Song of Solomon

The narrative switches back to Hagar. After Milkman leaves her in Guitar’s room, she is bereft. Once she returns home, Hagar sits motionless by the window, or lies on the bed without speaking, causing Pilate and Reba to worry about her incessantly. Finally, Hagar rouses when Pilate puts a pink compact mirror in front of her. Hagar sees her reflection and repeats to herself, “No wonder he didn’t want me. I look terrible” (308). She immediately gets up and wants a bath and a clean, ironed dress. She then wants to go shopping to get “everything,” so Reba sells her diamond ring and gives Hagar all the money to shop for clothes and makeup. She also wants to get her hair done at the salon.

Hagar gets caught in the rain, and all of her purchases get soaked. When she gets home, she puts on her new underwear and her new outfit, then puts on the makeup. But everything is damaged, “the wet ripped hose, the soiled white dress, the sticky, lumpy face powered, the streaked rouge, and the wild wet shoals of hair” (314). She breaks down when she realizes what she looks like.