Research on Naming

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4                Not Doctor Street and No Mercy Hospital

Names

The reasons how people and places in “Song of Solomon” get their names is very significant. There are some obvious names such as Milkman’s name. Freddie the janitor saw his Milkman’s mother Ruth, breastfeeding him at an unusual age. But there are some names where more research needs to be done and you need to further analyze the name. One name that struck me was the title of the book itself: “Song of Solomon.” There are many instances in the book that are tied to the story of Song of Solomon in the Bible. For example, Solomon (Milkman’s great grandfather) abandons his wife Ryna and it is said that you can still here her cries. This is similar to the Bible because the husband leaves his wife and she is filled with sadness. In the Bible, the story is a lyrical poem about a husband and wife. It demonstrates God’s design of marriage and how man and woman must live together and love each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This is also similar to Pilate’s story. She loved the man who she had a child with and he even offered to marry her. But she leaves him because she is ashamed of the fact that she has no navel. Again, this is similar to the Bible because when difficulties arise, someone leaves. The last reason why I think Toni Morrison title the book “Song of Solomon” is because singing and songs are a very repetitive part of the book. At the very start, Pilate is singing in a very large crowd. And in the end, Milkman breaks down and analyzes a song that he heard Pilate and some little girls singing. He starts to understand a little more about his past and he has a realization. Again, this is similar to the Bible because after the husband and wife reunite, they realize their love for each other and sing. The title “Song of Solomon” has a reason behind it. And that reason can be found by looking at the Bible and analyzing the characters’ past.




Emmelynn Gu

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

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.

Francisco Sepulveda - Naming

Throughout the novel Song of Solomon we see how naming plays a critical role. The novel begins with how the naming of streets differs between the locals and officials of the city. The actual name of the street on which Mercy Hospital is located is "Mains Avenue". The citizens of this town called this street Doctor Street since it was where the only colored doctor in town lived and died on. The novel continues on the same page by saying that "once more colored people moved into the area and the postal service became a popular way of sending messages between people" then the government interfered because people had to enlist into the military. Many people put that they lived on Doctor Street showing the alienation that the residents had from the other towns. The officials said that the street was "not Doctor Street" instead of helping the problem the residents continued with the name "Not Doctor Street" and named the hospital "No Mercy Hospital" All these ideas about naming shows how people prefer on going with the tradition of how they named things. All the residents of this town did not trust the written or recorded name. This idea also relates to how Milkman felt determined to find out the real name his grandfather had and did not "agree" with the name and did not go with what was the "recorded" name given from the Yankee soldier.

Naming

Pilate—meaning "Christ-killing" or riverboat pilot

The name Pilate can be tied to the variety of themes Toni Morrison incorporates in Song of Solomon. Through random selection and a point of a finger her father chooses the name, which is assumed to explain the death of her mother during childbirth. The connection of her name can be in relation to the theme of the "death", which is mentioned periodically through out the book. Also, her not having a physical belly button could represent how she is not connected with society. She is different from the characters and by her not having a navel demonstrates a quality of being "divine". This comes from a religious perspective, God created Adam and Eve and in the Bible it says they do not have a belly button in that regard Adam and Eve can be similar to Pilate.


--Kristina Grindstaff

Naming in the "Song of Solomon"

Throughout the book, names are symbols of liberation and oppression. Take Milkman, for example, who was named because he was seen being breastfed by his mother at an abnormal age. He is known as Milkman for the remainder of the novel, and the fact that his nickname describes him better than his real name (Macon) shows that written names are questionable. Rather, names are given through oral tradition; take, for example, Mains Avenue. After Dr. Foster's death, the street is known as "Not Doctor Street." It is in this way that names are a symbol for oppression, because the names hold some of these people back from knowing who they truly are.

However, names are also representative of liberation, because when Milkman finds out his grandfather's true name he begins to feel proud of his family history.

Pilate, who is Macon Dead Jr.'s sister, was named by placing a pin randomly in a Bible, and the name that was put by the pin was the name that the child would get. The pin happened to land on Pilate, from Pontius Pilate, who oversaw the execution of Jesus. Although the name had a negative connotation, Pilate herself was exactly the opposite. Her name is a homonym for "pilot", which is related to flying and freedom.

Pilate carries alot of value in her name; she carries her name in a snuffbox in her ear because she knows that is provides inspiration and sustenance for her and her children. Just as Pilate caries her name around as her identity, Milkman also carries around his story after his transformation as part of his identity.

--Deshna Majmudar