Song Of Solomon

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Song of Solomon begins and ends with an indirect reference to a traditional African American tale; a tale vital in African American communities. However, in addition, Song of Solomon is infused with classic childhood Euro- American fables and folktales that people often hear and read about growing up. Morrison alludes to many Brother Grimm tales throughout the novel as well, for example, Morrison uses the very familiar story of Rumpelstiltskin folktale at the beginning of Song of Solomon. Rumpelstiltskin is the name of a character from the Brothers Grimm tale about a maiden who is ordered to spin straw into gold for a King. The maiden doesn't know how to spin straw into gold, and she worries the King might kill her. Along comes a man by …show more content…
Morrison introduces the Hansel and Gretel tale in part II of Song of Solomon. Part II is where Milkman beings his quest to retrieve the gold that his father and Pilate found in a cave in Pennsylvania many years ago. By alluding to the reference at the beginning of the chapter, Morrison lays the foundation of the plot and foreshadows what is to come; this establishes a sense of familiarity with the reader. Hansel and Gretel is a story about a brother and sister who were abandoned in a forest by their father upon their stepmother's wishes. The children wandered aimlessly until a cottage made of candy captured their attention. The children couldn't help but eat some of the candy. The cottage owner, a child-eating witch, saw the children and welcomed them in. The witch caged Hansel and fattened him until he was plump, while Hansel was getting plump, Gretel was in charge of the housework. After an unsuccessful attempt to get the children in the oven, the tables turned, and the witch was the one getting warm and toasty. The children fled back to their father's home with a basket of candy and gold and lived happily ever …show more content…
Similar to when Hansel and Gretel couldn’t resist the candy witches invitation into her home. Hansel and Gretel is a familiar story, and Morrison uses the classic tale as an analogy of her own, so that readers understand the experiences Milkman was going through at the time and how he may have felt. Milkman feels a sense of hopelessness and confusion at this point and in Memory, Creation, and Writing, Morrison states that many of her readers may be able to relate to the
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