We can say that Song of Solomon is a bildungsroman which is defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica as "a class of novel which deals with the coming-of-age or ] years of training of an individual”. Additionally, in a bildungsroman, a main protagonist usually undergoes some transformation after seeking truth or philosophical enlightenment. In Morrison's novel, the plot follows main protagonist Milkman as he matures within his community while developing relationships with others and discovering his individual identity. In an essay called Call and Response, Marilyn Sanders Mobley notes that "what Song of Solomon ultimately does is suggest that a viable sense of African American identity comes from responding to alternative constructions of self and community other than those received from dominant American culture” (Smith 42). This view of finding one's identity in community is expressed in Song of Solomon and other African American literature, including The Autobiography of Malcolm X, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Tropics in New York. Milkman's development of an individual identity that ultimately eschews the dominant American ideals of wealth, prosperity, and Western culture, illustrates a fundamental theme analogous to the predicament faced by African Americans. Understanding the concept of individual identity requires some understanding of the flight motif in Song of Solomon. Flight in the novel alludes to the African-Americans' quest for identity. Before Milkman's birth, the novel features the scene of Robert Smith, a quiet insurance agent who commits suicide by jumping from the dome of Mercy Hospital – "flying away on his own two feet." Milkman's search for an identity begins as...... middle of paper ...... only Murchison rejects him due to the pro-assimilation of American culture he represents. Benetha's experience supports the claim Mobley made earlier. In conclusion, African American identity, while tied to some of the lost ties to Africa, is not tied to dominant American ideals of wealth, prosperity, or Western culture. Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. “A raisin in the sun.” Ed. Nellie Y. McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. Comp. Henri Louis. Doors. 2nd ed. New York: WW Norton &, 2004. 1771-830. Print.Mobley, Marilyn Sanders. “Call and response.” New essays on the Song of Solomon. Ed. Valerie Smith. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge UP, 1995. 42-43. Print. Morrison, Tony. Song of Solomon. New York: Knopf, 1989. Print.X, Malcolm and Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine, 1999. Print.