Using money as a symbol

       Throughout the book were shown that the Dead family, for the most part is very well off. This is primarily because of Macon Jrs success and through the family stinginess, however for a family to get that level of money at the time there was a certain amount of luck involved as well. Macon is a believer in the American dream, and the idea that how hard you work and save determines how much money you will end up with. Based off of the conversations Milkman has with the people in Pennsylvania its evident that Macon Jr has been stingy since childhood. I found it interesting that although general he's portrayed as a miser he drives a 225 Buick from the same year. Besides that I think that money represents how Milkman and the rest of the Dead is extremely whitewashed by their money. Like on page 255 when the man who was driving Milkman becomes upset at him when Milkman tries to pay him for the ride and some Coca Cola. Milkman fails to understand that some people do things based off of human good, and not necessarily done for money. Milkman docent see how his families wealth puts him on a pedestal above all the other blacks in the book. Overall money is one of the biggest factors that contribute to Milkman needing to go through the coming of age that he does. Eventually Milkman will come to realize the negative affects that having that much wealth is having on him, which causes him to "shed" all the excess weight he has and finally take flight.

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