Chance - Song of Solomon


Recently I began reading the novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, and let me just say… this book is a Six Flags rollercoaster ride in and of itself! Morrison depicts the struggles of the African American community using rather unorthodox topics, such as incest, and discusses their disparities through subtle comments by the characters that hold deeper meanings. One particular instance that stood out to me is the discussion between Pilate’s family, Guitar, and Milkman in Chapter 2, in which the reader learns the origins of Guitar’s name and Reba’s secret luck.

Guitar’s name comes from the fact that he wanted to win a guitar when he was younger so he could learn how to play. However, the only way he could win that guitar was by guessing the correct number of jellybeans in the glass jar. Thus, whether or not he would win depended solely on chance. Reba tells Guitar, “I win everything I try to win and lots of things I don’t even try to win,” and recalls the story of how she won a diamond ring for being the half a millionth person to walk into Sears (Morrison 45). However, she is never claimed the official winner due to her skin color: “They put the picture of the man who won second prize in…He was white…The only reason they got a second was cause she was the first” (Morrison 46).

Reba and Guitar’s stories are juxtaposed to represent the battles that African Americans faced on a daily basis, and how they had to rely purely on chance in all of their endeavors. Guitar’s name is given to him because he is unable to get the guitar he sees – by chance. How else could he possibly guess the correct number of beans without chance? Reba’s “luck” stems from the odds being on her side in the situations she faces, by chance as well. Blacks seldom got the things they wanted because they were referred to as one of the inferior races, so the priority was always give to whites. Peoples’ skin color, which was given to them through chance (genetics/probability), displays the way they will live the rest of their lives. So, chance leads to change; if you are white you live a privileged life and if you are black things are completely changed for you - the exact opposite. This novel illuminates the theme that African Americans are unable to guarantee that they can get the things they desire, simply because of their poor treatment due to skin color that causes them to rely on luck/chance.
 

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