In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Milkman's progression from an immature adolescent to an adult possessing moral rectitude is manifested through encounters where Milkman learns and deepens his knowledge of his past. We first meet Milkman as a young man who goes about his life without a specific sense of direction, but as he grows up and his family's past is revealed, he seems to become wiser. Toni Morrison chooses to express this growth through Milkman's attention to listening to others. We repeatedly see instances where Milkman rejects the advice of others, worrying only about his own opinions and desires. Whether it's having a beer with Guitar at Railroad Tommy's or being scolded by Magdalene, Milkman always seems emotionally detached and uncaring. It is only when he grows up and learns about his family's past that he matures and acquires a sense of morality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Early in the book, Milkman is introduced to us as an ignorant teenager who seems to have no purpose in life. He wanders around, minding his own business, and finds no meaning in what he does and what people say to him. One example is when he and Guitar take a day off from school and decide to go have a beer at the Railroad Tommy's store. They are denied beer and Railroad Tommy lectures them on things they can't have in life, but Milkman sees it as a futile harangue. After the lecture, Milkman's reaction was disinterested: "'What's a baked Alaska?' They left the Tommys as they found them and continued down Tenth Street” (61). Finding absolutely no meaning in Tommy's speech, he focuses more on Guitar's taste preferences: "'Can't you?' Milkman was surprised. 'Why not ?' » (61). At this point in Milkman's life, he goes about his life without caring what others think or say about him. He is immature in the sense that he only considers his own thoughts relevant while dismissing those of others. He doesn't try to discover a life lesson when he's refused a beer, but instead reflects on a dessert Tommy mentioned. Milkman isn't stuck in this self-centered version of himself forever, however. As he grows, he begins to recognize that the opinions of others are more important than before. When Milkman comes home early one morning after drinking with Guitar, he finds Magdalene waiting for him at the top of the stairs. He tries to ignore her because of his fatigue, but she persists in telling him a story from her childhood. Milkman remembers that when he was a child, he would pee on Madeleine, and it was no big deal. However, Magdalene sees things differently as Milkman also peed on the purple violets and wild daffodils she had picked earlier, causing them to die. After hearing her side of the story and how she felt like she was killing him, he reflects on his decisions: “Milkman turned and walked across the room. That was good advice, he thought. Why not take it? He closed the door” (216). This reaction from Milkman is similar to how he responded to Railroad Tommy's lecture earlier in his life in that he takes it very nonchalantly. On the other hand, he listens attentively and seems to recognize his mistake. He recognizes that Magdalene's criticism of him is wise and should be taken seriously. This example of Milkman growing up learning about his sister's past is a milestone for Milkmantowards acquiring a sense of morality and respect for others, while at the same time becoming a better listener. Later, when Milkman goes looking for Reverend Cooper for more information about his family, he ends up at a gas station, King Walker's, in a town named Shalimar. There he meets a group of men who invite him on a hunting trip and he accepts. It's in the woods that we see Milkman's first sign of active listening: "What were they saying?" 'Wait upstairs?' 'Here?' Little by little, it came together. The dogs, the men – none were content to shout, simply to point out a location or a pace. The men and the dogs were talking to each other. In a distinct voice, they said distinct and complicated things. This long yeah sound was followed by a specific type of howl from one of the dogs. The low howm howm that sounded like a double bass imitating a bassoon meant something that the dogs understood and performed” (277-278). This quote shows the beginnings of his transformation, becoming a more active listener. It seems that his thirst for knowledge of his family's past has led him to this forest, where he hears and interprets the voices of hunters and their dogs. This is in stark contrast to the Milkman we saw earlier in the book, who ignored others due to his self-centered nature. Now he's in the woods, listening intently to his surroundings, trying to make sense of them. Although he doesn't find out exactly what they're saying, he knows that each rhythmic call and response has definition. Another example of this concentration while listening is when Milkman listens to Shalimar's children playing a game while singing a song about his family's life. story: “He closed his eyes and concentrated while the children, inexhaustible in their desire to repeat a rhythmic, rhyming action game, performed the trick over and over again. And Milkman memorized everything they sang… Of course! Sing was an Indian or part Indian and her name was Sing Byrd or, more likely, Sing Bird. No, songbird! That must have been its original name – Singing Bird. And his brother, Crowell Byrd, was probably Crow Bird, or simply Crow. They had mixed their Indian names with American-sounding names” (303-304). He actively listens and memorizes what is sung about Solomon, Heddy and his other ancestors. Then he furiously makes connections between what he heard, interpreted, and retained from his prior knowledge about his family. Finally, the final stage of Milkman's evolution is evident when he sadly sincerely reflects on the extent of his misdeeds. When he finally comes home and visits Pilate, she knocks him out with a bottle and he wakes up in her attic. He begins to think: “Why did Pilate knock him out?” From stealing his bag of bones? No, she would have immediately come to his aid. What could it be, what else could he have done that would turn her against him? Then he knew. Agar. Something had happened to Hagar. Where was she? Had she run away? Was she sick or... Hagar was dead. The cords on his neck tightened... He had hurt her, left her, and now she was dead, he was sure of it. He had left her. While he dreamed of flying, Hagar was dying… It was his fault, and Pilate knew it” (332). At this point in his life, he returns from Shalimar and has a great knowledge of his family's history and, with it, a new sense of morality. Milkman finally admits his mistake by breaking Hagar's heart with money and a cold message. He was able to reach this conclusion by considering Pilate's feelings from his point of view rather than his own. His respect for other human beings besides himself is.