Auditory Narrative in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon

This article primarily explores the centrality of sound and listening in Toni Morrison’s literary text. Drawing on theories on sound cultural studies, narratology, and cultural identity, this essay analyzes Morrison’s representation of sound and its significance on characterization, plot, and theme in Song of Solomon. Morrison’s literary sounds—voices of oral storytelling, the sound of music, and the protagonist Milkman Dead’s listening experiences are deeply rooted in African American sound culture. A close analysis of her sound writing in Song of Solomon helps to give the reader a glimpse of the soundscape of African American culture as well as the vital role listening plays in African American survival, endurance, and cultural identification.