Miranda: English II, Section F

Relationships Between CharactersHagar and Milkman”Who even now could walk freely into his room if she wanted to and smell his clothes, stroke his shoes and lay her head on the very spot where he had lain his. But what was more, this thin lemon-yellow woman knew with absolute certainty what Hagar would willingly have her throat torn out to know: that she would see him this very day. Jealousy loomed so large in her it made her tremble. Maybe you, she thought. Maybe it’s you I should be killing. Maybe then he would come to me and let me come to him. He is my home in this world. And then, aloud, “He is my home in this world.” (137)Analyze: he is my home in this worldWhat does a home do for people, what does a home do?He anchors her, like Ruth’s watermark anchors Ruth.Gives her a place to go back to. A root, something to hold on to.Two very different themes in this book: Flying and Holding on to things, not letting go of things ”Being five years older than he was and his cousin as well did nothing to dim her passion. In fact her maturity and blood kinship converted her passion to fever, so it was more affliction than affection. In literally knocked her down at night, and raised her up in the morning, for when she dragged herself off to be, having spent another day with out his presence, her heart beat like a gloved fist against her ribs. And in the morning, long before she was fully awake, she felt a longing so bitter and tight it yanked her out of a sleep swept clean of dreams.” (127)How does this passage and the language used characterize Hagar’s obsession, craze, etc.Why does Milkman’s absence affect her so deeply?Does she love him now? Did she love him before?Relationship, seemed only on a sexual level, didn’t really talk to each other, or at least, we haven’t heard about it if they did.How is Hagar transformed by Milkman’s suggestion of their breaking up. How does it affect Milkman, or does it? Is he sad about losing Hagar, Christmas note. Is he sad or just bored with her because she is too easy to get? Why does Milkman lose interest in her? Because she is too easy to get. Why did their relationship change?Ruth and Milkman 131 and 133Only triumph against her husband How is Milkman significant to Ruth? How does she fit in his life? Why does she go to Pilate’s house to see if it is true and threaten Hagar, if she kills him. Does she feel love for him?Ruth and PilateOpposites, and yet, kind of complete each other. Definitely rely on each other. Pilate relies on people needing her, she is like a black willow tree.Ruth relies on people to protect her (her father when he was alive) and especially Pilate when her father is no longer around. Pilate is just about the only person who can confront Macon.They both complete each otherSimilarities: both lacked (healthy) love in their childhood, rely on each other, have relationships with their dead fathers.Differences: Pilate is strong, Ruth is weak. Or at least, they represent two very different points on the spectrum of strength. That is why they complete each other, so opposite that they rely on each other. Relationships in the CommunityNot a big deal that Hagar is trying to kill Milkman, used to people affected by love gone wild and crazy. Almost none of them have normal relationships, so it is not really a big deal.