Things I Learned from Song of Solomon
Three takeaways from an incredible work of art.
During the pandemic, one of the many things I had more time to do was read. So, my mother and I decided to start a book club, and chose Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison as our first novel. As I read, I quickly became engrossed in the story, and by the time I finished, it had already become one of my favorite books. Recently, as I’ve been reflecting on it, I decided to share 3 things I’ve learned after reading this novel.
- Some Friends Aren’t Forever.
Watching the dynamic between Milkman and Guitar throughout the novel showcases what can happen with some friendships down the line. Although Milkman and Guitar were once close, both men started forming their own identities and beliefs. They still remained friends despite their differing circumstances, until a brush with the law changed something in both of them. That was arguably the start of the end of their friendship.
At the time, being not far removed from high school, I thought that I would stay close with my high school friends forever. Like the inseparable relationship between Milkman and Guitar, I never imagined a time where I wouldn’t be close with my classmates. But overtime things change, and those people who you once knew may now be a rival, an enemy, or just a memory.
2. You Can’t Always Grow in Places You Know.
Throughout the novel, one of the most important parts of Milkman’s journey is when he leaves home to search for the gold that Pilate hid. That journey quickly became less about the gold, and more about Milkman. He was engaged in an internal battle between who his father wanted him to be, and who he wanted to be. Traveling away ultimately enabled him to gain a sense of self that was unlikely to happen had he stayed at home.
At the time I was reading this, I was in my sophomore year of college, taking classes online. I certainly missed my friends, and the freedom of living on campus. But this moment in the novel helped realize that what I missed most was the growth. Messing up and learning to solve things on my own, learning my likes and dislikes, and forming habits were all challenging, but they ultimately helped to shape who I am today, and have brought me closer to who I want to be.
3. Blackness has Many Shades, and They’re All Beautiful.
While blackness may not be the focal point of this story, Morrison makes it a point to include references and lines to it. This conversation between Milkman and Pilate about the color black was a beautiful depiction of the layers within it.
“And talking about dark! You think dark is just one color, but it ain’t. There’re five or six kinds of black. Some silky, some woolly. Some just empty. Some like fingers. And it don’t stay still, it moves and changes from one kind of black to another. Saying something is pitch black is like saying something is green. What kind of green? Green like my bottles? Green like a grasshopper? Green like a cucumber, lettuce, or green like the sky is just before it breaks loose to storm? Well, night black is the same way. May as well be a rainbow.”
Pilate speaks about night black, and about the variation within it. Although she speaks about the literal color, this whole passage could be attributed to black people. Sometimes, the stereotypes that exist, along with the lack of black representation in media, can lead to the idea that black people are one type of way. But this quote is a beautiful reminder of the versatility that exists within us. There is so much variance within our community, and that uniqueness is what makes us beautiful.
Song of Solomon is like a well, filled with lessons, morality, advice, and honesty that constantly overflows. I walked away from the novel deep in thought, with new perspectives about life. Toni Morrison is one of those authors who knows how to make you think and knows how to make you feel. I know that when I read this book again, I will once more walk away with something engaging, fulfilling, and life changing.
