashbacks as her method of explanation. Stories are part of the style in which the book is written since every time a new idea or event is introduced, it is followed by a story. Throughout the book, new events or ideas are introduced in a very straight forward manner with no anticipation as to how things occurred. The explanation comes after the event is stated; the characters go back and talk about what happened before that led up to the present.

Storytelling is also used to explain the personalities of the character and the relationships between everyone in the book. An example of that is when Macon sits with Milkman, and tells him the story of when he was a child. Macon tells Milkman about his father, Pilate, and Ruth and how he felt about them. Stories are the way each character expresses what he or she really feels and it gives a deeper explanation of each character’s personality. Storytelling is how we get to meet each character individually and how we understand what led to their present situations. Through storytelling we learn why Macon is so cold towards Ruth, his relationship to Dr. Foster, Ruth and Dr. Foster’s relationship, Pilate and Macon’s relationship, Macon and Pilate’s relationship to their father and their relationship with the gold, etc. At first Milkman wishes he hadn’t heard any of the stories people tell him but throughout the book they begin to influence him more and more. In the end, the stories he has heard and the new ones he hears are what drives him. He claims to be looking for the gold but he slowly begins to be intrigued by all the different stories he hears from his people and about his people. He begins to come up with his own ideas and becomes so interested on what he has heard and in finding out what really happened with his entire family that he forgets he is searching for the gold.




Areli Baires

Stories

Stories are a recurring theme in this book. Throughout the book there are stories, and many of these stories are the same, just told by different perspectives. This book shows how stories can shape and influence history. For example at the very beginning of the novel there is the story of the water mark on the dining room table. This mark was there because everyday that her father was alive there was either fresh flowers or a plant. (12) She then goes on to talk about how she "talked endlessly to her daughters and her guests about how to get rid of it..Vaseline, tobacco, juice, iodine.. But her glance was nutritious; the spot became if anything, more pronounced as the years pasts." (11-12) Although this story of the water mark may seem insignificant, it symbolizes Ruth's relationship with her father and how she misses him more and more as the years go on.

One of the most important stories may be the story of the Song of Solomon and Macon Dead Sr. also known as Jack. When Milkman first talks to Susan Byrd she doesn't tell him the true story because her friend grace was there. The second time that Milkman shows up at her door he gets the real story. When Solomon asks about the 'flying Africans' she says "Oh, that's just some old folks' lie they tell around here. Some of those Africans they brought over here as slaves could fly. A lot of them flew back to Africa. The one around here who did was this same Solomon, or Shalimar." (322) This story shows how events have been passed through generations. After learning the truth about Solomon and his grandfather, Milkman finally is able to connect with his past, and finally 'grow up.' This shows how stories can define our lives.

Stories

I am interested in the topic of stories. It seems that everything about the book has a story and history, also everyone seems to have their point of view of the story. For example, Macon Dead and Ruth have a version of what happened to Ruth's dad. When Macon tells Milkman his version of the story Milkman seems feel closer to his dad. However, when Ruth tell her story to Milkman he just ends up confused. At this point he doesn't know what or who to believe. This eventually leads Milkman on a mission to find himself and the truth of his family's past. Therefore, this novel strongly revolves around the ideas of story and how they shape the believes and actions of people.

Joshua N.