Peacock
I'm sure by now we have all realized that Song of Solomon is chock-full of symbols and metaphors. Toni Morrison uses many different items to act as symbols throughout the book. One symbol that stood out to me is the Peacock that Guitar and Milkman come across. What makes this symbol stand out from the countless others within the novel is the fact that the Peacock represents something different for both characters. For Milkman, the Peacock represents "vanity," wealth, and beauty(179). It is the materialistic wealth Milkman desires and what he believes will make him happy. The fact that the Peacock "can't fly no better than a chicken" represents how wealth and status will not allow Milkman to "fly"(179). Money will not set Milkman free. For Guitar, the peacock symbolizes something very different. The peacock's wealth and beauty represents white people and their power due to money. The fact that Guitar wants to "catch it" and &quo