Today, we finished reading the book Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. Quite early in the book, one line that really struck me was when Milkman was meeting Pilate for the first time. Upon asking if she was related to his father, she said, "The only one he got. Ain't but three Deads alive." In this case, she is referring to herself, Reba, and Hagar. But what about Milkman and his family? Are they not Deads too? At this point, I started to wonder if we were in for a plot twist—that Macon Jr. wasn't actually related to Macon Sr.—but by the end of the novel it became clear that Toni Morrison had other intentions.
In fact, death is an recurring theme in this book. Even though the Deads are physically alive and breathing, their suffocated way of life makes them metaphorically dead. Because of this, I think it's no coincidence that their last name is Dead. Off the bat, I could tell that names played an important role in this book. The title, Song of Solomon, is referring to Solomon from the Bible. All the other names seem to be pulled from the Bible, too, including Pilate, First Corinthians, Magdalene called Lena, etc. I suppose it's fitting then that the book takes on a prophetic approach when it comes to Milkman's story. We later learn that the real reason for their last name being "Dead" is the fault of a drunken soldier three generations ago, though it is interesting that the Macons of this family keep the name.
Additionally, flight is a key element of Song of Solomon. The song itself depicts a man taking flight, a man we later learn is Milkman's grandfather. This seems like a liberating moment for Milkman, as he has had the urge to fly since infancy. However, as some people mentioned in class, the term "flight" isn't necessarily a good thing. Though Macon I, or Jake, was departing on an eventful journey, he was also abandoning his family in the process. This relates back to Milkman's issues with flight, especially in his younger years. On the somber weekly family outings, Milkman had to sit backwards. "It was like flying blind, and not knowing where he was going—just where he had been—troubled him." This is a very poignant struggle in Milkman's life, up until the last line of the book. He makes the realization, "if you surrendered to the air, you could ride it." This gives a new meaning to the concept of flight, yet Morrison still leaves it ambiguous.
Finally, family is very important in this novel. Milkman grows up in a wealthy, sheltered environment, disconnected from the rest of society. His family's odd behaviors tarnish him from a young age. His father, a greedy penny-pincher who relishes power, keeps Milkman from developing like a young boy should. On the other hand, his mother, Ruth, is a little too attached by some standards, and nurses him way past the normal age. As a result, Macon III is branded Milkman, a nickname which he carries for the rest of his life. In Part Two of the book, when Milkman travels away from his hometown and into the town of his ancestors, he becomes more attune with himself and those around him.
Overall, the novel can be seen as Milkman's coming of age regarding his family. In order to grow closer to his roots, he actually needs to leave his nuclear family in search of something bigger. In this sense, he is taking flight—the metaphorical flight he has been yearning since birth. He is escaping both towards and away from something, and it becomes a big turning point in his life. Prior to this, he has been a thirty-something-year-old with the mind of a teenager, and it is only after he takes this leap of faith that he matures into a respectable man.
