Dysfunctional Family?

As I've been reading Song of Solomon, I've noticed that the family dynamic of the Dead family is definitely off. To name a few examples, Macon resents his wife, Milkman wants to be the complete opposite of his father, Macon won't allow his children to see his sister Pilat, and Ruth tried searching for love through Milkman since her father died and Macon showed her no affection. In addition to this poor family dynamic, there are instances of incest like actions such as Ruth and her father, Ruth and Milkman, and Milkman and Hagar.

In Chapter 3, after Macon tells Milkman about his grandfather and mother's relationship and Milkman retrieves his repressed memory of how he got the name "Milkman," he is disgusted by the information and wishes that his father never told him the truth. However, at the end of the chapter Guitar asks Milkman if he wants him to drop him off at Hagar's and Milkman replies with, "Hagar's. Yeah. Sweet Hagar" (89). As we keep reading, we see that Milkman continues his relationship with Hagar for a long time. What I don't understand is why doesn’t Milkman seem to think it's wrong to have a relationship with Hagar since she is related to him?

Comments

[Julia Y.]

I think this represents a societal difference between the community Milkman lives in and ours. Milkman's relationship with Hagar is well-known throughout the community. But, no one seems to pass judgement on it that it is incest or morally wrong. The only relationships that are looked upon as morally wrong are those between a nuclear family. But, i think there is supposed to be overlap between the bad decisions the Dead family makes. It shows that even though they want to distance their personalities from the others in their family, they are very much a like. I would like to see more into the personalities of the sisters.

[Libby K.]

I agree that how Milkman and society feel about his relationship with Hagar has to do with the times. Also the fact that she was never recognized as a family memeber probably plays a role in how Milkman really feels about her. I am excited to find out more about the family dynamic.