Symbolism In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

Throughout the first chapter of Song of Solomon, readers are introduced to one of the main characters, Macon Dead, and the environment in which he lives in. Concentrating on the personal problems of Macon rather than detailing the world around him, author Toni Morrison shares readers a glimpse of the society and the racial segregation that inhabits the world around Macon during the first few pages of her novel when chronicling the history of the local hospital’s home. In the description of the street in which the hospital stands, Morrison reveals a conflict between the caucasian and african american populations on “Not Doctor Street, a name the post office did not recognize.” While african americans had gifted the institution’s road the title

Now under the title of “No Mercy Hospital,” fitting for the outcome of the original conflict, this institution left isolated itself from its surroundings, cutting itself off from african american patients until 1931 when, as Morrison describes, “the first colored expectant mother was [finally] allowed to give birth inside its wards and not on its steps.” Before this unexpected day, african americans were not granted the right to enter the halls of the hospital. Even the first african american doctor, who “had been dead a long time by 1931,” “had never been granted hospital privileges and only two of his patients were ever admitted to Mercy, both white.” As he worked with little assistance and acceptance, this doctor was even restricted helping his fellow man, forced to ignore family, friends, neighbors and anyone who had the same skin color as he did. Not only was the street a mark of contempt for the average african american man, woman and child, the hospital and its employees was shackled to this sadness and this imprint of bigotry. While this window to the home of Macon Dead that Morrison builds in this first chapter is short, within its two pages, it is able to shine and reveal the prejudice that has developed in the area, the victory of the caucasian americans and the defeat of the african