Song of Solomon
A Novel
Summary
Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, published in 1977, is a masterpiece of African-American literature that has captivated readers for generations. This compelling coming-of-age story follows the life of Macon “Milkman” Dead III, exploring themes of identity, family, and the search for one's roots. The novel's rich prose and complex characters have earned it widespread critical acclaim, including winning the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Morrison's brilliant storytelling in Song of Solomon has solidified its place in the literary canon. The novel was chosen for Oprah Winfrey's book club, exposing it to a wider audience and cementing its status as a modern classic. In 1998, the Radcliffe Publishing Course named it the 25th best English-language novel of the 20th century.
The novel's exploration of African-American heritage and the power of storytelling has inspired countless writers and readers. It was also cited by the Swedish Academy when awarding Morrison the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, recognizing her significant contributions to the world of literature.
Plot
Macon “Milkman” Dead III is born in Michigan shortly after a man attempts to fly off a rooftop. As Milkman grows up, he feels alienated from his family, particularly his father. His aunt Pilate, a bootlegger, becomes an important figure in his life, offering glimpses into their family history. As a young man, Milkman begins a relationship with his cousin Hagar, but later rejects her, leading to her obsessive attempts to kill him.
Believing Pilate possesses gold from a cave she and his father found in their youth, Milkman and his friend Guitar attempt to steal it. They're arrested when the bag is found to contain human bones instead. This incident propels Milkman on a journey south to Pennsylvania and Virginia in search of his family's past and the alleged gold.
In Shalimar, Virginia, Milkman uncovers the truth about his family history through a children's song. He realizes the song Pilate used to sing is about their family. Meanwhile, the spurned Hagar falls into a deep depression and dies. Milkman returns to Michigan to share his discoveries with Pilate.
Milkman convinces Pilate to travel with him to Virginia to bury her father's remains. After they lay the bones to rest, Pilate is accidentally killed by a bullet meant for Milkman, fired by Guitar who had been pursuing him. The novel concludes with Milkman leaping towards Guitar, finally learning to “fly” metaphorically.
Themes
• Search for identity and heritage
• The importance of names and naming
• Flight as both escape and empowerment
• Family relationships and generational trauma
• Racism and its impact on African-American communities
• The power of storytelling and oral traditions
• Love, desire, and the complexities of human connections
Setting
Set primarily in an unnamed Rust Belt city in Michigan, Song of Solomon spans several decades of the 20th century, from the 1930s through the 1960s. The novel's backdrop reflects the social and economic changes affecting African American communities during this tumultuous period, including the Great Migration and the Civil Rights Movement.
While much of the story unfolds in the urban North, the narrative also transports readers to the rural South. Milkman's journey takes him to Pennsylvania and Virginia, where he uncovers his family's roots and explores the rich cultural heritage of African American communities in these regions. This geographical contrast highlights the differences between Northern and Southern Black experiences in mid-20th century America.
Toni Morrison vividly portrays specific locations within these broader settings, from the bustling streets of Milkman's hometown to the mystical cave in Pennsylvania and the close-knit community of Shalimar, Virginia. These diverse environments serve as more than mere backdrops; they become integral to the characters' development and the unfolding of the novel's themes of identity, heritage, and the search for belonging.
Characters
• Macon “Milkman” Dead III: The protagonist and central character of the novel. Born into a wealthy African-American family, Milkman struggles with his identity and alienation throughout his life. He embarks on a journey of self-discovery to uncover his family's history and heritage. Milkman's quest leads him to learn about his ancestors and ultimately find a sense of belonging and purpose.
• Pilate Dead: Milkman's paternal aunt and a key figure in his life. Pilate is a strong, independent woman who lives outside of societal norms. She serves as a spiritual guide and connection to the family's past for Milkman. Pilate's unconventional wisdom and supernatural abilities play a crucial role in Milkman's journey of self-discovery.
• Guitar Bains: Milkman's childhood friend and eventual antagonist. Guitar becomes involved with a radical group called the Seven Days, which seeks violent retribution for crimes against Black people. His relationship with Milkman becomes increasingly complex and strained as the story progresses.
• Macon Dead Jr.: Milkman's father and a successful businessman. Macon is obsessed with wealth and status, often at the expense of his family's emotional well-being. His troubled relationship with Milkman is a central conflict in the novel.
• Ruth Foster Dead: Milkman's mother and Macon Jr.'s wife. Ruth has a complicated relationship with both her husband and son. She is known for breastfeeding Milkman well past infancy, which leads to his nickname.
• Hagar: Pilate's granddaughter and Milkman's cousin and lover. Hagar becomes obsessed with Milkman after he ends their relationship. Her descent into madness and eventual death serve as a tragic subplot in the novel.
• First Corinthians and Magdalene Dead: Milkman's sisters. They live unfulfilling lives under their father's strict control and struggle to find their own identities.
• Circe: An old woman who provides Milkman with crucial information about his family history. She serves as a mystical figure who helps connect Milkman to his past.
Quick facts
• Song of Solomon was Toni Morrison's third published novel.
• Morrison wrote the novel while teaching at Yale University.
• The novel's title is a reference to the biblical Song of Solomon.
• Song of Solomon won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 1978.
• It was chosen as part of Oprah Winfrey's popular book club.
• The Swedish Academy cited this novel when awarding Morrison the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature.
• The main character's nickname “Milkman” inspired the name of the punk rock band The Dead Milkmen.
• The novel has faced several challenges and bans in US schools since 1993.
• The story spans three decades, from the 1930s through the 1960s.
• In 1998, Song of Solomon was named the 25th best English-language novel of the 20th century by the Radcliffe Publishing Course.
About the author
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison was one of the most influential and celebrated American authors of the 20th century. Born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in 1931, Morrison grew up in Lorain, Ohio, and went on to become the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Her novels, including The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, and Beloved, are known for their vivid portrayals of Black American experiences and explorations of identity, race, and history.
Morrison's career as a writer flourished alongside her work as an editor at Random House, where she played a key role in bringing Black literature into the mainstream. Her own literary debut came in 1970 with The Bluest Eye, and she went on to publish acclaimed novels throughout the following decades. Beloved, published in 1987, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and is widely considered Morrison's masterpiece. The novel, inspired by the true story of an enslaved woman who killed her child to spare her from slavery, exemplifies Morrison's unflinching examination of the legacy of slavery in America.
Beyond her fiction, Morrison was an influential essayist and cultural critic. Her book of literary criticism, Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination, challenged readers to reconsider the role of race in American literature. Morrison was also a dedicated teacher, holding positions at several universities including Princeton, where she was a professor from 1989 until her retirement in 2006. Throughout her career, she remained committed to amplifying Black voices and perspectives in literature.
Morrison's impact on American letters is immeasurable. Her lyrical prose style, complex characters, and fearless confrontation of difficult themes earned her numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Morrison passed away in 2019 at the age of 88, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to inspire readers and writers around the world. Her work remains essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of race, identity, and history in America.