Naming in Song of Solomon

Everyone is given a name at his or her birth. Our names are what identify us make us who we are. But the names on our birth certificate are not the only ways that some people identify themselves. Nicknames are also a common way of identifying a person. Although the names that are given to us, help us to easily identify ourselves it does not, in any circumstances define who we are as an individual. Milkman, for example, is given that nickname mainly because he was still breast fed by his mother at an older age. As you continue to read, the name of Milkman does not define him as being a "momma boy" or a "baby". It was only through unfortunate events that that nickname was bestowed onto him. Another example of naming in the book Song of Solomon, is by the name of the character Pilate Dead. Chosen by pointing randomly in a bible, her father (who was grieving the dead of his wife during delivery) decided to name his daughter after Pontius Pilate, the Christ Killer. Under the circumstance that her father was in no condition to make good decisions, he insisted in naming his daughter Pilate. But again, this naming does not define who she is as a character. While her name is shone in a negative light, Pilate as an individual is the exact opposite. The last example is the naming of Macon Dead. Being a result of a lazy name choosing process, the name "Macon Dead" has been passed down ever since the name was first written down accidentally. Written by a drunken Yankee in the union army, his pen literally slipped and the name of "Macon Dead" was born. All these examples only support the claim that the names of individuals do not define who they are as a person but rather only to identify themselves. Mostly all these names were created accidentally, with no regards to their personality.

-Neilanie Yadao