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.