Despite
the close relationship maintained between Guitar Bains and Milkman Dead
throughout Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, the pair of best friends could not
contrast each other any more with their differing backgrounds and outlooks on
life. The strict raising of Milkman by his oppressive father restricts
the son's personal growth whereas Guitar is portrayed as a free-spirited,
passionate youth. Analyses of the two characters reveal how their
standings in society affect their perspectives and day-to-day actions, thus
justifying the methods behind their madness. One's placement in the
social hierarchy has a great bearing on determining how each individual is to
perceive and be perceived by his or her peers. The social class system
affects people in various ways, depending on which strata they happen to fall
into -- upper class, middle class, or lower class. Members belonging to
the middle and upper classes experience life differently than members belonging
to the lower clueless due to the level of accessibility to resources and
wealth.
As
a member of the middle-upper class, Milkman is shielded from the reality that
many of his acquaintances face daily. Macon Dead's real estate success
enables Milkman to live comfortably his entire life; he is unfamiliar with
current events and social issues as they do not directly affect him. Guitar
interprets Milkman's lack of interest as carelessness; however, his disinterest
actually stems from his inability to relate to the issues discussed by his
peers. Milkman is not unintelligent, rather he is naïve about the ways of
the world because he does not experience them first-hand like Guitar does.
Although
Milkman does not necessarily see it this way, Guitar's placement in the rocking
class deems him inferior according to the hierarchy that rules society. Guitar's
position in society, however, is also advantageous in some ways because he is
not required to adhere to certain values or maintain a proper image. Guitar's
lower class rank provides him with something vital, something that Milkman
lacks -- freedom. Guitar is an independent being whereas Milkman relies
on materialism to measure his satisfaction. Guitar develops his own
passionate interests and activities,especially focusing on race and equality as
they relate to him personally.
Overall,
Guitar is composed of more substance than Milkman because his street wisdom and
way of life calls for a more practical perception. Milkman's upper-middle
class mentality parents him from realizing that the events that Guitar and the
other men discuss are applicable to him too because of his African American
descent. Though Milkman does not realize it, Guitar acts as his mentor
over the years. For example, when presented with the opportunity to
retrieve the gold from Pilate's house, Milkman expresses interest because of
his worldly view regarding materialistic value; Guitar, on the other hand, sees
the gold as a way to promote the success of Seven Days. Over the course
of the entire novel the two have opposing views about humanity and utilization
of resources. Ultimately Milkman discovers the truth in what Guitar has
been trying to educate him about all along; you alone are in control of
choosing what you would be willing to die for, so rather than allowing others
to manipulate you for their own motives, take control of your life and live it
as you wish. Don't just exist; live. And if you cannot live for
something, die for something.
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