The protagonist of Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Milkman Dead, experiences a drastic transformation throughout the entirety of the novel. From the opening scene to Milkman's final leap of faith, the symbolism of flying as a means of attaining freedom and escape is evidently a prevalent theme. It is Milkman's unprecedented will to relieve himself from his soulless life that leads him on a journey to personal growth. But what sparked this will? First, his family ties, which have made of him a self-absorbed man who is incapable of connecting with society. Second, he escapes from his last name, a name that represents perfectly every characteristic of Milkman's distorted personality. During this journey that Milkman takes on, he is liberated. It is at the end of this journey towards enlightenment that Milkman is led to a final flight, a final soar towards freedom.
Throughout the novel, there is a strong sense that Milkman is utterly incapable of connecting with others.
English: Toni Morrison speaking at "A Tribute to C...
Toni Morrison, on jacket of her Pulitzer Prize win...
English: Toni Morrison, Miami Book Fair Internatio...This is seen as much on an emotional level as on a social level. Moreover, there is a striking disconnection with Milkman and African-Americans. This is mostly due to his back round; coming from one of the very few wealthy black families in the community, Milkman lived a life of privilege and was ignorant to the racism around him. In turn, he was set apart from them. Not only is Milkman ostracized from the black community, but he remains distant and apart from society in general. In many ways, he is fighting or resisting against society's strong current: "Milkman closed his eyes and opened them. The street was even more crowded with people, all going in the direction he was coming from. All walking hurriedly and bumping against him. After a while he realized that nobody was walking on...