In Song of Solomon, there are many challenges that the reader faces, which is why this book can be difficult to read at certain points. The biggest challenge that I have faced while reading this book is trying to understand character’s pasts and relationships between different people. Perhaps the biggest relationships that are called into question are Macon and Ruth’s marriage, and the one between Macon and Pilate. There are questions that can be asked about these, such as why do Macon and Ruth have such a poor marriage, and why does Macon have a strong sense of hate towards his sister (Pilate). Morrison eventually fills the reader in on both of these areas, but for a while the reader is not able to understand why certain relationships are the way they are. Once we learn why the relationships are like this, it can be difficult to understand why they have come to be like this, and what the characters did in their past. For example, what went through Macon’s head so that he felt it was necessary to essentially kill Ruth’s father? The actions that he did in the past have now shaped his relationship with his wife. Another example of characters and their past comes from a page I annotated. On the bottom of page 147, Morrison is describing Pilate’s early life and ends a sentence with, “the man she and Macon murdered.” Obviously, there are a ton of questions that can be asked about this phrase, such as who was this man that the siblings murdered, and when/why did they do it. Our author has not yet answered these questions for us, and we are left to wonder what could have happened with this alleged murder by Macon and Pilate. The difficulty to understand this book is partially caused by the confusing relationships and pasts of characters, as sometimes they are not explained enough or even at all.
To try to better understand certain characters and their relationships, I often annotate in specific ways. I try to underline any important information that is related to a character, and this may be about a relationship they have or an event in their past. It also helps me to write questions in the book, so I will remember them when we have our class discussions and possibly get them answered. My understanding is at its best when I read in a quiet environment, such as during reading days in class or at night in my room. With no distractions, I am able to give my full attention to the reading, and as a result I can do my best to understand a pretty difficult book.
Great example passage, Henry, and nice job developing your ideas in this post.
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