Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Shame in SONG OF SOLOMON

page 77Then [Milkman] heard something that he knew was related to the picture. Laughter. Somebody he couldn't see, in the room laughing . . . at him and at his mother, and his mother is ashamed. She lowers her eyes and won't look at him. "Look at me, Mama. Look at me." But she doesn't and the laughter is loud now.

9 comments:

Anna McKenzie said...

• After Macon talked about hitting Ruth, Milkman went for a walk and this image conjured in his mind. He knew there was something wrong with the image of his mother breastfeeding him but he didn’t want to believe it. He kept trying to tell himself he wasn’t standing because he was too young or that he wasn’t wearing pants but a diaper. The image is of Ruth breastfeeding Milkman when he was far too old to be breastfed and the laughter comes from Freddie who saw the action. Ruth was completely ashamed and knew that one of the few things that gave her satisfaction was over. She is even more ashamed that this action gave Milkman his nickname. In this passage, Milkman is beginning to realize how he got his name and why his mother and father are ashamed of it.

Gillie Jacobi said...

Milkman never understood why his parents were ashamed of his nick-name milkman. Nor did he understand why he was called that. Milkman started to remember a strange memory where he was being breastfed by his mother. He kept thinking of excuses to make the situation seem less shameful. He didn’t want to believe that he had been breastfed longer that most children and that it gave his mother satisfaction. Then he remembers his mother being ashamed and not looking at him when people were laughing. He wondered why she would not look at him, he wondered if she was ashamed of him. He then came to the realization that this incident gave Milkman his nickname. He now knows why his parents are ashamed of his nickname and he too is ashamed of it now.
-Gillie Jacobi

Meredith Diaz said...

Milkman went from feeling very grown up and proud because he stood up to his father and hit him to feeling ashamed. This image that appeared in his mind brought him back to reality. He had to step out of his dream and accept where his nickname came from. He now understood that his parents had a reason to be ashamed of that name, and now he too would be ashamed of it. No matter how hard he tried to come up with an excuse, none were valid. The truth was that he was breastfed when he was old enough to wear knickers and stand up. He realizes this is how he received his nickname.

Gage D. said...

Milkman is flashing back to a vague memory from his childhood, one of the occurrence from which his name originated. He is remembering the fact that he breastfed from his mother far past his ability to walk. This event is surrounded by shame. The very scene itself was laughed at and ridiculed by Freddy, who immediately stuck the name “Milkman” to the young Macon Dead by informing the town of what had happened. The fact that Ruth was caught breastfeeding her son was an immediate source of shame for her. She was also embarrassed that she would have to resort to what could be seen as perverse actions involving her own son to fulfill any part of her desires. Macon Dead, of course, was embarrassed that his son had earned such a nickname as well. This seemingly repressed memory surfaces in Milkman’s revelation in the middle of the street and explains much shame surrounding his name.

Robey Smalley said...

Thinking about his father's words, "You better have some intelligence behind that fist" Milkman is stuck between the feeling of being a grown proud man and an ashamed son. He has never stood up to his father in his entire life and now what felt so right, feels so wrong. Taken back to when his mother breastfed him as a boy, not a baby, he is ashamed at his notorious nickname. He never knew the truth behind it, but now as Meredith said he is getting hit with reality.

Austin Menard said...

Milkman had a lot of courage to standup to his father, but in a moment he is ashamed. He now knows where the nickname came from and it is his mom's fault for breastfeeding him for to long. Once again he has to accept this a move on

William Heath said...

Milkman is having a sudden realization of how his nickname came to be. He is ashamed because of his age while breast feeding from his mother. This is the only thing his mother enjoys in life now that Macon, her husband, will no longer do his, “paternal duties.” This is understandable. However, the shame is created when they were caught by a stranger. This is not a joke that will go away. As Milkman figures out his nickname, his identity, will always be a reminder of what happened.

Maggie McGuire said...

This passage shows how one can be ashamed of something he has no control over. He was a child when this incident happened, but it stayed with him the rest of his life. Ruth breastfed Milkman until he was old enough to year pants. Then Freddie accidentally saw Ruth nursing the child and started calling him Milkman. Milkman now knows why his parents are ashamed of the nickname he has. I agree with Anna when she says that Ruth had to give up the only thing that satisfied her when Freddie witnessed her nursing. So, along with shame, Ruth feels emptiness because she is no longer truly needed in the household. Milkman's nickname reminds her of this everyday.

leslie andress said...

Milkman never understood where he got his nickname till now. His mother, Ruth, breastfed him way too long.Ruth did this for her pleasure and satisfaction and Milkman is made fun of for this. His friend Freddie saw this take place and is the one laughing in the picture. He went from standing up to his father to being ashamed of himself and his family. Every family has a past and he is just now realizing his. He is ashamed of his name now, and feels like the joke of the town.