Group 13: Kim Miller & Meaghan Twohig Section 8 "Take advantage, and if you can't take advantage, take disadvantage. We live here. On this planet, in this nation, in this country right here. Nowhere else! We got a home in this rock, don't you see! Nobody starving in my home; nobody crying in my home, and if I got a home you got one too! Grab it. Grab this land!" (235)
The speaker of this passage is the land, the farm of Milkman's grandfather. It represents hope, motivation, and inspiration for not only the friends of Macon Sr., but also for Milkman himself who, so far, has not seemed particularly motivated at all. Macon's farm represents success, as he was a man who started from nothing and grew into a very successful businessman. His success continued through Macon Jr. and Milkman. The diction is informal, as if the land is one of the old friends at the Reverend's home. The land seems to change Milkman slightly, who now seems a little less selfish and a little more grateful after seeing his roots.
Admir- group 5- i think this is a very good analysis of the pasage, another thing i would like to add is the fact that milkmans grand daddy didnt make excuses for himself. he had went through so much and still has these accomplishments to show for it. so i think this is very good.
Michael Riley- Group 4- This analysis is very good, and I completely agree. I find the land of Macon to be very important to Milkman as it is one of the many places he is visiting on his trip, that he seems to be impacted by. This farm is also a representation of not only his grandfather's success but of the simple beginnings where the family that Milkman now is the unofficial head of has originated from.
Martha Robertson - Group 6A I like this analysis and that you are able to give the land such commanding and hopeful qualities. When Milkman first set out to travel, he didn't really know why he was going, but he still kept hope and this farmland could be the object of that hope.
Jennifer He - group 6 A little different than my group's interpretation but I completely agree with this explication as well. I think this is exactly the wake up call Milkman so desperately needed.
Group 10: Van Pham & Winnie Liu Section 08 "She came back before they dumped the Negro they found in the cave. She took the bones, all right; Milkman had seen them on the table in the jailhouse. But that's not all she took. She took the gold. To Virginia. And maybe somebody in Virginia would know. Milkman followed in her tracks" (258).
Through this passage, Toni Morrison is able to express Milkman's desperate obsession of obtaining "gold", a symbol for Milkman's ticket out of his controlled life, and to further emphasize his indifference towards his family. As her sentences become shorter, Morrison displays Milkman's growing certainty and aggression in his belief of the existence of the gold, even though a few pages ago he had felt himself that no gold was in the cave, where it was "certain" to be. Milkman's apathy towards his family is demonstrated through Morrison's use of the words like "Negro", where Milkman refers to the body of his grandfather in the cave, and "all right", where in his obsession, Milkman doubts Pilate again about her taking of the gold though he reflected before that it was not of her character after she lies for him and Guitar.
Anthony Adario Section 8 Group 6A- I totally agree with this post. I like what you said about the indifference towards his family. I think that at this point Milkman is more focused on getting away from his family than he is on actually learning about his family's part from Circe. I also liked what you said about the short sentences. The short sentences made Milkman seem like he was really in a rush to get to the gold.
I really love the connection you guys made between the length of Milkman's sentences and his aggression/certainty! I completely agree that Toni Morrison did this purposefully in order to make the reader feel Milkman's growing excitement as he thought more and more about the gold.
Group 10: Beth Minahan and Toni Jonas-Silver Section 08 "She came back before they dumped the Negro they found in the cave. She took the bones, all right; Milkman had seen them on the table in the jailhouse. But that's not all she took. She took the gold. To Virginia. And maybe somebody in Virginia would know. Milkman followed in her tracks" (258).
In the pages surrounding this excerpt, Morrison uses Milkman's exaggerated suffering to highlight just how different his life is from that of his predecessors. After approximately 3 hours of walking, Milkman "began to shake with hunger. Real hunger, not the less than top-full feeling he was accustomed to, the nerves desire to taste something good" (253). He also complains of excruciating pain in his feet and is very, very tired. This shows how much of a pampered city boy he has becoming, having deviated from his roots. In the excerpt on page 258, Morrison uses the phrase, "Milkman followed in her tracks," referring to Pilate. Milkman uses the double meaning of the "following in her tracks" to mark the shift of the focus of Milkman's journey from being entirely about the gold to being more about finding his family's past. Much like the phrase Morrison uses, Milkman's journey now has both a concrete and an abstract meaning. She marks the significance of the sentence by separating it from the rest of the paragraph.
Martin Keenan-Group 8-Section 8-Great analysis and I agree that there are two meanings to "following in her tracks." On his journey, Milkman is learning more and more about what life was like for Macon Jr. and Pilate growing up. He is slowly realizing that a lot has changed over time, especially between Macon Jr. and Pilate.
Group 10 Section 8 I also agree with this analysis. Looking at the passage again, I can see the significance of the line "Milkman followed in her tracks". Milkman is moving forward in life and showing interest in something else other than his own welfare, even though he is moving forward by looking back at his family's past. Winnie Liu
Group 8:Martin Keenan and Joe Petruzziello Section 8 "They loved it. Stole for it, lied for it, killed for it. But I'm the one left. Me and the dogs. And I will never clean it again. Never. Nothing. Not a speck of dust, not a grain of dirt, I will move."
This passage shows Circe's clear hatred for the Butlers. She has stayed in their house for many years after their death not out of loyalty but to watch the mansion rot. The short, repetitive syntax and her hyperbole "Not a speck of dust, not a grain of dirt, I will move" emphasize just how much she dislikes them. Circe's feelings toward the Butlers here also add to the overarching theme of tension between races.
Group 5 section 08- I completely agree with your analysis of Circe. I also want to add how she would breed dogs and let them roam freely to ruin the garden the Butlers worked so hard to maintain. I think she did this out of spite for the deat of Macon's father as well as adding to the overall theme of hatred and greed (especially between races). Maria Guzman
Group #14 Section 8 I completely agree! I really liked how Morrison draws a parallel between the Butler’s mansion and their lives. As the mansion decays, the family was also disgraced. It’s interesting to see how the desire for material goods destroyed the lives of the Butler family. It makes me wonder how Milkman will end up, since he is also chasing after material goods (gold) as of right now. Hopefully, he understands that material goods isn’t how he is going to achieve his self-understanding of himself before it's too late.
In addition to Maria's and Yen's agreement, I too concur with your group's analysis! Circe provides Milkman with more information, but overall is a figure of the high tension between races just like Guitar's occupation. Besides the short, repetitive truths in her statement, the irony in her actions are also an indicator of her hatred and that racial tension. Examples of the garden and mansion have been mentioned and the fact that she hid Pilate and Macon in the Butler's mansion to feed and take care of when that family killed their father is another.
I also agree with your analysis. I like how you pointed out the use of hyperbole. It really emphasizes the how deep Circe's feelings are which really speaks to the issues concerning race in the novel. I also agree with Van about Circe being a figure in the book who illuminates a lot of the racial tension. Yen also made a good point about how Milkman is searching for material wealth. I think that based on his experiences on his journey, Milkman will eventually realize that this is a flawed goal. Maybe Circe will help Milkman along with this realization. She emphasizes that, though the Butlers had more material wealth than she did, she's "the one left," (and the dogs). -Toni Jonas-Silver
Your analysis of the passage is pretty strong, and I agree that there are rhetorical devices that highlight her hatred. Like the comments above, the hyperbole that you pointed out makes a lot of sense in supporting Circe's feelings. I also agree that the choice of syntax contributes a lot to establishing her feelings. The short and concise phrases and words emphasize her bitterness. Another interesting thing that Morrison does in this passage is putting "I will move" after the object of the sentence, almost as if reversing the entire proper structure of the sentence, which furthermore emphasizes Circe's hatred. The way that Morrison chooses to write this part of the book contributes strongly to the interpretations above.
Group 5 Admir and Maria section 8 Passage: "They talked on and on, using Milkman as the ignition that gunned their memories.he had come out of nowhere, as ignorant as a hammer and broke as a convict, with nothing but free papers, a bible, and a pretty black haired wife, and in one year he'd leased ten acres, the next ten more... Never mind you can't tell one letter from another, never mind you born a slave, never mind you lose your name, never mind your daddy dead." (235)
The passage contrast Macon's past with his future. Morrison uses an anaphora by repeating the words "never mind" to emphasize that Macon doesn't let excuses from his past affect his future. This passage relates to the book as a whole because during this time in history, black people were not expected to succeed but Macon Dead proved that stereotype wrong.
I agree that Macon Dead (the second) proves the unsuccessful African-American stereotype but i found it very interesting how you interpreted the repetition of "never mind" after reexamining the passage I think Morrison did use this to highlight Macon's rejection of his past and refusal to make excuses for himself.
I agree! Your point about the repetition of "never mind" was a really good point. I also think that the author uses the simile "ignorant as a hammer" in contrast with saying "he'd leased ten acres, the next ten more" to show how successful he was since he went from being ignorant and having nothing to gaining more and more land.
I agree with your point about the repitition. "Never mind" definately stands out when you read the passage and adds a certain depth to his thought process. I also liked the history that you brought up. When I first read this I didn't think of the history at all but it brings up an interesting point about the time period. Group 8
I agree with your analysis, but I'd like to disagree with Michael in that Macon Dead the second, Milkman's father, wasn't unsuccessful. He built himself up through real estate, and just like his father, worked his way into a moderate wealth. The Deads seem to have something in their blood that pushes them to strive and work toward a brighter future for themselves.
"Everybody wants the life of a black man. Everybody. White men want us dead or quiet-which is the same thing as dead. White woman, same thing. They want us, you know 'universal,' human, no 'race consciousness'...And black woman, they want your whole self. Love, they call it, an understanding." (222)
Prior to this passage, Milkman explained his desire to have a life with no restraints. Although he claims this is his reason for wanting to go retrieve the gold, his true desire for leaving is so that he can develop an accurate self-understanding and a life of his own. He feels that although he does whatever he wants, he is controlled by his family and those around him greatly. This connect with Guitar’s lecture in this passage because what Guitar claims is that in this time period, it is impossible for a black man to have a life of his own. Even if a black man were to escape the white men, they were still restricted by the black woman. Ultimately, it becomes evident, Milkman will not be able to gain his desired freedom simply by going after gold.
Passage: "All his life he'd heard the tremor in the word: 'I live here, but my people..." or: "She acts like she ain't got no people" or "Do any of your people live there?" But he hadn't known what it meant: links" (229).
Before, Milkman had never felt any connection to his family or the place where he lived- he always wanted to leave them. Now, in Danville, Pennsylvania, he is able to identify with his family's background and feels a connection to this place, and finally feels special to be a part of his family, instead feeling of ashamed of them, and is proud to have "people." Also, the pages around this passage discuss the symbol of Pilate's earring. The earring was always something that he had been fascinated by but confused by, and now that he has found this connection with his family he is able to understand the meaning and significance behind the earring.
Meaghan Twohig Group 13 Section 08 I agree that Milkman had a special connection to Danville. The stories told about his father and grandfather showed strength, manliness and perseverance, which inspires Milkman to seek the gold even more now. His family is really respected and his father is seen as a great man, which encourages Milkman to see Macon in a more positive light. Danville definitely had an effect on Milkman, and gave him encouragement to get the gold so he won't have to depend on his father.
I agree with all of you that Milkman had a special connection to Danville. I think that in addition to Milkman's newfound appreciation for having "people" and family, Milkman is just happy to be in a place independent of his father. Since birth, Milkman did not know what it was like to have a loving father or a family that cared deeply for him. Perhaps Milkman is romanticizing the thought of having an affectionate family and he hopes he can find one in Danville.
"He knew that an old woman had lived in it once, but he saw no signs of life there now. He was oblivious to the universe of wood life that did live there in layers of ivy grown so thick that he could have sunk his arm in it up to the elbow. Life that crawled, life that slunk and crept and never closed its eyes" (219-20).
Milkman is so blinded by his avarice that he completely ignores his surroundings and fails to see beyond his fantasies and the gold. He is so self-engrossed that he becomes unable to think of anything else. He is oblivious to the fact that the house is literally covered in "Life that crawled, life that slunk and crept and never closed its eyes" . He is unaware of all the life forms surrounding him because he only looks for other humans as signs of life. His only intention is to find the gold so he is blinded by is greed and ambition.
Group 6, Section 8 Very well said. It's interesting to see that in spite of how beautiful nature is, he goes for the money instead, and it's really sad to see that. His father has instilled the idea that that money is so important, and that he wants him to grow up into a great business man. Milkman also worries about the way he looks to society, to his own people. Having lots of money makes you look good, and Milkman wants only that.
In addition to what Alicja said, I think Milkman is unknowingly following his father's footsteps by falling to the same greed that Macon had fallen to. This is further symbolized by Milkman's arrival to Danville in the first place. It's interesting to observe a self-centered Milkman following his father's influence without even knowing it.
Group 7, Adriana Snow and Anthony Cheung Section 8 Passage: "Finally she couldn't take it anymore. The thought of having no help, no money - well, she couldn't take that. She had to let everything go....She didn't let me go. She killed herself" (247).
The following passage describes Circe's background and her perspective of the white race. This gives insight on how Macon Dead and Pilate were raised and what kind of environment they endured in their early childhood. The bitterness of Circe's character can explain Macon Dead's cold demeanor that has affected Milkman throughout his own childhood. Colloquial language and short sentences indicate Circe's blunt and unforgiving attitude toward her white masters and her disgust that a rich white woman would rather kill herself than hold a status equal to a black woman.
Kim Miller group 13 - I think this is a very good analysis of Circe and her impact on Milkman. Just as the Reverend's friends' stories about Macon Jr. altered Milkman's feelings toward him, Circe's stories also make Macon's actions somewhat more excusable, as you mentioned. Also, Circe's feelings toward white people seem to be closely related to Guitar's feelings (which are opposite of Milkman's, who doesn't agree with the Seven Days at all.) I also agree that Circe's language does indicate her attitude towards white people, as if she cannot even bear to talk about them.
Group 6A, Anthony Adario and Martha Robertson Section 8 Passage: "'No. Mixed. Indian mostly. A good-looking woman, but fierce, for the young woman I knew her as. Crazy about her husband too, over crazy. You know what I mean? Some women love too hard. She watched over him like a pheasant hen. Nervous. Nervous love.' Milkman thought about this mixed woman's great-granddaughter, Hagar, and said, 'Yes. I know what you mean.' 'But a good woman. I cried like a baby when I lost her. Like a baby. Poor Sing.'" (243)
From this excerpt, race is again highlighted. To prompt this quote, Milkman asks Circe of his great grand-aunt's ethnicity and mentions that he heard she looked white. The fact that it is brought up twice that this woman is of "mixed" race reminds us of how much of an impact race had on people and how much it created divisions. The comparison of a "pheasant hen" to Sing is a reference to a kind of bird that was long hunted and sought after. Circe might be letting loose that her little Sing was not only overprotective of her relationship, but perhaps slightly feeling on the defense. It is noteworthy to point out that Milkman took the time to reflect and realize the connection between Hagar and her great grandmother's problems with dealing with relationships shows he may notice these defensive moves also three generations later. He knows he did hurt Hagar, and that she is just a bird who feels hunted and using her skills to attack now. Sing's love for her husband is fierce because since they are different races, it cannot be weak at all, otherwise their love will die. Also its funny that at the end of our quote Circe says she was crying like a baby right after she birthed a baby, and it is her job to birth babies.
"Take advantage, and if you can't take advantage, take disadvantage. We live here. On this planet, in this nation, in this country right here. Nowhere else! We got a home in this rock, don't you see! Nobody starving in my home; nobody crying in my home, and if I got a home you got one too! Grab it. Grab this land!" (235)
The main point of this passage is to emphasize that the color of your skin (race) shouldn't get in the way of what you want to achieve. Your race shouldn't get in the way of taking back what’s rightfully yours, like land. The farm, also the speaker of this passage, is something that was created out of nothing. Milkman’s grandfather took whatever he had and made the best of it, and that’s exactly what the farm is telling Milkman to do. The word “home” is repeated several times in order to stress the importance of being grounded. Overall, this passage is inspiring and hugely motivational.
I thought your analysis was great. It is basically advising people to make the best of every situation since we are only here on "this rock" for a limited amount of time. If we spend our time drowning ourselves in grief and focusing on what we don't have then we will never live our lives to its full potential. Regardless of our culture, ethnicity, or religion, we should all be entitled to the right of being happy. Tanzim Uddin - Group 1
I agree with what you're saying exactly, the emphasis of family is a huge theme in this novel, but Milkman is slowly realizing that. He is always so indifferent about his race, but is influenced by what other people, like Guitar, say about it. I think the word "home" especially brings a very personal feeling to the novel and brings a realization within itself that where they live is not only a place of shelter but a home.
“What do I owe you? For the Coke and all?” The man was smiling but his face changed now. “My name is Garnett, Fred Garnett. I ain’t got much, but I can afford a Coke and a lift now and then”… Mr. Garnettt had reached over and close the door. Milkman could see him shaking his head as he drove off” (255).
Milkman, who has just come out of the woods, dirty, exhausted, hungry, thirsty, and lost, has gotten a ride back to town and a Coke from Mr. Garnett, a kind-hearted man who picked him up on the road. Mr. Garnett helps out Milkman purely out of kindness and hospitality, but Milkman thinks that he wants some sort of monetary compensation. Milkman has just come back from not finding the gold he is looking for, and he is slowly realizing that unlike what his father has taught him and what he believed all of his life, money is not the most important thing.
I just really like this part of the chapter. Milkman's travels back to the cave are full of non-descript places and names, just like his life, but once he receives this act of kindness he begins to find his own way in the world. Andrew - group 3
Group #3 Patrick Samonte and Andrew Zick pg 226-233: "Then he watched signs-the names of towns that lay twenty-two miles ahead, seventeen miles to the east, five miles to the northeast. And the names of junctions, counties, crossings, bridges, stations, tunnels, mountains, rivers, creeks, landings, parks, and lookout points."
Here, Milkman's attitude towards the signs represent the way he has lived his life up to this point. He's just passively reading the signs, barely noticing them. Up to this point, Milkman has just been skating through and hasn't really done anything meaningful, but now, the gold might be his chance to do something.
Group 14 - Kelvin I agree that he was passively reading the signs. Instead of describing his journey and the things he saw, he makes a list of what he passed. He seemed to have no interest in what he saw and so he doesn't have time to realize their importance.
Group 11- Miranda Inocentes & Krishana Abrahim (Section 8) "All his life he'd heard the tremor in the word "I live her, but mypeople..." or "She acts like she ain't got no people," or: Do any of your people live there?" But he hadn't known what it meant: links"(229)
We thought this passage displayed Milkman's realization of not only the direct meaning of the word "people" but the emotion and everything else that came with it. He referenced three different times in which the word was brought up, confused him, and he viewed people a little ignorantly for using such a word. Now that he has come in to the situation himself, he realizes what meaning it carries. "People" is not only family or people related to you but it is also your history/history of your ancestors as well as their stories and what they left behind when they moved elsewhere.It doesn't completely answer Milkman's question towards the full meaning of the word but it opens a gateway to answer why his father was always so proud of himself and his "people". The words "then" and "here" to show that "people" are not exactly family or people who live around you, but its the place, the history and the stories left behind.
“They had talked on and on, using Milkman as the ignition that gunned their memories. He had come out of nowhere, as ignorant as a hammer and broke as a convict, with nothing but free papers, a Bible, and a pretty black-haired wife, and in one year he’d leased ten acres, the next ten more… Never mind you can’t tell one letter from another, never mind you were born a slave, never mind you lose your name, never mind your daddy dead” (235).
We thought this passage shows the reader that anything is possible if a person sets his or her mind to it and that there are no limits. Starting from the bottom, Macon Dead starts a farm and cultivates it into one of the best farms in the country. It’s ironic that their family name is “Dead” when in reality, they are the most alive because they seize opportunities and are financially well off while most of the black population is living in poverty. The passage emphasizes its meaning through naming all the feats Macon Dead achieves, and further perpetuates the idea of not allowing anything to hold you back by repeating the phrase “never mind” all the negatives.
Group 13: Kim Miller & Meaghan Twohig
ReplyDeleteSection 8
"Take advantage, and if you can't take advantage, take disadvantage. We live here. On this planet, in this nation, in this country right here. Nowhere else! We got a home in this rock, don't you see! Nobody starving in my home; nobody crying in my home, and if I got a home you got one too! Grab it. Grab this land!" (235)
The speaker of this passage is the land, the farm of Milkman's grandfather. It represents hope, motivation, and inspiration for not only the friends of Macon Sr., but also for Milkman himself who, so far, has not seemed particularly motivated at all. Macon's farm represents success, as he was a man who started from nothing and grew into a very successful businessman. His success continued through Macon Jr. and Milkman. The diction is informal, as if the land is one of the old friends at the Reverend's home. The land seems to change Milkman slightly, who now seems a little less selfish and a little more grateful after seeing his roots.
Admir- group 5- i think this is a very good analysis of the pasage, another thing i would like to add is the fact that milkmans grand daddy didnt make excuses for himself. he had went through so much and still has these accomplishments to show for it. so i think this is very good.
DeleteMichael Riley- Group 4- This analysis is very good, and I completely agree. I find the land of Macon to be very important to Milkman as it is one of the many places he is visiting on his trip, that he seems to be impacted by. This farm is also a representation of not only his grandfather's success but of the simple beginnings where the family that Milkman now is the unofficial head of has originated from.
DeleteMartha Robertson - Group 6A I like this analysis and that you are able to give the land such commanding and hopeful qualities. When Milkman first set out to travel, he didn't really know why he was going, but he still kept hope and this farmland could be the object of that hope.
DeleteJennifer He - group 6 A little different than my group's interpretation but I completely agree with this explication as well. I think this is exactly the wake up call Milkman so desperately needed.
DeleteGroup 10: Van Pham & Winnie Liu
ReplyDeleteSection 08
"She came back before they dumped the Negro they found in the cave. She took the bones, all right; Milkman had seen them on the table in the jailhouse. But that's not all she took. She took the gold. To Virginia. And maybe somebody in Virginia would know. Milkman followed in her tracks" (258).
Through this passage, Toni Morrison is able to express Milkman's desperate obsession of obtaining "gold", a symbol for Milkman's ticket out of his controlled life, and to further emphasize his indifference towards his family. As her sentences become shorter, Morrison displays Milkman's growing certainty and aggression in his belief of the existence of the gold, even though a few pages ago he had felt himself that no gold was in the cave, where it was "certain" to be. Milkman's apathy towards his family is demonstrated through Morrison's use of the words like "Negro", where Milkman refers to the body of his grandfather in the cave, and "all right", where in his obsession, Milkman doubts Pilate again about her taking of the gold though he reflected before that it was not of her character after she lies for him and Guitar.
Anthony Adario Section 8 Group 6A- I totally agree with this post. I like what you said about the indifference towards his family. I think that at this point Milkman is more focused on getting away from his family than he is on actually learning about his family's part from Circe. I also liked what you said about the short sentences. The short sentences made Milkman seem like he was really in a rush to get to the gold.
DeleteGroup 7, Section 8
DeleteI really love the connection you guys made between the length of Milkman's sentences and his aggression/certainty! I completely agree that Toni Morrison did this purposefully in order to make the reader feel Milkman's growing excitement as he thought more and more about the gold.
Adriana Snow
Group 10: Beth Minahan and Toni Jonas-Silver
ReplyDeleteSection 08
"She came back before they dumped the Negro they found in the cave. She took the bones, all right; Milkman had seen them on the table in the jailhouse. But that's not all she took. She took the gold. To Virginia. And maybe somebody in Virginia would know. Milkman followed in her tracks" (258).
In the pages surrounding this excerpt, Morrison uses Milkman's exaggerated suffering to highlight just how different his life is from that of his predecessors. After approximately 3 hours of walking, Milkman "began to shake with hunger. Real hunger, not the less than top-full feeling he was accustomed to, the nerves desire to taste something good" (253). He also complains of excruciating pain in his feet and is very, very tired. This shows how much of a pampered city boy he has becoming, having deviated from his roots. In the excerpt on page 258, Morrison uses the phrase, "Milkman followed in her tracks," referring to Pilate. Milkman uses the double meaning of the "following in her tracks" to mark the shift of the focus of Milkman's journey from being entirely about the gold to being more about finding his family's past. Much like the phrase Morrison uses, Milkman's journey now has both a concrete and an abstract meaning. She marks the significance of the sentence by separating it from the rest of the paragraph.
Martin Keenan-Group 8-Section 8-Great analysis and I agree that there are two meanings to "following in her tracks." On his journey, Milkman is learning more and more about what life was like for Macon Jr. and Pilate growing up. He is slowly realizing that a lot has changed over time, especially between Macon Jr. and Pilate.
DeleteGroup 10 Section 8
DeleteI also agree with this analysis. Looking at the passage again, I can see the significance of the line "Milkman followed in her tracks". Milkman is moving forward in life and showing interest in something else other than his own welfare, even though he is moving forward by looking back at his family's past.
Winnie Liu
Group 8:Martin Keenan and Joe Petruzziello
ReplyDeleteSection 8
"They loved it. Stole for it, lied for it, killed for it. But I'm the one left. Me and the dogs. And I will never clean it again. Never. Nothing. Not a speck of dust, not a grain of dirt, I will move."
This passage shows Circe's clear hatred for the Butlers. She has stayed in their house for many years after their death not out of loyalty but to watch the mansion rot. The short, repetitive syntax and her hyperbole "Not a speck of dust, not a grain of dirt, I will move" emphasize just how much she dislikes them. Circe's feelings toward the Butlers here also add to the overarching theme of tension between races.
page 247
DeleteGroup 5 section 08- I completely agree with your analysis of Circe. I also want to add how she would breed dogs and let them roam freely to ruin the garden the Butlers worked so hard to maintain. I think she did this out of spite for the deat of Macon's father as well as adding to the overall theme of hatred and greed (especially between races).
DeleteMaria Guzman
Group #14 Section 8
DeleteI completely agree! I really liked how Morrison draws a parallel between the Butler’s mansion and their lives. As the mansion decays, the family was also disgraced. It’s interesting to see how the desire for material goods destroyed the lives of the Butler family. It makes me wonder how Milkman will end up, since he is also chasing after material goods (gold) as of right now. Hopefully, he understands that material goods isn’t how he is going to achieve his self-understanding of himself before it's too late.
-Yen Vo
Group 10 Section 08 (Van Pham)
DeleteIn addition to Maria's and Yen's agreement, I too concur with your group's analysis! Circe provides Milkman with more information, but overall is a figure of the high tension between races just like Guitar's occupation. Besides the short, repetitive truths in her statement, the irony in her actions are also an indicator of her hatred and that racial tension. Examples of the garden and mansion have been mentioned and the fact that she hid Pilate and Macon in the Butler's mansion to feed and take care of when that family killed their father is another.
I also agree with your analysis. I like how you pointed out the use of hyperbole. It really emphasizes the how deep Circe's feelings are which really speaks to the issues concerning race in the novel. I also agree with Van about Circe being a figure in the book who illuminates a lot of the racial tension. Yen also made a good point about how Milkman is searching for material wealth. I think that based on his experiences on his journey, Milkman will eventually realize that this is a flawed goal. Maybe Circe will help Milkman along with this realization. She emphasizes that, though the Butlers had more material wealth than she did, she's "the one left," (and the dogs).
Delete-Toni Jonas-Silver
Group 9 Section 08
DeleteYour analysis of the passage is pretty strong, and I agree that there are rhetorical devices that highlight her hatred. Like the comments above, the hyperbole that you pointed out makes a lot of sense in supporting Circe's feelings. I also agree that the choice of syntax contributes a lot to establishing her feelings. The short and concise phrases and words emphasize her bitterness. Another interesting thing that Morrison does in this passage is putting "I will move" after the object of the sentence, almost as if reversing the entire proper structure of the sentence, which furthermore emphasizes Circe's hatred. The way that Morrison chooses to write this part of the book contributes strongly to the interpretations above.
Kevin Chen
Group 5 Admir and Maria section 8
ReplyDeletePassage: "They talked on and on, using Milkman as the ignition that gunned their memories.he had come out of nowhere, as ignorant as a hammer and broke as a convict, with nothing but free papers, a bible, and a pretty black haired wife, and in one year he'd leased ten acres, the next ten more... Never mind you can't tell one letter from another, never mind you born a slave, never mind you lose your name, never mind your daddy dead." (235)
The passage contrast Macon's past with his future. Morrison uses an anaphora by repeating the words "never mind" to emphasize that Macon doesn't let excuses from his past affect his future. This passage relates to the book as a whole because during this time in history, black people were not expected to succeed but Macon Dead proved that stereotype wrong.
I agree that Macon Dead (the second) proves the unsuccessful African-American stereotype but i found it very interesting how you interpreted the repetition of "never mind" after reexamining the passage I think Morrison did use this to highlight Macon's rejection of his past and refusal to make excuses for himself.
DeleteMichael Anderson - Group 1
I agree! Your point about the repetition of "never mind" was a really good point. I also think that the author uses the simile "ignorant as a hammer" in contrast with saying "he'd leased ten acres, the next ten more" to show how successful he was since he went from being ignorant and having nothing to gaining more and more land.
DeleteI agree with your point about the repitition. "Never mind" definately stands out when you read the passage and adds a certain depth to his thought process. I also liked the history that you brought up. When I first read this I didn't think of the history at all but it brings up an interesting point about the time period.
DeleteGroup 8
I agree with your analysis, but I'd like to disagree with Michael in that Macon Dead the second, Milkman's father, wasn't unsuccessful. He built himself up through real estate, and just like his father, worked his way into a moderate wealth. The Deads seem to have something in their blood that pushes them to strive and work toward a brighter future for themselves.
DeleteDavid Tran Group 5
Group 14, Yen Vo & Kelvin Nguyen
ReplyDelete"Everybody wants the life of a black man. Everybody. White men want us dead or quiet-which is the same thing as dead. White woman, same thing. They want us, you know 'universal,' human, no 'race consciousness'...And black woman, they want your whole self. Love, they call it, an understanding." (222)
Prior to this passage, Milkman explained his desire to have a life with no restraints. Although he claims this is his reason for wanting to go retrieve the gold, his true desire for leaving is so that he can develop an accurate self-understanding and a life of his own. He feels that although he does whatever he wants, he is controlled by his family and those around him greatly. This connect with Guitar’s lecture in this passage because what Guitar claims is that in this time period, it is impossible for a black man to have a life of his own. Even if a black man were to escape the white men, they were still restricted by the black woman. Ultimately, it becomes evident, Milkman will not be able to gain his desired freedom simply by going after gold.
Group 4 Marina Adario and Michael Riley
ReplyDeleteSection 8
Passage: "All his life he'd heard the tremor in the word: 'I live here, but my people..." or: "She acts like she ain't got no people" or "Do any of your people live there?" But he hadn't known what it meant: links" (229).
Before, Milkman had never felt any connection to his family or the place where he lived- he always wanted to leave them. Now, in Danville, Pennsylvania, he is able to identify with his family's background and feels a connection to this place, and finally feels special to be a part of his family, instead feeling of ashamed of them, and is proud to have "people." Also, the pages around this passage discuss the symbol of Pilate's earring. The earring was always something that he had been fascinated by but confused by, and now that he has found this connection with his family he is able to understand the meaning and significance behind the earring.
Meaghan Twohig Group 13 Section 08
DeleteI agree that Milkman had a special connection to Danville. The stories told about his father and grandfather showed strength, manliness and perseverance, which inspires Milkman to seek the gold even more now. His family is really respected and his father is seen as a great man, which encourages Milkman to see Macon in a more positive light. Danville definitely had an effect on Milkman, and gave him encouragement to get the gold so he won't have to depend on his father.
Michelle Mei Group 5 Section 08
DeleteI agree with all of you that Milkman had a special connection to Danville. I think that in addition to Milkman's newfound appreciation for having "people" and family, Milkman is just happy to be in a place independent of his father. Since birth, Milkman did not know what it was like to have a loving father or a family that cared deeply for him. Perhaps Milkman is romanticizing the thought of having an affectionate family and he hopes he can find one in Danville.
Group 1, Michael Anderson & Tanzim Uddin
ReplyDelete"He knew that an old woman had lived in it once, but he saw no signs of life there now. He was oblivious to the universe of wood life that did live there in layers of ivy grown so thick that he could have sunk his arm in it up to the elbow. Life that crawled, life that slunk and crept and never closed its eyes" (219-20).
Milkman is so blinded by his avarice that he completely ignores his surroundings and fails to see beyond his fantasies and the gold. He is so self-engrossed that he becomes unable to think of anything else. He is oblivious to the fact that the house is literally covered in "Life that crawled, life that slunk and crept and never closed its eyes" . He is unaware of all the life forms surrounding him because he only looks for other humans as signs of life. His only intention is to find the gold so he is blinded by is greed and ambition.
Group 6, Section 8
DeleteVery well said. It's interesting to see that in spite of how beautiful nature is, he goes for the money instead, and it's really sad to see that. His father has instilled the idea that that money is so important, and that he wants him to grow up into a great business man. Milkman also worries about the way he looks to society, to his own people. Having lots of money makes you look good, and Milkman wants only that.
Alicja Gancarz
Group 7, Section 8
DeleteIn addition to what Alicja said, I think Milkman is unknowingly following his father's footsteps by falling to the same greed that Macon had fallen to. This is further symbolized by Milkman's arrival to Danville in the first place. It's interesting to observe a self-centered Milkman following his father's influence without even knowing it.
Group 7, Adriana Snow and Anthony Cheung
ReplyDeleteSection 8
Passage: "Finally she couldn't take it anymore. The thought of having no help, no money - well, she couldn't take that. She had to let everything go....She didn't let me go. She killed herself" (247).
The following passage describes Circe's background and her perspective of the white race. This gives insight on how Macon Dead and Pilate were raised and what kind of environment they endured in their early childhood. The bitterness of Circe's character can explain Macon Dead's cold demeanor that has affected Milkman throughout his own childhood. Colloquial language and short sentences indicate Circe's blunt and unforgiving attitude toward her white masters and her disgust that a rich white woman would rather kill herself than hold a status equal to a black woman.
Kim Miller group 13 - I think this is a very good analysis of Circe and her impact on Milkman. Just as the Reverend's friends' stories about Macon Jr. altered Milkman's feelings toward him, Circe's stories also make Macon's actions somewhat more excusable, as you mentioned. Also, Circe's feelings toward white people seem to be closely related to Guitar's feelings (which are opposite of Milkman's, who doesn't agree with the Seven Days at all.) I also agree that Circe's language does indicate her attitude towards white people, as if she cannot even bear to talk about them.
DeleteGroup 6A, Anthony Adario and Martha Robertson
ReplyDeleteSection 8
Passage: "'No. Mixed. Indian mostly. A good-looking woman, but fierce, for the young woman I knew her as. Crazy about her husband too, over crazy. You know what I mean? Some women love too hard. She watched over him like a pheasant hen. Nervous. Nervous love.' Milkman thought about this mixed woman's great-granddaughter, Hagar, and said, 'Yes. I know what you mean.' 'But a good woman. I cried like a baby when I lost her. Like a baby. Poor Sing.'" (243)
From this excerpt, race is again highlighted. To prompt this quote, Milkman asks Circe of his great grand-aunt's ethnicity and mentions that he heard she looked white. The fact that it is brought up twice that this woman is of "mixed" race reminds us of how much of an impact race had on people and how much it created divisions. The comparison of a "pheasant hen" to Sing is a reference to a kind of bird that was long hunted and sought after. Circe might be letting loose that her little Sing was not only overprotective of her relationship, but perhaps slightly feeling on the defense. It is noteworthy to point out that Milkman took the time to reflect and realize the connection between Hagar and her great grandmother's problems with dealing with relationships shows he may notice these defensive moves also three generations later. He knows he did hurt Hagar, and that she is just a bird who feels hunted and using her skills to attack now. Sing's love for her husband is fierce because since they are different races, it cannot be weak at all, otherwise their love will die. Also its funny that at the end of our quote Circe says she was crying like a baby right after she birthed a baby, and it is her job to birth babies.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlicja Gancarz & Jennifer He
ReplyDeleteGroup 6
"Take advantage, and if you can't take advantage, take disadvantage. We live here. On this planet, in this nation, in this country right here. Nowhere else! We got a home in this rock, don't you see! Nobody starving in my home; nobody crying in my home, and if I got a home you got one too! Grab it. Grab this land!" (235)
The main point of this passage is to emphasize that the color of your skin (race) shouldn't get in the way of what you want to achieve. Your race shouldn't get in the way of taking back what’s rightfully yours, like land. The farm, also the speaker of this passage, is something that was created out of nothing. Milkman’s grandfather took whatever he had and made the best of it, and that’s exactly what the farm is telling Milkman to do. The word “home” is repeated several times in order to stress the importance of being grounded. Overall, this passage is inspiring and hugely motivational.
I thought your analysis was great. It is basically advising people to make the best of every situation since we are only here on "this rock" for a limited amount of time. If we spend our time drowning ourselves in grief and focusing on what we don't have then we will never live our lives to its full potential. Regardless of our culture, ethnicity, or religion, we should all be entitled to the right of being happy.
DeleteTanzim Uddin - Group 1
I agree with what you're saying exactly, the emphasis of family is a huge theme in this novel, but Milkman is slowly realizing that. He is always so indifferent about his race, but is influenced by what other people, like Guitar, say about it. I think the word "home" especially brings a very personal feeling to the novel and brings a realization within itself that where they live is not only a place of shelter but a home.
DeleteElin Dahal, Kevin Chen Group 9
ReplyDelete“What do I owe you? For the Coke and all?”
The man was smiling but his face changed now. “My name is Garnett, Fred Garnett. I ain’t got much, but I can afford a Coke and a lift now and then”… Mr. Garnettt had reached over and close the door. Milkman could see him shaking his head as he drove off” (255).
Milkman, who has just come out of the woods, dirty, exhausted, hungry, thirsty, and lost, has gotten a ride back to town and a Coke from Mr. Garnett, a kind-hearted man who picked him up on the road. Mr. Garnett helps out Milkman purely out of kindness and hospitality, but Milkman thinks that he wants some sort of monetary compensation. Milkman has just come back from not finding the gold he is looking for, and he is slowly realizing that unlike what his father has taught him and what he believed all of his life, money is not the most important thing.
I just really like this part of the chapter. Milkman's travels back to the cave are full of non-descript places and names, just like his life, but once he receives this act of kindness he begins to find his own way in the world.
DeleteAndrew - group 3
Group #3 Patrick Samonte and Andrew Zick
ReplyDeletepg 226-233: "Then he watched signs-the names of towns that lay twenty-two miles ahead, seventeen miles to the east, five miles to the northeast. And the names of junctions, counties, crossings, bridges, stations, tunnels, mountains, rivers, creeks, landings, parks, and lookout points."
Here, Milkman's attitude towards the signs represent the way he has lived his life up to this point. He's just passively reading the signs, barely noticing them. Up to this point, Milkman has just been skating through and hasn't really done anything meaningful, but now, the gold might be his chance to do something.
Group 14 - Kelvin
DeleteI agree that he was passively reading the signs. Instead of describing his journey and the things he saw, he makes a list of what he passed. He seemed to have no interest in what he saw and so he doesn't have time to realize their importance.
Group 11- Miranda Inocentes & Krishana Abrahim (Section 8)
ReplyDelete"All his life he'd heard the tremor in the word "I live her, but mypeople..." or "She acts like she ain't got no people," or: Do any of your people live there?" But he hadn't known what it meant: links"(229)
We thought this passage displayed Milkman's realization of not only the direct meaning of the word "people" but the emotion and everything else that came with it. He referenced three different times in which the word was brought up, confused him, and he viewed people a little ignorantly for using such a word. Now that he has come in to the situation himself, he realizes what meaning it carries. "People" is not only family or people related to you but it is also your history/history of your ancestors as well as their stories and what they left behind when they moved elsewhere.It doesn't completely answer Milkman's question towards the full meaning of the word but it opens a gateway to answer why his father was always so proud of himself and his "people". The words "then" and "here" to show that "people" are not exactly family or people who live around you, but its the place, the history and the stories left behind.
Group 5 – David Tran and Michelle Mei, Section 8
ReplyDelete“They had talked on and on, using Milkman as the ignition that gunned their memories. He had come out of nowhere, as ignorant as a hammer and broke as a convict, with nothing but free papers, a Bible, and a pretty black-haired wife, and in one year he’d leased ten acres, the next ten more… Never mind you can’t tell one letter from another, never mind you were born a slave, never mind you lose your name, never mind your daddy dead” (235).
We thought this passage shows the reader that anything is possible if a person sets his or her mind to it and that there are no limits. Starting from the bottom, Macon Dead starts a farm and cultivates it into one of the best farms in the country. It’s ironic that their family name is “Dead” when in reality, they are the most alive because they seize opportunities and are financially well off while most of the black population is living in poverty. The passage emphasizes its meaning through naming all the feats Macon Dead achieves, and further perpetuates the idea of not allowing anything to hold you back by repeating the phrase “never mind” all the negatives.