Song of Solomon Meaning of Title: Refers to the song about Milkman's great-grandfather Solomon, also the name of the last book of the Old Testament. Reveal the underlying connections and message of the novel. Setting: A town near Lake Superior, Not Doctor Street, Danville, Shalimar POV: Third-person limited omniscient, Reader feels as if he is separated from towns and lifestyles, does not reveal all of the character's thoughts. Plot: Starts with Mr. Smith about to jump from Mercy Hospital, Time jumps to the Dead family, Macon Jr is still breastfed at four years old by his mother, Freddie (crier) sees this, Macon Jr forever called Milkman, The time skips eight years, The milkman befriends Guitar, They both visit Pilate's aunt/Milkman, They learn to make hard-boiled eggs, The milkman falls in love with Hagar (Pilate's niece), Time skips again, Pilate reveals her childhood past, Reveals that she and Macon Sr. grew up in Danville, Talks about the family farm, the cave, gold and Circe, Milkman beats his father in retaliation for beating Ruth (mother), Macon Sr .reveals story of Ruth sucking her thumb, Time to jump to Milkman at 31, Milkman leaves Hagar, she tries to kill him once a month for 6 months, Guitar reveals membership in the Seven Days, kills white people in retaliation for the murderous blacks. Macon Sr. convinces Milkman to steal the green bag from Pilate, convinced that it contains gold, Reveals more background information, Macon killed a man in the cave, Pilate chases him away, Pilate disappears with the gold, Guitar helps the milkman to steal the gold, Discover the bones the bag, Arrested by the police, Pilate testifies to release both on bail, The milkman heads to Danville to find the gold, Leads to Circe, Elaborates the backstory of Pilate and Macon Sr. The milkman does not find gold in the cave, He decides to head to Virgini......middle of paper....../Discovery- The journey can be outward or inward. Finding yourself is essential. Milkman discovers his authentic self while away from home; finds freedom and responsibility. Quotes: “Milkman stood in front of his mirror and looked… at his reflection… But he lacked coherence… trying to decide whether to go forward or go back.” (69-70) Milkman reflecting on himself; he believes his parts don't "fit." He doesn't know what he values, he has no sense of identity. “Now it seemed like he always said or thought he didn't deserve…” (276) Turning point in the novel, Milkman begins to take responsibility for himself, understands himself more. “He didn't miss; his sense of direction was accurate…”(280) Symbolic of Milkman’s newfound affirmation in himself; he knows where he is going and he wants to go. “If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.” (337) The milkman finds freedom in himself.