The Importance of Names in Toni Morrison’s Song Of Solomon Essay

The Importance of Names in Toni Morrisons Song Of Solomon Toni Morrisons award-winning novel Song of Solomon is full of very interesting, deep symbolism. Macon Dead III, nicknamed Milkman, is a very symbolic character throughout the novel. His character is not simply symbolic, for so is his name. Also, Milkmans paternal aunt, Pilate, has an extremely significant and symbolic role in the novel. To her father, she represents the child who killed her own mother and took away her fathers wife. comprehend that Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to death, the name Pilate seems to coincide with her father, Macon Deads, opinion. Ironically, though, Pilate is a good person and is murdered in the end, just as Jesus was by Pontius Pilate. other important character in the novel who portrays a great deal of symbolism is Guitar, Milkmans best friend. Guitar is named after something that he is ultimately unable to attain. I saw it when my mother took me downtown with her. I was just a babyI cried f or it, they said. And always asked about it. This unreachable goal accurately describes his character throughout the novel. He is never able to overcome the obstacles that stand in his way or to reach the goals he has set for himself. Toni Morrison intelligently uses the characters Milkman, Pilate, and Guitar to successfully portray a great deal of symbolism throughout her novel.A milkman. Thats what you got here, Miss Rufie. Milkman is given his name for a very logical reason hi...