Milkman's Journey to Maturity Anonymous 10th Grade

In Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, Milkman’s progression from an immature teenager to an adult possessing moral rectitude is displayed through encounters where Milkman learns about and pursues knowledge about his past. We first meet Milkman as a young man who goes about life without a specific sense of direction, but as he grows older and his family’s past unravels, he seems to become more wise. Toni Morrison chooses to express this growth through Milkman’s attentiveness when it comes to listening to others. We see time and time again instances of Milkman pushing away the advice of others, only concerned with his own opinions and desires. From grabbing a beer with Guitar at Railroad Tommy’s to being scolded by Magdalene, Milkman always seems emotionally detached and unaffected. Only when he grows up and learns about his family’s past does he mature and acquire a sense of morality.

In the beginning of the book, Milkman is introduced to us as an ignorant teenager who does not seem to have an aim in life. He wanders about, minding his own business, and fails to find meaning in the things he does and the things people tell him. One example is when he and Guitar take a day off from school and decide to go grab a beer at Railroad...