Rebirth

In Part II of Song of Solomon reader see the rebirth and change of Milkman. As he is being strangled by Guitar he breathes what he believes is his last breath and part of his life flashes before his eyes. But Guitar does not kill him and Milkman lives. Before this event we notice some changes in the character of Milkman, like when he sheds his nice suit for the military hunting clothes he dons for his bobcat hunt. He is leaving his sheltered, rich, fancy world and entering a new world. Entering the new towns too effect his view of himself, he begins to enter a new realm of understand of himself, issues, the world, and the people around him. When Guitar brings on Milkman's new life by murdering Milkman's past self, Milkman finally enters the world as a caring, selfless, human. This we see in his interactions with the prostitue Sweet. Compared to his relations with Hagar (which he refkects on and realizes his wrong doings), the events with Sweet have a give and take and an equality/appreciation for each other aspect. Sweet bathes Milkman, Milkman bathes Sweet, she cleans his wounds and he gives her a back massage, she cooks and he cleans the bathroom. Through their relationship we begin to see how Milkman had changed and acknowlages his poor treatment of Hagar.