The End of Milkman?

Just like the rest of the characters we've met this year, Milkman, our protagonist, is a conflicting one. On one hand, his entire personality throughout the novel seems to be one of an adolescent in an adult's body, characterized by his immaturity and brattiness. Yet as the story progresses, the metaphor of a bird learning to fly seems to clarify, and we end with the baby bird leaping and finally flying. After learning about his family history, the change in Milkman is astounding, as he is able to let go of all his curiosity, trauma, and truly understand the implications behind his ancestry. Since this novel focuses on the lives of African Americans, I wonder how Morrison intends for us to interpret the ending of the novel. Initially, I thought the friendship between Guitar and Milkman was a subtle way of criticizing Milkman, of his lack of interest in black rights and equality. But the ending of the novel has proved otherwise. If anything, Morrison states that the power of knowledge and understanding black heritage and culture is the key to finally being "free" and being able to "fly." Despite Guitar's passionate, albeit, controversial reasoning for fighting for black rights, never does he fly in the novel. Rather in my eyes, he serves as the hunter, who shoots down his fellow people, just like Pilate. In the end, as Milkman is able to embrace who he is by learning of his past, he is the one who is chosen to fly despite being strapped to the ground throughout a majority of the novel.

Morrison also purposefully leaves the ending at a cliff hanger. Does Milkman die? Does he live? It doesn't matter. As he states, "if you surrendered to the air, you could ride it." Rather than letting himself fill with fear or anger, he lets himself be apart of the air, or dare I say, God. The word "surrender" is interesting in the sense that it is letting himself go. He lets his fears, doubts, worries, and trauma go away, and he embraces God and the his recognition of his culture. 

This ending scene was extremely powerful to me. Milkman is the only character who has completely changed my opinion and perspective of him. In the other novels we've read, a good amount of the characters have had somewhat of a cathartic scene. Yet this scene of Milkman's rebirth and freedom touched me in the sense that he finally understood who he was and changed spiritually. This was a beautifully written scene, and I appreciate Morrisson's ambiguity at the end, allowing readers to focus on the metaphorical and spiritual implications behind the ending.