Milkman's Leap

Finishing the Song of Solomon, we see all of the ideas in the beginning to come around full circle. After Milkman has found his lineage, I expected him to return home and complete his journey. But the realization of Hagar's death really opens his eyes to everything around him.

“He had left her. While he dreamt of flying, Hagar was dying. Sweet’s silvery voice came back to him: “Who’d he leave behind? ‘He left Ryna behind and twenty children. Twenty-one, since he dropped the one he tried to take with him. And Ryna had thrown herself all over the ground, lost her mind, and was still crying in a ditch.”

He sees that he is Solomon, and his absence from Hagar's life caused her grief just like Solomon's wife. He finally begins to take responsibility for his actions and treatment of Hagar. This is so surprising to the readers at this point because all that we have known of Milkman is his utter disregard for anyone besides himself. His realization here is surprising, but develops even more so when he accompanies Pilate to Solomon's Leap.

“They stayed with Omar’s family, and on the second and last evening, Milkman and Pilate walked up the road to the path that led to Solomon’s Leap. It was the higher of two outcroppings of rock. Both flat-headed, both looking over a deep valley. Pilate carried the sack, Milkman a small shovel. It was a long way to the top, but neither stopped for breath.”

 For the first time, we see Milkman really doing something for someone else. I don't think that it is any coincidence that the person he helps is Pilate. Because throughout the story, Pilate is the person he really owes his life to in many ways. She saved his life quite literally when she helped her mother to get pregnant and wouldn't let Macon persuade Ruth into an abortion. In addition to this, Pilate is the woman who welcomes him in when he is young. She gives him the opportunity to escape his home, and family. By coming to her, Pilate gave him the opportunity to practice his flying. So we can see that he is deeply attached and indebted to her, possibly explaining why he went to her first after finding out about Solomon. 

On top of the cliff, a sudden an unanticipated death of Pilate occurs. This moment is so quick, and yet is still very meaningful. Pilate as we have discussed, is so meaningful to Milkman and here he loses her. For him I think her death symbolizes a loss in everything that holds him back from his 'leap'. “No reconciliation took place between Pilate and Macon (although he seemed pleased to know that they were going to bury their father in Virginia), and relations between Ruth and Macon were the same and would always be. Just as the consequences of Milkman’s own stupidity would remain, and regret would always outweigh the things he was proud of having done.” Milkman has already seen that his family will never change, and flight was the only thing he had left.

At this point he yells for Guitar “You want me? Huh? You want my life?” and though the idea of death is typically daunting for most, here we see Milkman almost embracing death and awaiting his flight. And in addition, Guitar's subsequent action on releasing the rifle, seems to symbolize an agreement between the two. The last few lines of the text are open to interpretation: 

“Milkman stopped waving and narrowed his eyes. He could just make out Guitar’s head and shoulders in the dark. “You want my life?” Milkman was not shouting now. “You need it? Here.” Without wiping away the tears, taking a deep breath, or even bending his knees—he leaped. As fleet and bright as a lodestar he wheeled toward Guitar and it did not matter which one of them would give up his ghost in the killing arms of his brother. For now he knew what Shalimar knew: If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."

For me, I read these lines as an agreement between the protagonists of the novel. As if Milkman and Guitar are going hand in hand off of Solomon's Leap, and both completing their own destiny. For Guitar it is killing Milkman, and getting away from all of the problems of the world around him. For Milkman, as we have known throughout his life, he must fly. Not only have that, but the recent addition of Solomon’s impact and the loss of Pilate meant that his time to soar has come. Together, we see these two men leap away, prepared to ride the air as far as it will take them. 

Antoinette and Tia

While reading Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea, one very interesting relationship is the one between Antoinette and Tia.  It was because of Christophine’s influence that Antoinette met Tia. I think Christophine really wanted Antoinette to have a friend and to have someone to play with. But I also think that Christophine wanted Antoinette to have a black friend. Though Christophine stayed with the Cosway family after she was set free, I think she knows that the Cosway’s were very racist and evil people. For her, opening up Antoinette to someone different than her might help her to be better (at least with the black people) than her reputation serves her.

While watching Antoinette and Tia's relationship develop, it is hard to say whether or not they are really friends. It seems like they are mutually bad friends to each other. I think the author poses the story to look at first like a little bit of friendly foes. But as it develops we see that the two girls are very influenced by what is going on around them. 

For Tia we can see that she knows about Antoinette's reputation. From the beginning it seems that she knows about Antoinette's family and their history. She knows that their new reputation is something that she can use to show Antoinette that she has no rank over her because of her race. "Old time white people nothing but white nigger now, and black nigger better than white nigger." But Tia simultaneously seems to be also conscious that Antoinette has more than her. The girls get into various quarrels with each other, but Tia is the one who takes the coins and the dress from Antoinette. I think this reflects this very difficult understanding of the relationship. But it also reflects Tia's want to be like Antoinette and have the things she has. Despite the fact that she has already told Antoinette that she isn't "better" like Antoinette seems to believe.

We see the same ideas again later on after the fire. Antoinette is comparing herself to Tia as well. Antoinette was very rude and inconsiderate to her "friend" throughout their relationship. But we see numerous times that Antoinette really relates to Tia, and in some ways wants to be like her. "We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking-glass." Though they live completely different lives, Antoinette sees so much potential and life and opportunity in Tia that she doesn't see for herself. We see here that this friendly rivalry really reflects the way that these girls see each other. They both live difficult lives but in very different ways. Though neither girl is in an ideal position, they both yearn for a life other than their own. They both want things that they don't have, and therefore try to find those things within each other. 

Mersault Cares Nothing of Death

Reading The Stranger, one reoccurring theme is Meursault's attitude throughout the book. He seems to be void of feeling, or a moral compass. In class we have discussed this idea many times. But something we haven't discussed is the possibility that to Meursault, death specifically, doesn't mean anything to him. 

In the opening of the novel, we see Meursault's reaction to his mother’s death. He immediately doesn’t show that much emotion for his mother at the time. “The director then looked down at the tips of his shoes and said that I hadn’t wanted to see Maman, that I hadn’t cried once, and that I had left right after the funeral without paying my last respects at her grave.” Many people in class concluded that this was just a way that Meursault responded to grief. Even Meursault himself said that he was in grieving. Others said that Meursault was lacking of feeling or emotion. In their opinion Meursault was very indifferent to life in general. I believe that his very removed, and emotionless reaction to his mother’s death was not related to his relationship with her, his response to grief, or indifference. I believe it was an example that showed Meursault is not affected in any way by the effects of death.

          Later in the novel, we reach the intense scene between Meursault and the Arab man. “Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace. And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness.” After the man is dead, this is the last we hear of him. Now I definitely agree that a big part of this is a reflection of the racism during this time. But I also think it is more than that. Meursault’s focus on this time was being in jail and not being able to do the things he liked to do. We readers are reading this through Meursault’s perspective, and he had absolutely no thoughts or reaction to the actual death of this man.

          Finally, near the end of the novel, Meursault is sentenced to death. He is struck by the manner in which he must be executed. But when the preacher begs him to pray to the lord for forgiveness, we can see that Meursault has no desire for the afterlife. “The chaplain knew the game well too, I could tell right away: his gaze never faltered. And his voice didn't falter, either, when he said, "Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?" "Yes," I said.” Meursault may not have wanted to die by the guillotine, but death itself wasn’t really concerning to him. He wanted nothing to with the ideas of afterlife whether they concerned heaven or hell. In general, Meursault did not care about dying.

          With the information I’ve read from the Stranger, it seems that Meursault believed in life. His typical daily life though seemingly dull to readers, was good enough for him. But his reaction to death, stayed consistent. No matter his relationship to a death, whether it be his mother, the Arab man, or himself, death was inevitable and therefore, essentially meaningless to him. To him death only represented a house with more space, a crime that put him in the system, and an escape from the rest of life.

Gregor's Pops

The change that occurs on Gregor's father in The Metamorphosis is very interesting. From the beginning of the book, it is clear that Gregor and his fathers relationship isn't quite normal. "Because he was in danger of losing his job, and because the head of the firm would start pestering his parents about those old debts?" I don't think it is typical for a child to pay his fathers debts. And even though Gregor is helping his father, it is not as if his father seems impressed. "'The chief clerk has arrived and wants to know why you didn't leave by the early train. We don't know what to tell him.'"

When Gregor makes his transformation, many things begin to change in his life. But one change that stands out most to me, is his fathers change. From Gregor's perspective, we readers get the idea that his father was kind of weak, and lazy."the same man who used to lie wearily sunk in bed whenever Gregor set out on one pf his business trips; who was always reclining in the armchair in his dressing-gown when he greeted him on his return in the evening; who was actually hardly capable of getting to his feet". But the first time we see Gregor's emerge as a bug to his family, his father automatically reacts with violence. This violence and drive take Gregor by surprise, because it isn't something he hasn't seen in his father for a while. We notice Gregor's father taking initiative at the family meetings, and going out to find a job. Then later when Gregor is once again chased violently by his father, . This is something that is surprising, and yet, somehow positive to Gregor.

I think that Gregor's change made his father realize his own worth. I think it is sometimes easy to be lazy when there is someone around to take advantage of. Especially in this situation where Gregor may not even have felt that he was being taken advantage of in the first place. But now that the family can no longer be dependent on Gregor. The father has somehow found his misplaced strength. I can't wait to see how the father's drive will develop as the story continues.

Brett's Gender-fluid qualities in The Sun Also Rises

In The Sun Also Rises, we are often reminded of the confusing relationship between Brett and Jake. We see that they love each other "'Don't you love me?' 'Love you? I simply turn all to jelly when you touch me.'" but because of Jake's injury it won't ever work out between them. We also see that Jake desperately attempts to get over Brett numerous times in the novel. "'Were you ever in love with her?' 'Sure.' 'For how long.' 'Off and on for a hell of a long time.' 'Oh hell! I'm Sorry fella.' 'It's all right,' I said. 'I don't give a damn anymore.'" But, the book never discussed the initial spark between Brett and Jake. We know that they met in the hospital where Jake was treated for his injury. And there is where their love for each other blossomed. What attracted Jake to Brett?

I believe that the constant struggle with gender between the two characters may have been what sparked their love. Throughout the book Jake is constantly attempting to assure his masculinity. Because his injury in the war, he is struggling to find his manhood. In some ways that affects his gender, in turn,  makes him want to feel more secure as a man. This I believe is where his relationship with Brett may come from. She is a woman, and Jake is no doubt aware of her feminine qualities. "She was built with curves like the hull of a racing yacht, and you missed none of it with that wool jersey." But, Brett is also a character who likes to play with her gender identity. A lot of the characteristics in Brett's appearance could be considered androgynous. Specifically her short hair cut, but also the things she wears. "She pulled her men's felt hat down and started for the bar." Additionally, Brett acts in a certain way that (20th century) society would not consider appropriate for a woman. One example is her relationship with many, and it seems mostly, men. Also her affection towards drinking. 

Because of Jake's want for masculinity, I believe that Brett's masculine qualities appeal to him.  I also think her confidence in her gender is also probably reassuring to Jake about his identity. Though the book may never mention these ideas, I do think they are worthwhile to explore.

Cosmo "Cohn" Kramer

While reading Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, one particularly striking character is Robert Cohn. Because the book is from the perspective of Jake Barnes we can’t exactly see the way Cohn is feeling. But from what we are told, we can almost infer all of his constant feelings. From the beginning, we can see that Cohn has faced discrimination during his life, but we also know that despite this, Cohn is very hardworking. For one, his attendance to Princeton shows that he was obviously intelligent man, but yet from Jake’s point of view, we could easily see that Cohn isn’t too sharp. For instance, when Cohn wrote his first novel,  his editors (and Jake) believed that it was poor. But we can see by the success of his second novel that Cohn is intelligent, and when he is inspired by something, he will work to fulfill his goal. We also see this in his boxing career. Though Jake described him as a small featherweight man who was forced into boxing by discrimination, I believed that Cohn was motivated by the constant discrimination from others and that is what won him his title.

It seems to me that Jake goes out of his way to make Cohn seem like a bum. The kind of Cohn that Jake refers to reminds me of Kramer from Seinfield. Cohn like Kramer, (from Jake’s eyes) is a moocher, a dreamer, a goof, and someone who somehow is never really going to be successful. Though we haven’t gotten too far in the book I foresee the possibility that Cohn may end up cause problems for Jake. His critical remarks for Cohn makes me sense a little bit of jealously in Jake. This is especially prominent in the section where Cohn mentions Lady Bett Ashley. I think Jake is very self-conscious about his relationship with Brett. I think he probably hates the fact that he can’t tell Cohn to back off because in reality he is not with Brett. So even the possibility that Cohn could come in and take some of Brett’s attention, is frightening to Jake. But, as we have seen from Cohn, inspirations lead him to an initiation of action. His current focus is on Brett, and if Cohn works hard enough I presume that he will succeed.

Mrs. Dalloway and the Green-Eyed Monster

Like Mrs. Dalloway, we all have our struggles with jealousy, anger and sadness when faced with rejection. So after Clarissa finds out that Richard is attending Lady Bruton’s lunch, she is justly pissed off. From what we have seen so far in the book, Clarissa is very self-aware. Being refused by Lady Bruton is not only bad for her image, but her ego as well. In addition to that, Richard was invited to the party while she wasn’t, and that makes Clarissa feel that the Lady has a strong disdain for her. Though I do think Clarissa’s fragile self-image is to blame for her response to the situation, everyone is affected in some way by rejection.

From my experience, being rejected is no fun. Especially now in the social media age. As you scroll down the timeline of your Instagram, or Snapchat you see everything you weren’t invited to. This kind of agony cannot be restricted by age, whether you are 15 like me, or 50 like Clarissa, it still hurts to be cast-off. As we know, Mrs. Dalloway will be having a party of her own tonight. If I were in Clarissa’s position, I would make sure that Mrs. Bruton was invited. If only to spare her a rejection experience, and the bitter feelings to follow it.