Milkman and Guitar: A Profound Relationship

            In this section of the book, Toni Morrison focuses a great deal on describing the relationship between Milkman and Guitar. I found it interesting to observe how this relationship is much more than one that two casual friends might have. The degree of tension to which these characters arrive in some situations demonstrate that they need one another in order to be able to fully express themselves. It seems that Milkman can only be truly honest with Guitar and Guitar can only be truly honest with Milkman. However, this relationship begins to crumble when each of them finds out that the other has many secrets that he has been hiding for a long time. Nevertheless, they start talking and in the end, they regain the trust they have had in one another all this time. This can be seen when the narrator points out, “They were easy with each other now that they didn’t have to pretend” (p. 114). This is true for almost any relationship; when individuals begin to pretend to be someone they are not, the relationship falls apart.

            In addition, the profound discussions brought about by Milkman and Guitar also contribute to the theme of racism. Since they are having a friendly conversation, the author can throw some of her own opinions about the topic either through the narrator’s interventions or through the characters’ dialogue. Therefore, these discussions not only develop the plot of the story, but have a much more complex meaning. They represent the conversations that most African Americans had at the time about the injustices being done to them and the inability to do something about them. This inability is what frustrates them the most, since you are seeing the injustices being made but you know there is nothing you can do to stop them.