Friendships In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon was an influential piece of writing that scripted and enhanced the view of African American families and their lifestyles. Morrison’s publishing of Song of Solomon in 1977 came after the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War, which allowed people to learn more about African Americans. In the story, Morrison was able to write about the life of Milkman Dead, his family and friends in a way that connects to today’s interaction between relationships. Throughout the piece, it is evident that a main theme of the novel is friendship. Morrison depicts that friendships can be influenced and altered through the experiences and viewpoints of current social events taking place in the early to mid-1900s. Milkman’s best
friend, Guitar Baines is a character whose views and actions differ with Milkman’s which ultimately dismantle their close knit relationship. Song of Solomon’s representation of African American relationships in the past is a clear portray of all relationships occurring today. Currently, expressing opposing viewpoints and beliefs are ending lifelong friendships of people with a variety of backgrounds through current politics and movements.

Throughout the course of the novel, Morrison steadily provides foreshadowing hints about Guitar’s beliefs and possibilities of being involved with killings occurring in their community. From an early age, Milkman was friends with a troubled kid named Guitar Baines who came from a poor and distant family; while Milkman came from a privileged high middle class African American family. These two drastically different background did not usually take place, yet this uncommon friendship lasted for years. It was not until the start of the Civil Rights movement and black killings across America that this friendship was put into question. At this period in their friendship, Milkman noticed that Guitar’s personality traits were dangerously changing. He was warned by Freddie, the noisy janitor, who told Milkman, “Your buddy Guitar. Ask him what strange stuff been happenin. Ask him how come he runnin round with Empire State… Remember when Emmet Till was killed? Back in fifty-three? Well, right after that, a white boy was killed in the schoolyard, wasn’t he?” (Morrison 110). Additionally, Milkman started to question Guitar’s recent behavior by asking, “All of sudden you’re police. You’ve been wearing a halo a lot lately. You got a white robe too?” (Morrison 153) These foreshadowing instances provide will further dismantle and alter the path of Milkman and Guitar’s relationship and loyalty to each other.

Through strenuous amounts of internal arguments and problem solving, Milkman discovered that Guitar was a member part of the Seven Days group, a group that kills white people to balance the population of blacks and whites.
This begins the rapid decline of their relationship. The altercation previously with Freddie and noticing a questionable character change with Guitar caused Milkman to ask his friend what was occurring and Guitar responded by saying, “There is a society. It’s made up of a few men who are willing to take some risks… when a Negro child, Negro women, or Negro man is killed by whites and nothing is done about it by their law and their courts, this society selects a similar victim at random, and they execute him or her in a similar manner if they can. If the Negro was burnt, they burn; raped and murdered, they are rape and murder. If they can… They call themselves the Seven Days. They are made up of seven men” (Morrison 154). Milkman was applauded by Guitar’s involvement with a murderous and dangerous group such as the Seven Days. Milkman does not agree with Guitar killing innocent white people, when saying, “Guitar, none of that shit is going to change how I live or how any other Negro lives. What you’re doing is crazy. And something else: it’s a habit. If you do it enough, you can do it to anybody.” (Morrison 160). In this case, Milkman views that killing for revenge is not the correct way to create change and Guitar views killing as the only way for change. This event eventually foreshadows the end of their
friendship.

Guitar’s desire for enhancing his position in the Seven Days’ group leads to him placing himself over his lifelong relationship with Milkman when the possibility of obtaining gold and money arrives. After being told there was possibly gold at Milkman’s aunt’s house, Milkman reached out to Guitar solely for help on how to steal it. While their friendship still lingered, Guitar did not view this as an opportunity to rekindle their relationship. Rather, Guitar’s, “…mind was on the wonders of TNT” (Morrison 181). Guitar was exploiting his friendship with Milkman to acquire money for purchasing explosives that would result in him killing more innocent whites. Guitar was extremely obsessed with the idea of gaining power within the Seven Days group that he would do anything to attain the “gold” that he and Milkman stole. Eventually, this obsession of power led Guitar to stalk Milkman on his journey across America and as foreshadowed by Milkman, attempt to murder his own beloved friend based on the suspicion of Milkman having the gold. These occasions show that current social events and the desire for individual success can result in anyone changing their character and friendships.

Toni Morrison’s writing and development of an environment in Song of Solomon portrays many important lessons that are still evident in today’s society. Sometimes, in the case of Milkman and Guitar, friendships can be impacted by current social events and desire for power. This circumstance is heavily apparent in today’s world. The past election caused some people to reveal their beliefs through social media, stickers on a laptop, wearing a t-shirt in support of a candidate, or simply through everyday life. Some people kept silent in fear of being judged and losing friendships with those close to them and for some people, they expressed views which made either a negative or positive impact on their friendships. Additionally, those who support the Black Lives Matter, or protesting the American flag or national anthem versus those who don’t believe in these movements could potentially worsen a relationship. Overall, one of Morrison’s strongest powers in 1977 was publishing Song of Solomon to raise important issues and lessons. The lesson that has the greatest impact today is that you should never let opposing or similar viewpoints effect your personal friendship with loved ones, rather you should support and love your friends and family regardless of their beliefs on current social events.