Differences Between Macon J. And Pilate

Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon tells the life story of Milkman and his family. The novel is well written and complex, while talking about several complex issues such as race, gender, and class. Although the novel makes reference to the several issues, the novel primarily focuses on what people’s desires are and their identities. Specifically through the difference between Macon Jr. and Pilate, Morrison illustrates that our most authentic desires come not from material items, but from our wish to connect with others.
In the novel, the characters Macon and Pilate are siblings with very different ways of living. Macon values his wealth and his reputation more than anything else, including his family. He stopped talking to his sister because he believed that she stole the gold they found from him. He also is embarrassed of people in the town finding out that his sister is a criminal. Everything Macon does is to gain the wealth and show off his

status of the richest African American in the town. For example, he would take his family every Sunday afternoon in his nice car to drive around and show off that he is a successful African American. His success is what Macon feels is what he wants. Valerie Smith’s article, “The Quest for and Discovery of Identity in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon”, she writes - in agreement with me- that “Macon’s love of property and money determines the nature of his relationships” because of the clear lack of meaningful relationships he has.

Unlike Macon, Pilate is completely different.

She has a “sheer disregard for status, occupation, hygiene, and manners” which leads her to “affirm spiritual values”, as Valerie Smith says in her article. Throughout the novel, Pilate is pictured as a woman who defies the stereotypical woman of the time period. Contrary to the women in the novel, she doesn’t need a man to take care of her and her family. She doesn’t care about her status or about money, unlike Macon. Her small family is happy together and they do not need all the material items that Macon and his family has. With none of the materials items Macon has, Pilate is able to have a sense of loyalty and devotion with her family. She protected Milkman since before he was born by helping his mother, Ruth, get pregnant again with him. Pilate also is able to have compassion unlike Macon. This is shown by her carrying the bones of her father in a green sack for many years because she believed she killed a man. Feeling guilty, she decided to always carry the body with

her.

Finally, in “The Quest for and Discovery of Identity in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon”, Smith compares Macon and Pilate’s life by stating that “if the Macon Deads seem barren and lifeless, Pilate’s family bursts with energy and sensuality”. This is true for Macon’s family is one that is afraid of Macon and dependent on him. They don’t really do anything together and they are one of the wealthiest families. While, Pilate’s family sings with each other and they barely have anything. It is in an encounter of Pilate’s family singing that Morrison expresses what Macon deeply wants. While hearing his sister’s family sing, Macon was over joyed with happiness and reflects how he is family is that way. By reflecting on his family’s lack of closeness, Macon is conveying his truest desire. That desire is to have a family that is close, happy, and sings together. He has his success and wealth, but yet he is unhappy and longs for what Pilate has. It is through this that Morrison express that material items don’t have anything to do with our unconscious desire a, but it is to be close with those around us.