Women of Song of Solomon

As Toni Morrison chronicles the life of Milkman Dead in Song of Solomon, she provides insight into the maturation process he endures.   A great deal of Milkman’s maturational development can be seen or explained in his relationship with women throughout his life.   Ranging from the most immediate family, Ruth and First Corinthians, to Hagar and Pilate, and to at last Sweet, the way Milkman acts towards women are a natural indicator of how he has changed over the years.   Perhaps the most telling of Milkman’s relationships with women are those that are more than just friendly or familial, but sexual.   Over the course of his adult life, Milkman is romantically involved to some extent with two women.   These women are his relative Hagar, and a prostitute, Sweet.   The way that he both treats and regards these women, mostly due to the timing of each relationship, reflect well Milkman’s state of mind.
Milkman Dead’s first real, romantic, sexual relationship is with Hagar.   Because Hagar is Milkman’s niece, it does not seem likely that this relationship should work out.   However despite the incestuous nature of their affair, they remain together for several years.   Milkman as he grows older starts to treat Hagar worse and worse.   At the beginning at age 17, Milkman is enamored with his newfound sexual activeness, but eventually that wears away and he grows tired of Hagar, believing that she is unworthy of someone of his status.   Near the end of their relationship Hagar starts to be subjected entirely to Milkman’s wants or needs,   “There were months when Hagar would not see him, and then he’d appear one day and she was all smiles and welcome” (98).   Because Milkman has successfully enforced his will upon Hagar, calling upon her whenever he desires, some of the initial thrill disappears, and he begins to think about breaking it off entirely.   He is never really looking for anything in Hagar, deeper than a sexual relationship.   While Milkman does enjoy her company from time...