Flying to Find Love
Flying to Find Love
Toni Morrison whose born name Chloe Ardelia Wofford, grew up in a home of storytelling and retellings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Morrison). One of her favorite past time mythological stories from her childhood, has become the basis for a new tale to be told in Morrison’s “Song of Solomon”. The original myth tells of a story of the Igbo People of the West African Nation of Nigeria who were boarded on ship to be sold to slavery, and had revolted, causing white overseers to jump off the ship and drown. Another take on the story, was that of a written account of a white overseer, who claims that the African Americans jumped into a swamp, and that they were the ones who had drowned (http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/ebos-landing).
Song of Solomon has much to do Morrison’s favorite past time of retelling stories, along with the flight of Africans, and goes much deeper, telling a story of a boy who acquires his wings on his journey to self-discovery.
The last line of Mr. Smith’s suicide note states " I loved you all. (Signed Mr. Smith)." (p.3) around 3:00 pm on Wednesday February 18th 1931 Mr. Smith jumped from the top of Mercy hospital with his blue wings spread in an outrageous attempt to fly. The story never truly reveals whether or not Mr. Smith was actually successful in his flight across Lake Superior. Mr. Smith never felt any love from the townspeople. Weekly or monthly the community always dreaded his visit. "They kidded him, abused him, told their children to tell him they were out sick or gone to Pittsburgh." (p.8) for this loveless reason Mr. Smith knew the only way he might fly is on artificial wings, just as his love for those who did not love him in return was also artificial. Although Mr. Smith’s love seems to be more wanted than accepted his flight differs from those throughout Toni Morrison’s novel. Mr. Smith left no one behind nor did it cause heartache and pain, rather it became
Toni Morrison whose born name Chloe Ardelia Wofford, grew up in a home of storytelling and retellings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Morrison). One of her favorite past time mythological stories from her childhood, has become the basis for a new tale to be told in Morrison’s “Song of Solomon”. The original myth tells of a story of the Igbo People of the West African Nation of Nigeria who were boarded on ship to be sold to slavery, and had revolted, causing white overseers to jump off the ship and drown. Another take on the story, was that of a written account of a white overseer, who claims that the African Americans jumped into a swamp, and that they were the ones who had drowned (http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/ebos-landing).
Song of Solomon has much to do Morrison’s favorite past time of retelling stories, along with the flight of Africans, and goes much deeper, telling a story of a boy who acquires his wings on his journey to self-discovery.
The last line of Mr. Smith’s suicide note states " I loved you all. (Signed Mr. Smith)." (p.3) around 3:00 pm on Wednesday February 18th 1931 Mr. Smith jumped from the top of Mercy hospital with his blue wings spread in an outrageous attempt to fly. The story never truly reveals whether or not Mr. Smith was actually successful in his flight across Lake Superior. Mr. Smith never felt any love from the townspeople. Weekly or monthly the community always dreaded his visit. "They kidded him, abused him, told their children to tell him they were out sick or gone to Pittsburgh." (p.8) for this loveless reason Mr. Smith knew the only way he might fly is on artificial wings, just as his love for those who did not love him in return was also artificial. Although Mr. Smith’s love seems to be more wanted than accepted his flight differs from those throughout Toni Morrison’s novel. Mr. Smith left no one behind nor did it cause heartache and pain, rather it became