Through the blogging through critical lens project we analysed both The Song of Solomon and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through a specific lens. The lens I did was on the Marxist critique of the books or the analysis of the societal class structures. The books seemed to differ in many different areas in theme and location but had very interesting conclusion on class systems. To start off, what the two book seemed to share was a themes of racial discrimination. Huckleberry Finn’s racism is much more pronounced compared to Song of Solomon. After that, the difference ends where Huckleberry Finn takes place in pre civil war south. While the Solomon takes place in the north many years after the civil war. Also the protagonist are different. Huckleberry is the naif, white protagonist of his own book. While Macon “Milkman” Dead is a soulless, awful black protagonist of the Song of Solomon. Although extremely different, both books showed an interesting ways to show Marxist critique through different ways which made a very interesting experience.
The Marxist critique in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn seemed to be on the racism on the society shown in the book. Huckleberry Finn takes in the south before the civil war. This was where slave trade was an everyday practice and the racism towards blacks was rampant. The system in place was obviously flawed and favored white class. In order to critique this system, Mark Twain makes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn where the main character, Huckleberry Finn is try to escape his abusive father and civil life with the Widow Douglas. On the way he meets up with Jim, a slave that escaped. Mark Twain uses to critique the systems in place by showing how south treated blacks with the relationship with Huckleberry and Jim. Huckleberry is known to make fun Jim and almost makes him go back into slavery. Yet through all the horrible things that Huck did to Jim, Huck did not feel sorry or entitled to apologize. Which shows how that south could not comprehend that they were racist and would stick to the system even given a way out. While with the Song of Solomon , Macon “Milkman” Dead’s story is on escaping the his society through his class consciousness and eventual class suicide. Taking place in various northern american states, Milkman goes through a journey to discover who he is and how has family been affected from their past experiences. Many of the characters in the Song of Solomon show to have gained an understanding of their class. Through Milkman’s experience with the characters like Pilates and learning his family’s past, He understand how he is part of the oppressing class. When he finally breaks all ties of being apart of the oppressing class, which is signified by the burying the original Malcolm Dead, he is stands up and assumed to be killed by Guitar. Toni Morrison used to show that Malcolm “class suicide” was completed has he truly became what he need to be a “dead”.
Both books theme varies in message, the Song of Solomon was on the Milkman escape from oppressive class by understanding his own roots. While Huckleberry Finn’s was on the failed escape of Huckleberry from the oppressing class with the understanding the roots of blacks. Through the two books seemed to give the same message that understanding was the key to leaving a flawed system. Also it seemed that they both gave themes of capital was one of the problems of the system. Milkman came from a privileged background and Huckleberry was in a system that rewarded people with the most capital or slaves. Without the critical lens I would have not of notice this trend as much. Also I would have not realized how the structures affect people. Jim in Huckleberry Finn was treated horribly because of the systems in place. Not only he was discriminated against but his only friend Huckleberry was a jerk to him. Although this is great what I missed throughout this analysis was exposure to other lens. For example, the Song of Solomon had some great examples of the feminist lens like Hagar and Milkman’s relationship. By focusing on one lens I was unable to focus on other lens and did not see other great perspectives. By using the Marxist lens I was able to see a perspective on class systems which was different to the way I normally read. The project shows how books don’t have a single, definite interpretation and the way we look at literature can be expanded by the perspectives we use.
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