Do I Deserve Dessert?

In chapter 11 of the novel "Song of Solomon," our main protagonist Milkman comes to a stunning realization that almost transcends his former maturity level that we are familiar with. While on the hunt with the strangers he meets in Shalimar, Milkman gets too tired to follow his partner Calvin since he is out of shape and falls into what can be akin to a mid-life crisis. Before I continue, I think many people, including myself, are subject to the inexplicable feeling that Milkman isn't that old, even when faced events and facts in the novel that prove otherwise. This crisis that occurs showcases the maturity the Milkman has finally attained, something that he might have never gotten. Continuing with his newfound consciousness, Milkman starts to complain about how "these savages" are "devious, jealous, traitorous, and evil," and feels as if he is not deserving of this behavior from this complete strangers (Morrison 276). After coming to the conclusion that he "didn't deserve" this treatment, he realizes that he actually doesn't deserve anything (Morrison 276). All he wants is for people to keep their troubles to themselves and not lay them onto his own conscious. This elevated thinking even troubles Milkman, a sign that Milkman starts to understand the world around him in a different way. Milkman starts to understand that he is not entitled to anything, contrary to what he subconsciously believed as he was growing up. This will hopefully give way to more Milkman insight for the rest of the book.