Material Possession

Material possession is a reoccurring theme in the novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. One of the more prominent characters that rely heavily on material items would be Macon Dead Sr. Macon and his wife, Ruth, have a complicated relationship. Macon treats Ruth poorly because of a past incident involving her father, in which they both have different stories for. Macon’s resentment for Ruth is one of the causes of Macon’s need for material possessions. For example, when Macon learns that his son’s new nickname is “Milkman,” he assumes that Ruth had something to do with it and he becomes angry so “Macon Dead dug in his pocket for his keys, and curled his fingers around them, letting their bunchy solidity calm him”(17). The “keys” Macon has represent all of the property he owns. Macon’s property is significant to him because it gives him a sense of fulfillment in which he does get from his marriage with Ruth. Over the years, as Macon and Ruth’s relationship grew colder, Macon’s need for material items has grown stronger.