Character Analysis of Pilate in Song of Solomon

Toni Morrison employs nature and natural images to portray Pilate as an authentic individual, for, instead of reprimanding Milkman and Guitar, she invites them into her home, embellishing the narrative of her life. The children were predisposed to “…go inside the wine house of this woman who had one earring, no navel, and resembled a tall black tree” (Morrison, pg. 39). Through simile, the author likens Pilate’s appearance and stature to a towering black tree. Trees, ever grounded and rooted deeply, symbolize strength and stability.

The fact that the tree stands tall and deeply rooted suggests an ability to envisage what lies ahead and behind while maintaining one’s stance. In this context, Pilate is equated to the tree due to her wisdom, commanding presence, and unwavering fortitude.

One prime example is when her brother, Macon, forbade her from visiting his house. Given her own residence, she steered clear of his place. Instead of enduring Macon’s disparagement of her attire, she prefers the sanctity of her abode where she calls the shots. Possessing knowledge of the past while envisaging the future, Pilate prioritizes the sharing of their familial history with the children. Nevertheless, the writer notes that she “…had one earring, no navel” to evoke the perception of Pilate as a self-reliant woman. Generally, a woman adorns two earrings, one for each ear; but Pilate sports just one.

Further, the author metaphorically underscores her lack of a navel to highlight an absence of a substantial connection with her mother, both pre and post birth. When a child is in the womb, she or he receives oxygen and nutrients from the mother. In Pilate’s case, “she hadn’t come into this world through normal channels…” (Morrison, pg. 28) and knew little about her mother prior to the latter’s demise. Consequently, she did not experience a conventional birth, leading readers to speculate that her peculiar birth could be the factor propelling her prominence in her chosen sphere of work.

As an independent woman, Pilate takes pride in her accomplishments, striving to climb the ladder of success. Toni Morrison utilizes simile to compare Pilate’s fingernails to ivory, describing, “The whites of her fingernails resembled ivory” (Morrison, pg. 38). Ivory is a coveted material found exclusively on the tusks of elephants, walruses, and narwhals. Extracting ivory demands a courageous spirit capable of overcoming animals deploying their tusks as defensive tools. Ivory, a commodity coveted by many but accessible to few, is valued highly by Pilate, who understands and acknowledges as integral to her existence, similar to her fingernails that enhance the sensitivity of her fingertips.

The characterization of her fingernails as cream-colored suggests an identification rooted in Africa because of the beginnings of ivory. Given that ivory symbolizes Pilate’s African roots, she cannot trade her identification for anything else. Pilate can be characterized as a steadfast, committed individual with resilience since she possesses a tangible treasure for which many would pay handsomely. Her multi-purpose hands demonstrate that she values her labor as a bootlegger, and simultaneously upholds her cultural identity by clinging to it tightly. With this understanding, a parallel can be drawn between ivory and her African heritage. Pilate’s origins in Africa imply that she has endured tremendous hardship to appreciate the value of the labor she has sustained over many years.

Toni Morrison uses electricity as an allusion to power. Pilate is unfazed that her house lacks power. The author posits, “She had no electricity because she wouldn’t pay for the service…they heated themselves and cooked with wood and coal…” (Morrison pg. 27). Part of being a leader involves standing up for one’s beliefs. Pilate thinks power is not as essential to her and her family as it is to others because she is content leading a simple life. This potentially characterizes her as a frugal woman who would rather save her money than spend it on materialistic indulgences.

The electricity company operates to make profits, just as Pilate strives to do the same. She realizes that if she defaults on her monthly payments, the company will cut off her power supply. Hence, she declines to pay for their service. Her refusal to comply is a form of rebellion. She cooks in a traditional way that might require more time to prepare the food perfectly. Nevertheless, she doesn’t need to sign up for electricity since she hardly cooks. From what we know about her, “No meal was ever planned or balanced or served. Nor was there any gathering at the table…They ate what they had or came across or craved” (Morrison pg. 29). Considering her modest earnings as a bootlegger, lesser than an average working-class household, this seems like a wise decision. Given that her family doesn’t eat much, it wouldn’t be necessary for her to pay for a service she seldom requires.

Pilate is depicted as the embodiment of nature for being versatile. She “…loved, as a girl, to eat pine needles and consequently smelled even then like a forest” (Morrison pg. 27). The author utilizes a simile, comparing Pilate’s fragrance to that of a forest. In order to smell like a forest, she must be akin to the earth. A forest is home to numerous plant species. This suggests that Pilate’s personality isn’t defined by a single trait. She is multifaceted and complex. She is no different from an average human – imperfect and prone to mistakes.

Besides, the fact that she chews pine needles as if it is bubble gum suggests that she’s a genuine and honest individual. She is the type of person who is blunt when offering advice to someone else, regardless of whether the words that come out of her mouth might hurt the individual’s feelings. This is because pine needles are sharp, and if one pokes someone, the person will certainly feel the pain and react instantly. The same applies to advice that can hurt a person’s feelings. Nevertheless, the pain won’t kill the person. It will only make the individual stronger either physically, socially, or emotionally if they accept the advice.

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