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Pilate's Continual Singing Analysis

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Pilate’s continual singing helps to foster Milkman’s growth in discovering his ancestry as well as learn about his mistreatment of people, especially women. The Sugarman song that Pilate frequently sang appears again to reveal Milkman’s ancestry to him. As the children sang a slightly different version of the song, “singing ‘Solomon don’t leave me’ instead of ‘Sugarman,’” Milkman began to piece together how the song was dealing directly with his ancestors. The fact that Pilate had been singing this song throughout the entire book shows how she was subtly planting a seed in Milkman’s head about his background that caused him to go search for answers. Singing in Song of Solomon was also closely tied to women and feminine actions. As Milkman
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Throughout Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, Milkman Dead’s name serves as a constant reminder of his unhealthy relationship with his mother, Ruth Dead, which in itself is a reflection of her deep-rooted issues with her own personal life that are out of Milkman’s control. The significance of Milkman’s name has multiple layers to it. For example, it is important to recall that his real name is Macon because he makes a significant effort to distance himself from Macon Jr. and prove himself to be different from him. Ruth’s breastfeeding him well past his infancy results in his being stuck with the nickname “Milkman” before he is even old enough to understand the situation.

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Pilate’s name is significant and very interesting throughout the novel “Song of Solomon”, for the reader knows who she is from the moment they learn her name. Pilate was named after the biblical figure, Pontius Pilate, the man who was responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, but Pilate does not resonate with Pontius Pilate at all. Although she doesn’t share any characteristics with the origin of her name, when pronounced as “pilot” her name fits her like a glove. Pilate is very knowledgeable when it comes to geography and has migrated to many different places to call her home, such as Virginia. Instead of following the path that her name made for her, Pilate avoids the evil that is found in the name and makes a new path as a pilot.

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In the novel “Song of Solomon,” written by Toni Morrison, a character named Milkman is heavily affected by his past in many instances throughout the text. This is constantly shown through both his father and his general past. It can be interpreted that not only is he a different person because of this, but also because he does not feel the need to be in the moment. His father, Macon Dead, was a huge influence on him throughout his life.

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In order to reach his destination Milkman has to buy a beat up old car that he ends up having to get repairs on during his journey. Despite the car troubles, Milkman begins to enjoy himself. His attention is still slightly on gold but his priority shifts to learning about his family’s history and origins, whether he’s willing to admit it or not. Milkman allows himself to enjoy this part of his journey and goes hunting with some other men. When the other men tease him for “accidentally tripping his gun,” Milkman shows an adult maturity and does not correct them but instead laughs along with the joke.

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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.

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Throughout the second half of the novel, Milkman has his coming of age story-line by finding his own identity. Milkman starts selflessly helping people, befriending people, and connecting with nature as he learns more and more about his father’s family. While Milkman goes on an unconventional self-discovery, the whole meaning of Song of Solomon is the loss of identity and the self-journey to find one’s identity and place in the world. By unearthing the truth of his family, Milkman is finally able to form an identity and find his “people.” Only once Milkman begins his journey to find the gold, which is a guise for self-discovery, does Milkman finally uncover his life-long mystery: the mystery of his family’s past and his own identity.

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Fourth, Milkman’s relationship with his sisters mirrors Macon II’s relationship with Pilate. Both take the actions of their siblings for granted and in Milkman’s case he uses his sisters just as he uses everyone else in his life before his personal rebirth. Magdalene later confronts Milkman when he tells Macon II about First Corinthians relationship. However, Magdalene is disgusted and has a similar viewpoint as Guitar. Up to this point in his life Milkman has never helped a single soul and she does not trust him just like Guitar when he sees Milkman lift a crate for someone and assumes it is only for his personal gain because he has never helped anyone.

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Toni Morrison’s novel Song of Solomon tells the story of Macon “Milkman” Dead, a character completely alienated from his community, his family and his heritage. The readers follow his journey, during which he attempts to find his “inheritance” of gold that his father, Macon Dead, believes was hidden by Pilate Dead. Instead, he travels to the fictional town of Shalimar where his family line began in America in order to fully understand the cultural heritage that has been left for him - in the process experiencing an understanding of the word home. Home is often represented by the motif of cherries, which different people in Milkman’s immediate family - eventually including Milkman encounter throughout the book. Even though these events are

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His social awakening also inspires a change in attitude towards the treatment of women. Initially, Milkman objectifies Hagar and treats her as an inferior, but when he encounters Sweet, he begins to reciprocate her affections and treat her with respect. Furthermore, Milkman’s change in motivation for his flight south illustrates the development of his maturity through his pursuit of his family’s history, proving that attaining wealth is no longer his sole purpose. During his time south, Milkman was maliciously pursued by Guitar. His attempted murderer of Milkman creates the illusion of a resurrection to which Milkman develops social awareness.

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Throughout literature, most novels incorporate an adventure and an exploration theme about the hero journeying to find their path. In the novel Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison, it begins depicting Milkman as a feeble dependent character that relies on his friends and family for all of his needs. However, as the novel progresses the view of Milkman develops into an independent figure through a journey. Milkman’s personality and mindset shift as the purpose of the journey diverts away from gold and greed. He comes to realize what’s important in the world and begins exploring what really matters; his race, family’s homes, and identity in the world.

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