Hagar and Ruth and Bears...oh my

Hagar’s identity has defiantly changed after Milkman dumped her. She goes from a strong woman who drives Milkman crazy to a crazy herself. Her new identity brings in a folktale motif. She goes once a month to kill Milkman but is not successful. She is a curse on him. There is a distinct pattern just like in folktales. She reminds me of a wilie; out to kill who did her wrong. The people in the town around talked about Hagar like she was some kind of monster out to catch Milkman. She’s just gone off the deep end. Love is also shown through her character. She’s lost Milkman’s and now tries for his fear instead.

When Ruth visits Hagar and Pilate Goldilocks was mentioned so I started thinking about how that story was twisted up into this one. There are three women living in the house; all of them very family oriented and wild like the three bears. Ruth is very different than any of the other women. She is “small”, as she calls herself, and caught up in her childish world like Goldilocks. Goldilocks slept in the little bears bed and ate its food. Ruth gets to enjoy Milkman which is what Hagar wants, like the little bear wants his food and bed. And Pilate calms Ruth down to protect Hagar. The big bear chased Goldilocks away to protect his home. Just like Rumpelstiltskin, this tale is integrated into the story.