A New Perspective

As far as I have read of this book, we can see a complex classification of race and gender. We can even say they compliment each other. Within what I have read of the first chapter, it is principally introducing us the characters and the conflicts they might face later on.

I have to wonder what were the authors intentions by introducing us the book with such a flare for the dramatic. Seriously, a man jumps off the roof of "No Mercy" hospital and they have their first black patient. At first when I started reading and found out of Mr. Smith's idea, I won't deny that I was startled. Being prepared for an African-American novel, I wasn't expecting such radical people of this race. We've been raised with the idea that people of color were abused, which is true, but they didn't show us that they did stand for themselves. Movies like The Help are a good example of this phenomenon, which is a subject that we had previously touched in class. This books by Toni Morrison makes ask ourselves "You believe that?" pg (10).

I don't know if

Names

Song of Solomon, sounds like a religious book but it is about an African American men living in Michigan from birth to adulthood. I am in no way taking out the fact that there are a religious characteristics within the book, but it is not the main topic. The truth is Solomon in the bible is the king of Israel and the son of David. He plays a major part in a story in the Hebrew Bible called Judgment of Solomon. In this story two women came before him to decide who was the real mother of a baby, he suggested to divide the child in two with a sword. One of the woman said she'd rather give the baby up that to divide him, that's how Solomon declared that woman the true mother.

You might wonder why I told you a story about the Bible, but theres a reason for my doings.  In the very beginning of the book there is a scene in which Ruth gave birth to his baby boy, being the first colored expectant mother allowed in the "No Mercy Hospital." I still don't have a clear purpose for the title of the book, but the birth of this boy also known as Milkman Dead. Clearly there is a connection between the story of dividing a child, and the birth of a child that in a way made history in an unnamed Michigan town. Also the name Ruth is biblical name, an according to my best friend Wikipedia she was "Moabites". Morrison, the author of the book, clearly has a purpose by choosing this names so related with the bible and a certain significance to it.