When the book starts out Milkman and Guitar have a relationship where Guitar is the older more knowing friend and Milkman is the younger friend who listens and follows Guitar around. There relationship does kind of change throughout the book. As the story goes on, Milkman kind of fears Guitar and stands up to him in conversations. This change in relationship also follows with a distance between them.
At the beginning Milkman and Guitar go over to the Pilate's house together. In the book it says, "Guitar, being older and already in high school, had none of the reluctance that his young buddy still struggled with, and was the first one to speak." (pg. 36) This shows how Guitar holds the more mature role where he introduces himself to Pilate first and then Milkman follows with guidance from Guitar. It seems kind of like a sibling relationship back then. They get along pretty well and it seems like Milkman set Guitar as an example for how he lives and acts.
When Milkman gets older it seems like he finally stands up to Guitar and is scared of him killing him after he finds out Guitar is part of the Seven Days. In the story it says, "Milkman drank his up quickly and ordered another before asking Guitar, "How come they call me Milkman?" "How the freak would I know? That's your name ain't it?" "My name is Macon Dead." "You drag me all the way over here to tell me your name?" "I need to know it."" (pg. 84) This quote shows Macon demanding something from Guitar for the first time and being the leader. We then see more scenes where Guitar tries to lecture Milkman and he comes back to fight what Guitar has just said. Then we hear the Seven Days joining of Guitar. In the story it says, "Guitar, none of that stuff is going to change how I live or how any other Negro lives. What you're doing is crazy. And something else: it's a habitat. if you do it enough, you can do it to anybody. You know what I mean? A torpedo is a torpedo, I don't care what his reasons. You can off anybody you don't like. You can off me." (pg. 160-161) This quote shows how Milkman senses that since Guitar is in the Seven Days that he could kill him and he is afraid of that happening. He is concerned for his friend and is now trying to look out for him by telling him the reasons he shouldn't be apart of this organization.
All in all, the book shows Milkman and Guitar's relationship change. They start off close and sibling like then they go into a time of distance and fighting and even fear of the other by Milkman. Their relationship is quite interesting to watch throughout the book. At first we don't expect this great of a change between them but by then end we see how it is necessary to have this change between Guitar and Milkman's friendship.
*quotes from the book but somewhat censored and have only read thru chapter 9 so far.
I think that a big reason for the tension between Milkman and Guitar is that Guitar's character develops a lot, while Milkman seems stuck in the same, juvenile state. However, we see as the book develops that Milkman starts to change as well (especially in Part 2). We have one reading assignment left, and I'm wondering if Milkman's evolution will fix their relationship... Is it even fixable after Guitar tried to kill him?!?
ReplyDeleteGuitar joining the 7 days also changes their relationship in the sense that Guitar feels like he is better than Milkman for it. Before his affiliations, both Guitar and Milkman were both just boys, at least that is how Guitar views it. They enjoyed things like smoking and drinking and had no real aspirations in life, but now Guitar is doing something "meaningful" with his life while Milkman is still living his bland life, putting him in a position to lecture Milkman.
ReplyDeleteThe evolution from being close friends to distant to fighting with one another is much clearer in Part 2. While we hadn't got to that part when this blog was written, Milkman is right about Guitar's willingness to kill and their fighting does come to something later on. When Guitar tries to kill Milkman over the gold.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Milkman and Guitar's relationship is one of the most interesting in the whole book to me. I think you could definitely argue that it is one of the biggest focuses of the book, especially after the ending. It's a bit odd to see how their relationship grows considering it jumped from when they were young to middle age pretty quickly. I'd also say it's one of the biggest things that distinguishes him from his father. If it weren't for Guitar, I think Milkman's character would be a lot less interesting for at least the first part of the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree that their relationship changes in a meaningful way! I think Guitar's involvement in Pilate and Milkman's relationship is significant. He is the one who re-introduces them in childhood and is even present during Pilate and Milkman's last moment together. Besides Lena in a later chapter, Guitar is the only person who tells Milkman he is selfish. I wonder if Guitar's criticism is one of the reasons for their distance. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI can understand why Milkman doesn't particularly enjoy being lectured by his "best friend"--no one enjoys being at the receiving end of this kind of lecture--but when we read these scenes, Guitar is making some very good points, saiyng things Milkman really needs to hear, and calling him out in some important ways for being not "serious." He really should listen to his friend more often, and not worry about how his tone sounds. And yet, taking a risk and actually following some of Guitar's advice leads them to this crazy ending, where they're trying to kill each other and maybe dying together.
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