Song of Solomon. Hagars reaction to seeing Milkman with another woman in Chapter Five of the novel is filled with many metaphors that emphasize the pain and fury Hagar felt when this happened.
Song of Solomon Paper
AP English
Hagar’s reaction to seeing Milkman with another woman in Chapter Five of the novel is filled with many metaphors that emphasize the pain and fury Hagar felt when this happened. The passage begins with a search for a weapon.
Hagar’s search for a weapon is compared to a new moon searching for the tide. Since a new moon happens once every 30 days or so, this can suggest something about Hagar. Perhaps Hagar goes into this angry, weapon-searching state every time she finds that her boyfriend, Milkman in this case, has done something to upset her. Here Hagar caught Milkman cheating on another girl. Even though Milkman is over Hagar seeing Milkman with the girl triggered a chain of emotions that Hagar has been hiding in her for so long. Hagar has already started getting fed up by Milkman’s rejection and behavior and thus it is a “fist that had been sitting on her chest.” Milkman and the girl caused this internal loathing to buildup and finally explode. This is why the metaphorical “fist” released its forefinger like the blade of a skinny knife.