"He himself did nothing. Except for the one time he had hit his father, he had never acted independently, and that act, his only one, had brought unwanted knowledge too, as well as some responsibility for that knowledge. ... but he felt put upon; felt as though some burden had been given to him and that he didn't deserve it. None of that was his fault, and he didn't want to have to think or be or do something about any of it." (page 120)
He's at least THIRTY, and yet he still refuses to accept responsibility – not blame, responsibility – for things that affect him. As a twelve-year-old, fine. But this man is thirty, approaching middle age. I guess this whole attitude is very reflective of his place and his opportunity/privilege. He has no need to take responsibility for anything, so why this, right? I dislike Milkman, I think, because he avoids everything around him, or he decides not to engage in anything or CARE about anything real. Like Guitar's political Passion: Milkman has none of that. (Buying a plane ticket out of Alabama, for example.) All he does is avoid situations, avoid hardship, avoid responsibility, emotion, etc. He's so stagnant, and it's so frustrating. I want him to care about something!
Apathy is probably THE most frustrating disease of the YOUTHS. At least when someone feels strongly about negative or wrong things you can fervently debate/hate them/have strong feelings back. With apathetic lame-os, they're just vegetables. What are you supposed to do about that?
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