And the winner is......

Upon completion of Toni Morrison's 1977 novel Song of Solomon, I present to her the coveted "Best Coming of Age Novel" award. Winner of both the Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize, Morrison continues to receive great acclaim for her novels' timeless themes. Within Song of Solomon, the novelist narrates the journey of the complex character Milkman Dead, and his flight too manhood. His ultimate success leads me to present Morrison with yet another award to rest on her trophy shelf. Apart from the story's many motifs, including race, judgement, women's rights and family plight, Milkman's transformation from a naive boy to a mature adult exists as the major conflict. Growing up with wealth and a respectable family name, Dead's "hero worship... blinded him" (276). The protagonist's seemingly sublime lifestyle ends up acting as his enemy, separating himself from reality. Milkman's indirect characterization as pompous underscores Morrison's claim that he possesses an unhealthy amount of self-pride and importance. Dead's assumed invincibility results in his inability to take responsibility for his actions. He then proclaims he did "nothing to deserve" his family's recriminations (276). Morrison includes the repetition of "deserve" seven times to emphasize Milkman's pride and incapability to recognize his own mistakes. He continually loathes others for his own internal conflicts, despite the few family troubles that are out of his control. The protagonist serves as a synecdoche for those who can not distinguish themselves and their actions from those of others, and Morrison's ability to change this outlook truly justifies my decision to applaud her "coming of age" novel. After an isolating hunting trip forces Milkman to evaluate himself, he transforms from a confused, naive person into a confident, independent man, After years of self-deprecation, Dead takes "a living breath this time" (279). This single moment of realization represents Milkman's newfound confidence in himself. His indirect characterization as alive presents situational irony, contrasting the connotations surrounding his last name. Nonetheless, this characterization foils his previous, insecure self and his present, responsible nature. He abandons his self-pity, and judges both life and himself fairly. This self-assessment allows Dead to walk on Earth "like he belonged on it," creating the most significant and memorable moment in the novel (281). Morrison's display of Milkman's independence juxtaposes his his past habits of relying on and blaming others. The protagonist's indirect characterization as confident reveals his new sense of honesty in both the world and himself. The author's success in creating an autonomous character from one who moped in self-pity makes one of the best personal transfiguration novels of all time. Morrison utilizes this story to reveal the normality in a person's lack of personal fulfillment. Similar to the author, I encourage those who lack confidence in themselves and their actions to strive for self-acceptance.   Congratulations, Toni! I now award to you the "Best Coming of Age Novel" prize.