Social Classes In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

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During the time period within the novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, society was not only a difficult time for Caucasians, but for African Americans as well. There were African Americans that maintained a nice, luxurious lifestyle as well. If a person were writing about the large gap in the social classes, they would use examples from the text such as Macon Jr. accumulating many tenants, the shortage of money between different characters when trying to perform a certain task, and the large irresistibility towards gold which drives their greed for more wealth. Within this novel, there are different levels within the social classes of the African American characters and the relationships they have with each other portray those social class standards as well. Maintaining the view of a hard and slum-like lifestyle, Guitar Bains grew up living as such after his father was killed in a factory accident. Although he is not one of the primary characters, he plays a large role in portraying the hardships an African American can have in society.…show more content…
Living on a family farm, there was minimal wealth coming into the family. Traumatized by his father’s murderous death on his childhood farm, he becomes coldhearted and obsessively concerned and determined to become wealthy and rich when he grows older. Money and status influenced his goals and actions throughout life. Not only has money and wealth influenced his entirety as a whole, but it has made him completely dead and emotionless in his soul. Macon Jr. has accumulated so much wealth throughout his adulthood and ultimately lives in a nice house, has tenants, hires maids, and gains wealth on a frequent basis. His social status is the complete opposite of Guitar’s. Macon Jr. is a prime example about wealth controlling one’s life, emptying a person’s soul, and influencing others around

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