In the novel, "Song of Soloman", us readers are exposed to the topic of ownership numerous times. An argument between Milkman and Guitar that is reoccurring throughout the novel displays what an unhealthy, aggressive need for ownership and power can do to a person. As part of the Seven Days, Guitar must engage in violent acts against innocent whites in order to avenge the murders of blacks. While Milkman views this group as cruel and barbaric, as would most people, Guitar tells him that the group's actions are necessary and are done out of pure love for their people. At first, I fully believed that Guitar's motive was out of love alone. However, after we analyzed Guitar as a class, I discovered what his true motives for killing were. As a member of the black community, you would think that Guitar would be fighting solely for the freedom and power of any black. However, this is not the case. Guitar is killing innocent whites in order to gain ownership and control over black women, Milkman, etc. This is extremely ironic and came across as very confusing to me at first, but as I thought about it more, it became a more clear. Guitar is jealous of the power discrepancy between the two races, therefore when he kills whites, he gains power and takes away some power from the whites, leaving him feeling more superior. Guitar says, "Slave names don't bother me; but slave status does." (Morrison 160). This shows Guitars philosophy that if he kills more whites, then his status becomes higher and the he gains more power.
While only a few chapters into, "The Great Gatsby", a distinct symbol that has been presented multiple times, is the green light. At the end of chapter 1, we saw the green light as Nick spotted Gatsby, and later on, we see it again. "Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock" (Fitzgerald 21). This quote signifies how the green light has multiple meanings behind it. The green light represents Gatsby's undying love for daisy, the American dream, and wealth. Since the quote explains that the green light is on a dock, us readers can infer that this dock is daisy's house and with Gatsby staring at it, it shows his strong love for her. The green light also represents the American dream and wealth. This green light is not exactly tangible for Gatsby. Although Gatsby has seemed to achieved the American dream through his wealth, he did not do it the right way....
I like how you analysed the motives of Guitar killing the white people when you first looked at it and then after looking at it again saw a different meaning when you looked at it again. I think that Guitar killing these white people could be a mixture of the two motives. Maybe he first started out killing these white people out of love for his black people, but after doing it several times he liked the feeling of power and continued to do it to chase this feeling of power and gain ownership.
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