Allusion To Pilate In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

Allusion to Pilate in Song of Solomon In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, Milkman, the main character, has an aunt named Pilate Dead. Pilate’s name is a biblical allusion to Pontius Pilate, but it is also a homonym for the word “pilot” (SparkNote Editors). Pilate, like almost all of the characters in the novel are given names directly from the Bible, such as First Corinthians, Reba, Hagar, and Ruth. In the novel, Pilate has very few similarities to the Bible's Pontius Pilate, but because of her similarities to a pilot Morrison should that name. Throughout the novel, Pilate acts as a knowledgeable moral guide for Milkman and leads him to his “flight” by the end of the novel. This makes her a “pilot” for figuratively steering Milkman

Pilate is also characterized by her independence and strong demeanor, despite the challenges of discrimination she has had to overcome, such as her race, class, sex, and having no navel, which especially caused her ridicule. Pilate is lacking a belly button because her mother during Pilate’s birth, where Pilate, as unborn baby, is described to have "had come struggling out of the womb without help from throbbing muscles or the pressure of swift womb water” (Morrison 27). Pilate's unusual birth and lack of navel shows her independence and individuality from the rest of her family, and also society, which she possesses from the very beginning to throughout her entire life. Lacking a navel causes abandonment and mockery towards Pilate from most all groups or communities, even the black community. Despite this alienation, Pilate remained caring and selfless, and she “never bothered anybody, was helpful to everybody, but who also was believed to have the power to step out of her skin, set a bush afire from fifty yards, and turn a man into a ripe rutabaga—all on account

During the 1st century, Pontius Pilate was a Roman prefect under the emperor of Tiberius. Pilate’s job as a prefect included tasks like tax collecting or managing construction projects, but after years as a prefect he was given the new position of governor of Judaea and the power of a supreme judge. As a supreme judge Pilate had complete authority over ordering a criminal’s execution, and he now also had the most important responsibility of maintaining law and order. Pilate is most widely known for his work as a judge on Jesus’s trial. During the trial, Pontius falsely claims that Jesus embraced the title of King of the Jews after Pontius asked about his title, and according to the Roman government, this accusation was considered an act of treason. Pontius was also suspected of collaborating with Jewish leaders to prosecute Jesus and he gave into their pressure to execute Jesus. Throughout the trial, Pilate was described of having been cruel and unfair. Pilate was indecisive about the trial, and ultimately decided to remove himself from involvement in Jesus’s crucifixion. Pilate stood before a crowd and washed his hands to rid himself of the blame after seeing no personal benefit from the trial, which he states, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves". (Biography.com