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Is the protagonist in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon (1977). Named by the town gossip because his mother, Ruth, nursed him at her breast far longer than considered socially acceptable, Milkman's real name is Macon Dead III. The novel tells the story of his passage into manhood and the identity crisis that comes from being the son of Macon Dead II, the most “propertied” African American man in their Michigan town. Macon not only intimidates his tenants, who regard him as a slum landlord, but also his wife and children. He forbids Milkman to associate with his aunt, Pilate Dead, regarding her as the town pariah whose eccentric ways are a source of embarrassment to him and the middle-class identity he has struggled to secure for himself and his family. Milkman decides to give up his middle-class comforts to go south to look for the gold inheritance he has learned about from his father.
The second half of the novel traces Milkman's journey to the South, where he meets his father's people and learns the family history of Solomon, his paternal great-grandfather, who, according to the song he first heard Pilate sing when he was a child, flew back to Africa rather than remain in slavery. The novel also traces Milkman's journey into a new understanding of himself, the African American community, and his relationship to others. At the end of the novel he learns there is no gold, only a sack containing his grandfather's bones. He escorts Pilate to the South and helps her give her father a proper burial. As Pilate dies in his arms, he sings the song he learned from her, having learned that it was not only the song of his people, but also the song that had helped him reclaim a sense of self and his heritage.
Marilyn Sanders Mobley, Folk Roots and Mythic Wings in Sarah Orne Jewett and Toni Morrison, 1992.
— Marilyn Sanders Mobley
Subjects:Literature
Reference entries
Milkman Dead
in The Concise Oxford Companion to African American LiteratureLength: 324 words
I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in African American literature, particularly with a deep knowledge of Toni Morrison's works. My passion for this subject has led me to extensively explore and analyze the characters, themes, and narratives embedded in Morrison's masterpieces. Allow me to demonstrate my expertise by delving into the intricate details of Milkman Dead, the protagonist in Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon."
Milkman Dead, originally named Macon Dead III, serves as a central figure in the novel, symbolizing a complex journey into manhood and grappling with the profound identity crisis associated with his family background. His mother, Ruth, becomes a subject of town gossip due to the unconventional duration of nursing Milkman at her breast, challenging social norms. This act sets the stage for Milkman's exploration of selfhood and heritage.
The character's father, Macon Dead II, represents the most prosperous African American figure in their Michigan town, yet he is depicted as a domineering presence. His actions not only intimidate tenants as a perceived slum landlord but also exert control over his family, dictating Milkman's associations and forbidding contact with his eccentric aunt, Pilate Dead.
Milkman's decision to forsake his middle-class comforts and journey to the South in search of a gold inheritance becomes a pivotal plot point. This quest unveils the family history of Solomon, Milkman's paternal great-grandfather, who is said to have flown back to Africa to escape slavery. The novel's second half follows Milkman's transformative journey, offering insights into African American community dynamics and his evolving self-awareness.
The conclusion of the novel reveals a poignant truth—there is no gold, only a sack containing Milkman's grandfather's bones. This revelation prompts Milkman to accompany Pilate, his aunt, to the South, where he actively participates in giving his grandfather a proper burial. As Pilate passes away in his arms, Milkman sings a song learned from her, symbolizing the reclamation of his identity and heritage.
To further enrich your understanding of Milkman Dead, I recommend exploring Marilyn Sanders Mobley's work, "Folk Roots and Mythic Wings in Sarah Orne Jewett and Toni Morrison" (1992), which provides valuable insights into the cultural and mythic dimensions of Morrison's literary creations.
