Character Analysis Of Pilate Dead In Song Of Solomon

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Pilate Dead is a major character who stands out from the other characters in Song of Solomon. Pilate Dead does not represent the stereotypical weak, dependent woman that the novel depicts through the female characters that are in the story. The women in Song of Solomon were seen as subordinate to their significant other and lacking the strength to live on their own. However, Pilate demonstrates a strong, dependent women who is capable of surviving on her own without showing any inferiority to men. Her strength and independence is shown through her lifestyle, her relationship with other characters, and her death.
Pilate Dead’s lifestyle exhibits her character as a person who does not count upon individuals as a way of living. In the novel, she is seen as a single mother who is able to raise and care for her child, Reba, and her grand-daughter, Hagar. Pilate, …show more content…

The way in which Pilate’s death occurs indicates that she achieved flight, which symbolizes freedom, due to her strength and independence. One major theme of the novel was the idea of voyage or liberty. Throughout the novel, it hints that many individuals, such as, Robert Smith and Solomon aim to seek a life free of oppression in a racist society. However, such actions is found difficult to achieve. Pilate is proves that having a lack of restrictions depends upon character. Milkman mentions “without ever leaving the ground, she could fly.” (336). Pilate was able to be fly and be free without lifting off into the sky as Pilate lived a life where she choose to follow herself and survive a life on her own. In addition, Pilate demonstrates that she is not the standard women shown in the novel, rather she is atypical, which is hinted when Milkman whispers to Pilate as she approaches her death “there’s got to be at least one more women like you.”

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