“Fathers can fly and children can know their names. » This was the basis of Milkman's discovery of his past, which he would uncover in time. In the novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Milkman goes through the early stages, adolescence, and middle years of his life with little confidence in himself, as he cannot fly and does not know the true meaning of flight. Milkman goes through life being selfish and vain because he has not yet discovered his true identity. As Milkman grows, the more he experiences and encounters alone and with others. Not every experience he gets has the same meaning as the others, but each one helps him progress in his self-discovery to find his own path of flight. As Milkman discovers his ancestors' past and their connection to flight, he undergoes a transformation in his heart, mind, and soul. When Milkman was a child, he struggled with his innocence and ignorance, and eventually gave up on himself knowing he couldn't fly. Milkman had gone through four years of his life before learning this devastating news: he could no longer fly. As he sits and thinks about what he won't be able to do for the rest of his life, the narrator describes Milkman's early childhood as follows: "The next day, a colorful baby was born inside Mercy for the first time. Mr. Smith's blue silk wings must have left their mark, because when the little boy discovered, at age four, the same thing Mr. Smith had learned earlier, that only birds and airplanes could fly , he lost all interest in himself. » (9). This represents the beginning of Milkman's journey to find the true meaning of flight in relation to himself. Milkman discovered that even a grown man like Robert Smith couldn't fly, so he gave up on life. F...... middle of paper...... again exactly what he had to do to fly. As a young boy, Milkman was selfish and had no interest in life because he was stuck on the ground, unable to do so. fly. His age has progressed, but not his attitude. He remained the same rude and inconsiderate person throughout his teenage and early adult years, including the majority of the time he and Guitar spent as friends. Many of their journeys have uncovered some of the deeper meanings and connections of the flight to Milkman. He traveled, at first only because of his greed, but when he became aware of everything that had happened in the past with his family, he became more focused and was determined to change his life. From that moment on, Milkman knew he was capable of anything, even flying. His heart, mind and soul were transformed through his self-discovery and personal experience of flying without any human assistance..