The Character Development of Milkman

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In Song of Solomon Toni Morrison tells a story of one black man's journey toward an understanding of his own identity and his African American roots. This black man, Macon "Milkman" Dead III, transforms throughout the novel from a naïve, egocentric, young man to a self-assured adult with an understanding of the importance of morals and family values. Milkman is born into the burdens of the materialistic values of his father and the weight of a racist society. Over the course of his journey into his family's past he discovers his family's values and ancestry, rids himself of the weight of his father's expectations and society's limitations, and literally learns to fly. Morrison sets the stage with many explanations for Milkman's unlikable qualities. Milkman's father, Macon Dead Jr., is an aristocratic black businessman. Macon Dead prides himself on his money and his land, believing that it is his wealth that earns him respect and power. Macon Dead is a cold and unfeeling person, having no regard or respect for women or the poor black folk that live in the town that he owns a large part of. Because Macon has no respect for the poor black people of the town he and his family naturally are disconnected from the ongoing racial issues affecting the black society. Where the Dead's live they are more white than they are black. Now that Morrison has explained the background that Milkman comes from the reader can now understand why Milkman has such personality flaws. Milkman is presented to the reader as someone who has much to learn about life and his personality can now be developed throughout the story. Because of his family Milkman grows into a materialistic young m... ... middle of paper ... ...ry peaceful picture as Pilate and Milkman bury the first Macon Dead on Solomon's Leap. Putting Macon Dead to rest is symbolic of putting their past to rest. It is also the last chapter in Pilate's life because she is then shot by Milkman's best friend. Morrison does not make her death seem like a tragedy because Pilate seems ready to accept death. Pilate was more like a mother to Milkman than an aunt. Milkman watched the only woman that he ever cared about die by the hand of his best and only friend. To Milkman there was now nothing else to live for. So by relinquishing his greed and his neuroticism Milkman gave up "all the shit" that weighed him down and, following the legacy of his great grandfather, jumped off of Solomon's Leap. In the end maybe Milkman actually did fly because, "if you surrender to the air, you can ride it."

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