Perspective

Throughout the novel, Milkman, and to a lesser extent other characters, are plagued with the problem of perspectives. Milkman doesn’t know what to make of many situations because of then multiple perspectives surrounding them. Milkman himself is seen from different perspectives. We always see Milkman as a good guy, although we are more than aware of his flaws. However, we finally see how Corinthians and Lena see him when he is called into Lena’s room. In terms of Guitar’s perceptions, he is forced to see both of his parents from different lights. They both tell flattering stories of themselves and horrid ones of the other. Milkman sees Guitar as a good friend but is tortured by the perspective of him being a coldhearted killer. He sees Porter as just that, while Corinthians sees Porter as a bit of a gentleman, a guy who is forced to live poorly but has the heart of a good man. Within Corinthians even there are different perspectives of Porter: poor trash and a gentleman.

Two situations dealing with perspective really struck me in recent readings. First of all, when Pilate helps get Milkman and Guitar out of the police station, she is said to put on an act not unlike Aunt Jemima. The white cops see her as this weak, ineffectual old black woman, while everyone else knows her as the mighty Pilate, a woman who is stands up straight and will cut anyone who messes with her daughter. The change in her demeanor and the meaning behind it is striking. It even affects Milkman: he can’t believe the strong Pilate would put on an act for him, that such an uncompromising, sure woman would act like a pitiful old lady. The second situation that interested me came very recently, when Milkman heard of his family while at the Reverend’s house. First off, Milkman has had to struggle with different perspectives, not being able to trust any of them, especially in regards to his parents. Reverend Cooper corroborates a good deal of Macon’s story, allowing Milkman to finally get some truth out of what he can’t take as anything other than nonsense. Also, hearing the Reverend and Circe, as well as the elder townspeople, talk about his father and grandfather in good lights helped him gain a very useful perspective, one that I believe will help him finally grow up.