Dictee

I have currently begun to read the novel Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha. As I began to read I began to realize that the novel might be as sad as the death of the author herself. The novel begins with a descriptive passage of a girl fighting to speak but coming short of words. She longs to speak yet “inside is the pain of speech the pain to say. Larger still. Greater is the pain not to say.” (Cha 3) This opening begs the question will this novel be about oppression and silence? Who is trying to speak and what is she trying to say?

As the novel progresses, we are introduced to Yu Guan Soon a Korean activist with the aim of reclaiming the rights of the Koreans. Despite the critiques that Guan Soon is a woman and too young to actually make a difference, she forms an activist group to speak out against Japanese aggression. “She is appointed messenger and she travels on foot to 40 towns, organizing the nation’s mass demonstration to be held on March 1, 1919.” (Cha 30) Guan Soon can be credited with organizing the largest rally against the Japanese occupation in Korea. As the only daughter, she proves not only to her family but to her nation that she can help make a difference in the fight against the Japanese occupation.

The description used to portray the Japanese as the enemy really allows the reader to feel the pain the Koreans must have felt towards the Japanese. The nation of Korea graciously allowed Japan to move troops in to set up military camps against Russia. No sooner, Japan began to take over every aspect of Korean life. They meddled in the government, broke promises to help establish Korea and even assassinated Korea’s Queen Min. Broken and lied to, Koreans like Guan began to fight back and Japan quickly became their enemy. “Japan has become the sign…To this enemy people.” (Cha 32)

So far this novel seems to be about women struggling to survive through hard times. Although this novel proves to be difficult to read, I think it will end with a good message and I am anxious to read on.

Song of Solomon 12-15

The last three chapters of the Song of Solomon really brought the book together for me. Throughout the whole story I found myself wishing that Milkman would have an epiphany and care about something, anything, in his life. On his trip to find gold Milkman ended up finding a lot more, himself.
“Milkman slipped into Sweet’s bed and slept the night in her perfect arms. It was a warm dreamy sleep all about flying, about sailing high over the earth.” (Morrison 298) I feel that Milkman’s dream about flying was another use of symbolism by Toni Morrison. Throughout the story flying has been used as a sense of freedom and an escape from the life you are currently living. Ever since Milkman was young and realized that he couldn’t fly he had felt trapped and purposeless in life. He went through life only caring about himself and never once tried to help those around him. I believe that this dream of flying finally set him free and gave him a reason to care about his loved ones.
When he awoke from his dream, “he was homesick for [Pilate], for her house, for the very people he had been hell-bent to leave. His mothers quiet, crooked, apologetic smile.” (Morrison 300) Milkman finally experiences his epiphany when he is reflecting on his life and all useless hate he had for so many people. He finally begins to realize why his parents have acted the way they have and he begins to forge a newfound respect for them. Milkman fills with shame when begins thinking about the destruction he has caused to Pilate and Hagar. So many questions arose in his mind, “How could he have broken into that house...? Why did he never sit [Hagar] down and talk to her?” (Morrison 301)
It took until the end of the story but Milkman finally realized the harm he had caused to all the people that cared so deeply for him. Learning the profound history his ancestors carried brought new meaning to Milkman’s life and gave him reason to change. A whole new Milkman is revealed in the final chapter, a Milkman who cares about others and enjoys making others happy. “He was so eager for the sight of Pilate’s face when he told her what he knew, he decided to see her first….Milkman opened his arms wide so he could hold all of her in a warm embrace” (Morrison 331) This new Milkman is the man I had been waiting to read about throughout the whole story. Morrison did a great job of showing the transformation Milkman made from the beginning to the end of the story.