Close Reading: Marxist Lens #2

Song of Solomon

Marxist Lens

“When Mrs Brains closed the door, Macon Dead went back to the pages of his account book, running his fingertips over the figures and thinking with the unoccupied part of his mind about the first time he called on Ruth Foster’s father. He had only two keys in his pocket then, and if he had let people like the women who just left have their way, he wouldn’t have had any keys at all. It was because of those keys that he could dare to walk over to that part of Not Doctor Street and approach the most important Negro in the city. To lift the lion paw’s knocker, to entertain the thoughts of marrying the doctors daughter was possible because each key represented a house which he owned at the time” (Morrison 22).

Here in this quote is Morrison expressing Macon’s profound ability to make powerful friends and the ability to make money most people like him wouldn’t be able to, in a general overview of course. But the focus here is how I thought the “keys”, as Macon described them; were resemblant to that of “doors of chance” and such, which I will explain later in the entry. But that comparison is very revealing of Marxism through the wealth that is evident and the how the words are placed to make it seem a very prominent position that he’s in.

Starting at the phrase “He only had two keys in his pocket then” immediately made me think of the keys as the way to open the doors to opportunity. For all of us, things such as financial assets are a much needed necessity in anybody’s life. Macon’s already got it all cut out for him. He’s in suitable position for living a lifestyle that he wants, as realty estate was and still is a big paying job. I suspect that Macon’s looking for bigger luck/wealth by approaching “The most important Nego in the city” as he calls him. Basically, it’s my belief he’s probably looking for continuous upgrades in the social ladder to better his family’s life, even though there is no common clash between the upper and lower classes recognized yet (sidenote). Also, the phrase “To entertain the thoughts of marrying the doctor’s daughter was possible because each key represented a house which owned at the time” meant that should he marry Ruth, then he could gain access into a powerful family’s assets and open doors for him to climb higher up the social ladder. This hunger for wealth and respect is what generally drives all oppressed people to forever look for windows that present fortune for them and their family. This section represents an insight of what Macon, the family patriarch is wanting for his clan.