Song of Solomon Summary: Toni Morrison’s Masterpiece of Identity

Introduction: What Is Song of Solomon About?

Song of Solomon Summary: Unveiling Identity, Flight, and Legacy

What does it mean to truly fly? Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison follows Macon “Milkman” Dead III on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery that transforms him from a disconnected young man into someone who understands the power of his ancestral roots.

This Song of Solomon summary unpacks Morrison’s lyrical exploration of Black identity, family legacy, and the myth of flight.

TL;DR: A young Black man’s quest for gold becomes a journey into his family’s past, revealing the true meaning of freedom and identity.

 Song of Solomon Summary (Non-Spoiler & Spoiler Sections)

Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” is a richly layered novel that delves into themes of identity, family, race, and the complex journey of self-discovery.

This novel, which opens with a suicidal leap and concludes with a confrontational soar, is designed to enclose mystical yet problematic interpretations of flight.
Critically acclaimed, “Song of Solomon” has been praised for placing Toni Morrison “in the front rank of contemporary American writers,” with its enduring quality and lyrical variety.

Reviewers highlight its “rich, full” nature, its ability to impress itself “like a love affair,” and Morrison’s dazzling ability to create a self-contained yet connected black community.

Her sharp ear for “the music of black talk” and her sophisticated use of language, drawing from sources like the Bible and Faulkner, contribute to the novel’s profound impact and humor. The novel won the National Book Critics Circle Award and contributed to Morrison’s later achievement of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Song of Solomon Plot Summary

Non-Spoiler Overview

Song of Solomon tells the story of Macon “Milkman” Dead III, born in Michigan shortly after a man’s failed attempt to fly from a hospital roof. Growing up in a wealthy but emotionally cold household, Milkman feels trapped by his father’s materialism and his mother’s suffocating love. His life changes when he learns about a hidden family treasure, sending him on a journey south to uncover his family’s history.

Along the way, he:
✔ Discovers the legend of his great-grandfather, Solomon, who could fly
✔ Confronts the trauma of racial violence in his family’s past
✔ Learns the difference between physical escape and true freedom

Spoiler Breakdown: Key Moments

Part 1: Milkman’s Privileged but Empty Life

• Milkman gets his nickname after being breastfed far too long

• His father, Macon Dead Jr., is a ruthless landlord obsessed with wealth

• His eccentric aunt Pilate, a bootlegger, lives outside societal norms

Part 2: The Search for Gold

• Milkman and his friend Guitar hunt for rumored family gold

• His journey takes him to Pennsylvania and Virginia, uncovering family secrets

• He learns his grandfather was murdered for his prosperous farm

Part 3: The Discovery of Flight

• In Virginia, Milkman hears a children’s song about his flying ancestor

• Realizes the “gold” he sought was his heritage, not material wealth

• Guitar, now a violent radical, tries to kill him over the treasure

The Tragic Ending

• Pilate is killed while helping Milkman bury their ancestor’s bones

• Milkman makes a final, ambiguous leap—either to attack Guitar or truly fly

Song of Solomon Summary By Chapter

Part I: The Roots of Flight (Chapters 1-9)

Chapter 1: The Birth of Milkman Dead

• Opens with insurance agent Robert Smith’s dramatic suicide attempt by flight from Mercy Hospital

• First Black baby (Milkman) born at hospital during this event

• Introduces key locations: “Not Doctor Street” and “No Mercy Hospital” showing racial erasure

• Pilate Dead makes first appearance singing “Sugarman” song – establishes flight motif

Key Symbol: The failed flight represents both aspiration and the weight of reality

Chapter 2: A House Divided

• Reveals toxic dynamics in Macon Dead Jr.’s household:

  • His hatred for wife Ruth

  • Daughters Lena/Corinthians emotionally stifled

  • Ruth’s prolonged breastfeeding of Milkman (origins of nickname)

• Macon’s explanation of Pilate estrangement hints at family trauma

Character Insight: Milkman’s nickname symbolizes both maternal suffocation and racial emasculation

Chapter 3: Racial Realities

• Milkman begins working for father, gains freedom to explore Southside

• Pool hall encounter shows community resentment toward Dead family wealth

• Guitar’s backstory revealed – father sawed in half at sawmill

• Barbershop talk of Emmett Till murder radicalizes Guitar

Historical Context: 1955 Till murder anchors story in Civil Rights Era tensions

Chapter 4: Toxic Love

• Milkman coldly ends 14-year affair with cousin Hagar via thank-you note

• Hagar’s descent into violent obsession begins

• First assassination attempt with bread knife establishes dangerous dynamic

Theme Alert: “Anaconda love” shows destructive power of possessive relationships

Chapter 5: Radicalization

• Guitar reveals Seven Days society – retaliatory murders for racial violence

• Explains philosophy: “balance the scale” through calculated killings

• Milkman disturbed but intrigued by this extremist response to racism

Foreshadowing: Guitar’s radicalism will later target Milkman himself

Chapter 6: Philosophy of Vengeance

• Deepens exploration of Seven Days’ mission

• Guitar’s justification: “It’s about love, not hate”

• Milkman’s skepticism shows privilege/naivete about racial violence

Key Quote: “You can’t fly off and leave a body” – foreshadows Pilate’s fate

Chapter 7: The Gold Obsession

• Macon Jr. spins tale of Pilate’s stolen family gold

• Recounts father’s murder by white landgrabbers

• Enlists Milkman to steal back “inheritance” from Pilate

Turning Point: Quest for gold becomes quest for identity

Chapter 8: The Heist Plan

• Milkman recruits Guitar for gold theft

• Peacock metaphor introduced: “Can’t nobody fly with all that shit”

• Milkman realizes he seeks freedom more than wealth

Symbolism: Peacock’s beautiful but burdensome tail parallels Dead family wealth

Chapter 9: Truths Revealed

• Corinthians’ secret life as maid and Porter romance exposed

• Failed gold theft leads to arrest

• Pilate’s dramatic police station performance with “husband’s bones”

• Shocking reveal: Sack contains grandfather’s bones, not gold

Character Growth: Milkman begins seeing Pilate’s spiritual wisdom

Part II: The Journey Home (Chapters 10-15)

Chapter 10: Danville Pilgrimage

• Milkman travels to family’s Pennsylvania origins

• Meets ancient midwife Circe in decaying Butler mansion

• Learns true story of grandfather’s murder and land theft

• Cave search yields bat guano, not gold – first disillusionment

Historical Insight: Lincoln’s Heaven represents Black landownership dreams

Chapter 11: Southern Immersion

• Milkman arrives in Shalimar, Virginia

• Experiences culture shock between North/South Black communities

• Finds Guitar’s death threat: “Your Day has come”

• Bar fight leads to acceptance via hunting ritual

Cultural Contrast: Urban/rural Black experiences collide

Chapter 12: The Hunting Revelation

• Bobcat hunt becomes spiritual journey

• Discovers “Solomon” children’s song about flying ancestor

• Realizes song tells his family history:

  • Solomon = flying great-grandfather

  • Jake = grandfather Solomon dropped

  • Ryna = abandoned great-grandmother

Epiphany Moment: Oral tradition preserves truth written records obscure

Chapter 13: Hagar’s Tragedy

• Returns to Hagar’s final days in Michigan

• Psychological unraveling over beauty standards

• Pilate and Reba’s failed attempts to save her

• Powerful funeral scene: “She was loved”

Tragic Irony: Dies from love while Milkman discovers his roots

Chapter 14: Ancestral Confirmation

• Milkman visits cousin Susan Byrd for family verification

• Learns grandmother Sing was Native American

• Completes genealogical puzzle:

  • Solomon (flew back to Africa)
    → Jake (Macon Dead I)
    → Macon Jr.
    → Milkman

Identity Mosaic: African + Native + Black American heritage

Chapter 15: The Final Flight

• Pilate and Milkman return to bury bones at Solomon’s Leap

• Guitar kills Pilate, believing Milkman stole gold

• Pilate’s dying wish: “I would’ve loved more people”

• Milkman’s symbolic leap toward Guitar:

  • Surrender (“ride the air”)

  • Or confrontation?

Ambiguous Ending: Flight as either transcendence or violent reckoning

Main Characters & Their Roles

Themes & Analysis

✍️ About Toni Morrison

Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison (1931-2019) redefined American literature with works exploring Black identity. As an editor and Princeton professor, she championed Black voices. Song of Solomon won the National Book Critics Circle Award, showcasing her signature lyrical style blending history, myth and deep psychological insight.

Final Takeaways: Should You Read It?

Song of Solomon is perfect if you love:
✅ Multi-generational family sagas
✅ Magical realism blended with historical trauma
✅ Profound explorations of race and identity

Read this if you want to experience one of the greatest American novels of the 20th century.

❓ FAQ: Song of Solomon Questions Answered

1. What does the ending of Song of Solomon mean?

Milkman’s leap symbolizes embracing his ancestral legacy—whether he flies or dies is left ambiguous.

2. Why is it called Song of Solomon?

It references both the Biblical text and the folk song about Milkman’s flying ancestor.

3. Is Pilate based on a real person?

No, but her character embodies African spiritual traditions and resilience.

Get Your Copy

• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
• Explore Similar Books

Sources & References

• Amazon’s book page
• Goodreaders’s book page
• Author’s image source: rollingstone.com
• Book Cover: Amazon.com
• Quotes sources: Goodreads