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Flight's ability to liberate and abandon (Mr. Smith Flight from the…

- - - - Milkman’s struggles to find himself for the majority of the novel. He lives a cushioned life hindering his ability to experience challenges and life lessons; as a result, Milkman’s liminal journey does not occur until the end of the novel.
    - - Milkman’s life story is regarded as a Bildungsroman. A Bildungsroman is a coming of age story that highlights a protagonist's’ moral and psychological growth from youth to adulthood. Because Milkman struggles to take flight and come of age, it takes him abnormally longer to finally mature, and his shielded upbringing is the reason why.
  - - - Milkman grows during his journey as he finally realizes some of his wrongdoings with regards to his treatment of Hagar. His realization occurs conveniently during the middle of the children's song in which it hints at Solomon’s flight and abandonment of his family, and this mirrors the sadness inflicted by Milkman onto Hagar when he flies away from home to find himself.
    - - Morrison intentionally ends the novel vaguely by not describing who prevails in the fight to the death between Guitar and Milkman. This ending demonstrates that, regardless of if he dies or not, Milkman’s flight and legacy will live on.
    - - Milkman’s near death experience helps him to gain perspective on his life.
    - - Immediately after he is nearly killed by Guitar and has a realization, Milkman’s change is apparent in his interactions with Sweet. Previously with Hagar, Milkman used her and did not understand the term reciprocity; however, when around Sweet, he does favors for her instead of being selfish #