Concepts of Love

     Despite being an abstract concept, the definition of love is not viewed as being particularly complex. The dictionary regards it as an "intense feeling of affection" and while most would argue that the meaning runs deeper and is more difficult to describe than the definition suggests, the positive connotation of the word is widely accepted. It is due to this assumption that the presence of love throughout Song of Solomon is so intricate and mystifying. Is there love in Macon's ability to "mangle the grace, wit, and self-esteem" of his daughters, all the while having this occurrence serve as "the single excitement of their days?" Is there love in Milkman's ability to exhibit "his restraint, his courtesy, [and] his indifference" while being breastfed by his mother, despite understanding the oddity of the situation? Is there love in his feeling that "Hagar's voice scooped up what little pieces of heart he had left to call his own," despite being hardly familiar with her? Even further questions lie in that these questions have no definite answer. It is evident that the relationships between characters throughout this novel are unique and challenge traditional notions of what love is, but little else about this story is that clear-cut. 

     Part of our struggle to understand these relationships comes from these characters' own struggles with identity. It is incredibly challenging for us to recognize characters as predictable interactions with others when they are still faced with challenges in interacting with themselves. Few of these individuals have motives that make sense to us presently, and there are still so many unanswered questions. That being said, the way this piece explores the concept of love leaves us to investigate its meaning in our own society.