Song of Solomon
Tori Morrison
Intended purpose of Velvet Roses
Chapter 11 Precis
In the novel Song of Solomon (1977), Tori Morrison, Noble Prize winner, avows Milkman's change in identity through the loss of material and physical elements of Milkman's previous life from earlier chapters to those seen appearing in Chapter 11. Morrison illuminates this change through the loss of Milkman's material possessions stranding Milkman with "nothing to help him- not his money... or his shoes" 277 (in previous chapters the readers sees the correlation between shoes and society through Pilate), in addition Milkman looses his limp comparing "his legs were [to] stalks, tree trunks...comfortable there-on the earth" (281) compared to how Milkman "hobbled over the gravel" (256) in Chapter 10 and the change from Milkman's three piece beige suit to "mud-caked brogans" and "World War 2 army fatigues" (271). Morrison depicts the loss of Milkman's conformed nature in order to allow Milkman to be "his own director... [with] the sense of power" (260) in his combat gear and sturdy legs. Morrison's tone, depicted through Milkman, radiates lightheartedness and gratefulness in order to portray Milkman's new identity, Morrison almost creates a new character in this particular chapter displaying how Milkman was "laughing too, hard...exhilarated by simply walking the earth" (281) showing the reading a different side of Milkman Dead.