Salj Symbolism

Such a Long Journey (SaLJ) by Rohinton Mistry and Song of Solomon (SoS) by Toni Morrison are novels that both showcases the lives of their male protagonist, Gustad and Milkman respectively. In both novels, symbols are used to represent different meanings, and both novels have successfully used them to do so. Even though the symbols from the two books represents different things, they are also both used to show change, which can be seen in the symbols of the black wall and black paper on the windows in SaLJ, and, the symbol of the roses and flight in SoS. This further shows that there are similarities and differences between the symbols in the two books.
First, when comparing the symbol of the black wall and the roses, they both represent different meanings. In SaLJ, the wall is a stone black wall that is outside the apartment complex where the Noble family live in and what it represents is the community. In the beginning of the novel, the wall was used as a location for the
The beginning of the book started off with a man attempting “take off from Mercy and fly away with his [his] own wings” (Morrison 1) but is unsuccessful in doing so. Throughout the book, Milkman attempted to find a way to escape his home, but he first tries by gaining gold. When that does not work, he tries to learn more about his heritage which he later finds out that his great-grandfather flew back to Africa to escape the slavery. Finally, in the end, Milkman “surrendered to the air” (337) and flew, thus escaping the town and his old life. Alongside that, flight is a symbol of change because the characters who try to fly, fly to change their situation. Milkman’s great-grandfather changing his situation of slavery and Milkman changing his environment to a new one. Thus, this shows that even though the symbols from the two books represents different things, they both similarly use symbols to showcase