Song of Solomon Summary
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Here you will find a Song of Solomon summary (Toni Morrison's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters Song of Solomon Summary Overview
In an overlooked Michigan locality, an insurance expert, Robert Smith, dives from the roof of Mercy Hospital, wearing blue silk wings, hoping to fly across Lake Superior, but tragically falls to his demise. The following day, Ruth Foster Dead, offspring of the town's pioneer Black physician, delivers the first Black child in the hospital, named Milkman Dead. Upon realizing at the tender age of four that flight is impossible for humans, Milkman grows uninterested in life. Despite the affection showered on him by his mother, aunt Pilate, siblings, First Corinthians and Lena (nicknamed Magdalene), and his cousin and lover, Hagar, he remains detached and apathetic. His character mirrors his father's, Macon Dead II, a merciless property owner whose life revolves around amassing wealth. Milkman suffers from an inherited condition, an emotional ailment originating from the historical oppression experienced by past generations. His grandfather, Macon Dead, acquired his peculiar name from an inebriated Union soldier filling out his papers, which concealed his true name. Macon was eventually assassinated defending his territory. His murder left his children, Macon Jr. and Pilate, permanently traumatized and estranged. Pilate grew up to be an impoverished but resilient and independent woman, while Macon Jr. centered his attention on wealth accumulation, earning him scorn from both his family and tenants. By his thirties, Milkman yearns for liberation from his family home. Macon Jr. informs him about a potential fortune that Pilate might have hidden in her dilapidated abode. Aided by his close friend, Guitar Bains, Milkman steals from Pilate, only to discover rocks and a human skeleton later identified as his grandfather, Macon Dead I. Guitar is disheartened because he had hoped to use the money to finance his mission for the Seven Days, a covert group seeking retribution for wrongs done to African-Americans. During his quest for his family's past, Milkman encounters Circe, an elderly midwife who tells him that his grandfather's original name was Jake and he was married to an Indian girl named Sing. His exploration leads him to Shalimar, his grandfather's ancestral home in Virginia, where he uncovers the fact that his great-grandfather was the legendary flying African, Solomon, who escaped slavery by flying back to Africa, leaving his wife and twenty-one children behind. Despite the tragedy, Milkman gains a sense of purpose and becomes a mature and compassionate man. Upon returning home, he finds that Hagar had passed away, and his family's emotional troubles persist. Nevertheless, he returns to Shalimar with Pilate to bury Jake's bones, where Pilate is hit by a bullet intended for Milkman. Crushed by Pilate's death, but rejuvenated by his transformation, Milkman confronts Guitar.
chapter 1
On a February day in 1931, an insurance agent named Robert Smith stands on the roof of Mercy Hospital in a Michigan town, wearing silk wings and vowing to fly. His antics attract a crowd of about fifty, predominantly African-American citizens. The hospital, referred to as "No Mercy Hospital" by the locals due to its refusal to treat Black people, is at the end of a road known both as "Mains Avenue" and "Not Doctor Street". The latter name arose because a Black doctor, Dr. Foster, once resided and worked there. As Smith readies himself to soar from the roof, Ruth Foster Dead, the pregnant daughter of Dr. Foster, watches alongside her daughters, Lena and First Corinthians. Ruth unexpectedly goes into labor. Ruth, unlike the majority of the crowd, is well-dressed, signifying her higher economic status, while her sister-in-law, Pilate Dead, is shrouded in an old quilt. Pilate sings "O Sugarman done fly away," as she watches Smith. Among the crowd is an elderly woman with several grandchildren, including a sharp six-year-old named Guitar Bains, who corrects a nurse's spelling mistake. When Smith jumps, Ruth becomes the first Black patient at Mercy Hospital. The next day, she gives birth to Macon Dead III. At four years old, he learns that only birds and planes can fly, causing a loss of self-interest and transforming him into a strangely introspective child. Ruth, her children, and her abusive husband, Macon Dead II, live in Dr. Foster's large house. To alleviate her unfulfilling marriage, Ruth nurtures small pleasures, like polishing a watermark and breastfeeding Macon III long past his infancy. After witnessing the extended breastfeeding, the janitor, Freddie, nicknames the boy "Milkman," a title he retains his whole life. The narrator reveals that Milkman's father, Macon Dead II, is a cold, money-hungry landlord. His name was inherited from his uneducated father, Macon Dead I, who was named by an inebriated Union soldier. Macon II operates a real estate office, extracting every possible cent from his tenants, even denying rent leniency to a grandmother trying to feed her grandchildren. When a tenant contemplates suicide, Macon II visits, not to help, but to collect rent. In his downtime, Macon II reviews his accounts and reflects on his lineage. He remembers his mother dying in childbirth and his younger sister, Pilate, miraculously surviving. Pilate, like other children in the Dead family, was named randomly from the Bible. Macon II severed ties with Pilate when they were young and didn't see her again until a year before Milkman's birth. Disgusted by Pilate's disheveled appearance and rejection of materialism, Macon II bars her from his home. However, he is drawn to her house on the night of a tenant's suicide attempt, concealing himself in her yard to listen to Pilate, her daughter Reba, and granddaughter Hagar, singing a melodious tune.
chapter 2
The Dead family journeys to the Honoré beach area in their well-maintained, green Packard. Macon Jr. aims to build luxurious homes here for affluent black individuals. He drives through the impoverished region of Blood Bank, home to many of his tenants. The pristine condition of his car draws both admiration and ridicule from other Black folks. During the trip, young Milkman throws a fit insisting he needs to relieve himself. Initially, Macon Jr. dismisses him but later relents, and Lena assists Milkman in the woods. Milkman unintentionally soils Lena's dress, setting off a pattern of focusing more on what's behind him rather than what lies ahead. At twelve, Milkman befriends Guitar Bains, a older, wiser high schooler. One day, Milkman disobeys his father and follows Guitar to Pilate’s house. He is intrigued by her imposing stature and cleanliness, despite her poor appearance. Pilate, responding cryptically to Milkman's question of her kinship, reveals that only three Deads are alive. Pilate welcomes Milkman and Guitar into her peculiarly decorated home and shares stories about her and Macon Jr.'s upbringing on a Pennsylvania farm. She recounts their father's murder and their subsequent wandering in the countryside, where they once encountered their father’s ghost. Her narration is disrupted by the entrance of her granddaughter, Hagar. Milkman is immediately smitten with Hagar, even before seeing her face. Pilate introduces Milkman as Hagar's brother, not cousin, emphasizing the importance of treating relatives equally. Pilate and her daughter, Reba, assure Hagar they will provide for her every need. They end the visit with a song about Sugarman, a song that Pilate sang on the day of Robert Smith’s flight. Milkman returns home captivated by Hagar and confronts his father's wrath. Macon Jr. interrogates Milkman about his unauthorized trip to Pilate's, but softens when he reminisces about his childhood and the circumstances surrounding his father's name. However, he denies Milkman an answer about his grandfather's real name and instead tells him about his light-skinned mother. Eventually, Macon Jr. warns Milkman against visiting Pilate, labeling her as treacherous. Despite this, he pledges to mentor Milkman in the real estate business.
chapter 3
Milkman, at twelve, begins working for his father, Macon Jr., which lets him spend more time with his friends Guitar, Pilate, and Hagar on the Southside. He and Guitar would sometimes visit a barbershop owned by Railroad Tommy and Hospital Tommy, overhearing conversations about the racial disparities in 1940s America. Guitar reveals to Milkman that his father was killed in a sawmill accident, causing his anger towards his father's white boss and white people in general. By fourteen, Milkman's one leg becomes shorter than the other, which he hides with a strut. As he matures, he strives to shatter the town's perception that he is a carbon copy of his father. He often does the opposite of what Macon Jr. does, grows facial hair, smokes, and spends money recklessly. At twenty-two, after his father hits his mother during a dinner argument, Milkman hits his father back, vowing to kill him if he hurts Ruth again. Macon Jr. justifies his anger towards Ruth by revealing that Ruth's father, Dr. Foster, despised him and called other African-Americans “cannibals.” He also insinuates a potential sexual relationship between Ruth and her impotent father and shares a disturbing image of Ruth lying naked next to her father’s corpse. Shaken by this information, Milkman visits Guitar. On his way, he recalls being breast-fed beyond infancy, which unsettles him. He also realizes that his reaction towards his father was not out of love for his mother and acknowledges that his mother has a life beyond being his parent. Milkman finds Guitar in the barbershop, deeply engaged in discussing the recent murders of two boys, Emmet Till, a Black boy from the North killed in Mississippi, and a white boy from their town. Guitar condemns the injustices against African-Americans and emphasizes the need for change. Later in a bar, Milkman reveals to Guitar about hitting his father. Guitar explains the systemic oppression of Black men and how they are sometimes compelled to harm each other. Guitar attempts to draw parallels between Milkman's experience and Till's murder, but Milkman dismisses it. Upon introspection, Milkman realizes that he is indifferent towards everything: money, the city, politics, and the racial issues that affect other African-Americans.
chapter 4
Throughout the years, the relationship between Milkman and Hagar fluctuates. At seventeen, Milkman is invited into Hagar's room, marking the start of their intimate relationship. Over the next three years, Hagar alternately fuels and cools Milkman's desire, but eventually, her rejections lessen and she becomes devoted to him, always waiting for him and admonishing him for not giving her enough attention. Despite delighting in their physical relationship, Milkman views Hagar as a convenience, rather than a romantic pursuit, considering her beneath him socially. He looks for a wife among the rich Black ladies of Honoré, but finds them dull. By thirty-one, he grows weary of Hagar and ends their relationship via letter, which sends Hagar into a frenzy, causing her to hunt him down. In the meantime, Milkman's friendship with Guitar has cooled. Despite their bond, Milkman feels Guitar is hiding something. Guitar criticizes Milkman for his reckless lifestyle. During a conversation, Milkman shares a dream of his mother being nearly suffocated by rapidly growing flower bulbs in their backyard, but he knows the dream was real. Oblivious to Hagar's frantic search for him, Milkman talks with Freddie, the janitor. Freddie confides in Milkman about his belief in ghosts and shares his own haunting tale of his mother dying right after his birth, triggered by the sight of a white bull's ghost. Milkman reacts with a smirk. Freddie also shares his past experience of growing up in prison due to the lack of facilities for Black orphans in Jacksonville, Florida. He implies that Guitar might be entangled in some questionable activities, including a recent murder of a white boy in their locality.
chapter 5
Hagar's overwhelming love for Milkman has led her to a state of despair and obsession. Despite comfort from Pilate and Reba, she frequently stalks Milkman and attempts to murder him. Meanwhile, Milkman often takes refuge at Guitar's residence, who has become exceedingly paranoid and politically charged, frequently discussing the exploitation of African-Americans and oppressed people globally. One evening, Milkman challenges Guitar about his clandestine activities. Guitar simply grins and departs to a strange house occupied by six elderly men, leaving Milkman alone, anticipating another attack from Hagar. Milkman recalls discovering a dark secret about his mother, Ruth, a week earlier. He had followed Ruth one night to Fairfield Cemetery, where she visited her father, Dr. Foster's grave. After confronting her, Ruth revealed her bond with her father and refuted Macon Jr.'s account of her relationship with him. Ruth confessed to Milkman that Macon Jr. ended Dr. Foster's life by disposing of his medication, and their intimacy ceased after his death. Desperate for physical affection from her husband, Ruth secretly slipped him an aphrodisiac brewed by Pilate, resulting in Milkman's conception. Macon Jr. insisted on Ruth aborting the baby, but Pilate thwarted his plan using a voodoo doll. Ruth admitted to breastfeeding Milkman beyond infancy and praying for him daily. During his contemplation, Milkman is interrupted by Hagar's arrival, armed with a butcher knife. Instead of stopping her, he silently pleads for an unseen force to choose between them. Hagar manages a harmless blow and hesitates to strike again, leaving Milkman to taunt her. Upon learning about Hagar's violent behavior, Ruth, who views Milkman as her single success, approaches Pilate to protect him. At Pilate's home, Ruth and Hagar heatedly argue about their feelings for Milkman, before Pilate interrupts to denounce their excessive emotion for a man. Pilate shares her life story, including her rejection of marriage despite being in love and raising Reba and Hagar as a single mother. She discloses her migration to Macon Jr.'s town, her career as a wine-maker for independence, and her belief that the spirit of Macon Dead I followed her, whispering "sing." The lengthy tale is a deliberate distraction to keep Ruth's mind off Hagar.
chapter 6
Milkman demands explanations from Guitar about his secretive activities. Guitar confides about his affiliation with a covert group, the Seven Days, a group of seven African-American men, each allotted a day of the week. This group commits vengeful, random murders of white people whenever a black person is unjustly slain, mirroring the violence inflicted on the black victim. As an example, if a black victim was hanged, the group selects a white person to hang. The retribution takes place on the same weekday as the original black victim's death, with Guitar being the group's youngest member. Guitar justifies his actions to Milkman by declaring whites “unnatural” and potential killers given the right environment. He cites Hitler's genocide as an example, arguing that in the absence of blacks, Jews were targeted. He believes it's imperative for black people to retaliate to protect themselves, as they lack recourse to legal action, unlike the Jews post World War II. He claims his retributions keep the black to white ratio stable, preventing whites from decimating blacks. In response, Milkman argues that numerous whites have made significant sacrifices for blacks. He questions why Guitar does not alter his name like Malcom X, to reject his “slave name.” However, Guitar contemplates more about his slave status than his slave name, Bains. Despite Milkman's pleas for Guitar to see people as individuals rather than colors, Guitar remains unswayed. Milkman ends the discussion by labeling Guitar's actions as “crazy” and habitual. He even warns that Guitar's easy ability to kill could make him a threat to blacks, including Milkman himself.
chapter 7
Following his meeting with Guitar, Milkman consults Macon Jr., expressing his desire to leave home for a year to pursue his interests after feeling suffocated by his domestic life. Throughout their discussion, Milkman unintentionally brings up the green sack from Pilate’s home. Macon Jr. becomes highly interested in this. He shares his story with Milkman about hiding with Pilate at Circe's house after their father’s death. While there, Pilate crafted an earring from a snuffbox, inserting a piece of paper bearing her name into it. After leaving Circe's place, they wandered the countryside, encountered their father’s apparition on a tree stump, and once again near a cave. They camped in the cave, where they found another person, an old white man. Macon Jr., scared and thinking he was a ghost, killed him. Under the man’s green tarp, he found gold nuggets. He pictured a lavish life, compared to a “tailspread of a peacock,” but then saw his father. Following his disappearance, a disagreement over the gold ensued between Macon Jr. and Pilate. He returned three days later to find the body, but Pilate, the tarp, and the gold had vanished. Upon hearing about the green tarp from Milkman, Macon Jr. believes it contains the gold from the cave. He encourages Milkman to “get the gold” for them to split.
chapter 8
Guitar is plotting revenge for a tragic church bombing that took the lives of four black girls by planning a similar attack on a white church. However, he's financially challenged and can't afford explosives. Then, his friend Milkman shows up with news of an alleged treasure hidden by Pilate under a green tarp. The two start brainstorming ways to seize the fortune and daydream about the opportunities it can offer. In the midst of their conversation, a white peacock appears from nowhere and begins to strut around. Both Guitar and Milkman try to catch the bird, but are quickly distracted by thoughts of the gold. Guitar considers using the wealth to help his family, but remembers his mission with the Seven Days gang. Milkman, on the other hand, sees the money as a chance to break free from his father's control. That night, they sneak into Pilate's house and snatch the green bundle. As they leave, Guitar thinks he sees a man behind Milkman. Awake in the house, Reba watches them, puzzled about their interest in the bundle.
chapter 9
First Corinthians, despite her privileged education, is covertly working as a maid for Michael-Mary Graham, the state poet laureate. Her job helps her escape her father, Macon Jr.'s house and attain a degree of independence. She develops a secret relationship with Henry Porter, an older Black man and tenant of her father's, whom she meets on her bus rides home from work. A passionate argument occurs between Macon Jr. and Milkman when First Corinthians returns home. During this, it's revealed that Guitar and Milkman were arrested after a botched robbery where they thought they were stealing gold, but were in fact carrying rocks and a human skeleton. They were saved by Pilate, who convinced the police that the bones belonged to her deceased husband, Mr. Solomon. Pilate discloses to Macon Jr. that she did not steal the gold, but returned to the cave years later to collect the bones, under the orders of Macon Dead I. In the midst of a late-night confrontation in their home, Macon Jr. berates Milkman for involving Guitar in their plans. Milkman, shaken by the police intervention, ignores his father's accusations. However, Macon Jr. insists that the gold must still be hidden in the cave and needs to be retrieved. When Milkman wakes the next day, he contemplates the previous day's events, full of shame about the attempted theft and realizing Guitar's potential for violence. Upon stepping outside, Milkman spots Guitar's car filled with friends, including Porter. He connects the dots and realizes that Porter is the secret lover of First Corinthians. After sharing this information with Macon Jr., the latter ends the secret relationship, forces First Corinthians to quit her job, and evicts Porter. Days later, Milkman is confronted and scolded by Lena for terminating her sister's only relationship. She likens Milkman to their father, accusing him of exploiting the labors of the women in his life. Lena recounts an incident from Milkman's childhood where he urinated on her, using it as a metaphor for his lifelong disregard for others. She dismisses Milkman as a pathetic, self-centered man and declares she won't make artificial roses anymore, effectively banishing him from her room.
chapter 10
Milkman expresses his plans to Guitar about visiting Montour County, Pennsylvania, hoping to find the treasure in the cave. He offers to share any discovered wealth with Guitar, who is skeptical and fears Milkman might deceive him. Guitar mentions his need for funds for his Seven Days mission and to assist Henry Porter, evicted after his relationship with First Corinthians. Their discussion ends uneasily. Milkman flies to Pittsburgh and then journeys by bus to Danville, Pennsylvania, closest to Lincoln’s Heaven. In Danville, he encounters Reverend Cooper, an associate of his father's, who shares stories about his family. In these tales, Milkman realizes the deep bond between his father and grandfather, and learns about his family's past, including the Butlers' role in his grandfather's death. Moving towards Lincoln’s Heaven, Milkman visits the dilapidated Butler mansion. Inside, he encounters an elderly woman, Circe, who welcomes him warmly, initially mistaking him for his father. Circe discloses that his grandfather’s actual name was Jake and his grandmother was named Sing. She reveals the Butler’s ill-gotten wealth came from exploiting farmers like Jake. She also shares that Jake's body surfaced from its grave and was placed in the same cave where Macon Jr. and Pilate took shelter. Milkman manipulates Circe into giving him directions to the cave (Hunter’s Cave), pretending he wants to retrieve his grandfather's remains. He offers to assist Circe in leaving the decaying mansion, but she insists on remaining until the house fully deteriorates. Milkman departs from the mansion, moves through the forest towards Hunter’s Cave, ruining his expensive attire and damaging his gold watch. He is fueled by a strong desire to locate the treasure. Inside the cave, he finds nothing but some planks and a tin cup. Milkman catches a ride back to the Danville bus station with a man named Fred Garnett. Despite offering to pay for the ride, Garnett refuses his money and leaves insulted. At the bus station diner, Milkman assists a man with a large crate and comes to the realization that Pilate might have taken the treasure to Virginia. He decides to trace her path.
chapter 11
Milkman gets to Shalimar, Virginia, his family's origin, in a cheap car that breaks down near Solomon's General Store. Women resembling his aunt Pilate catch his eye. Inside the store, the owner, Mr. Solomon, conveys a cryptic message left by a friend that “your day is here.” He identifies the friend as Guitar and puzzles over the ominous tone of the message. Stepping outside, Milkman spots kids singing a song about a man named Jay, Solomon's son, reminding him of his own unhappy childhood and dreams of flying. Back inside, he meets hostility from the local men, leading to a physical altercation with a man named Saul. Milkman sustains injuries to his face and hand. Impressed by his fighting skills, the older men at the store invite Milkman to a hunting trip. Despite his inexperience, he joins them. The group, dressed in military attire and armed with rifles, arrive at Ryna’s Gulch—a location with a spooky local legend. During this, a strange car whizzes past. Paired with Calvin for the hunt, Milkman takes a break while Calvin continues. Alone under the stars, Milkman reflects on his life and acknowledges his past mistakes and privilege. His solitude is disrupted by Guitar's sudden appearance. He begins to strangle Milkman, repeating the ominous message: “your day has come.” As he nears unconsciousness, Milkman envisions Hagar's love for him and finds the strength to fire his rifle and scare Guitar away. The other men return, mocking Milkman for his clumsy handling of the rifle. Ignoring their jeers, Milkman walks with newfound confidence. The next day, over breakfast, Milkman learns that his grandmother, Sing, was a Native American, and her descendant, Susan Byrd, still lives nearby. He decides to visit her. But first, he spends an intimate night with Sweet, a local woman. This liaison ends with Milkman helping her with chores and giving her money before promising to return later.
chapter 12
Milkman spends the night with Sweet before meeting Susan Byrd and a girl named Grace Long, who is taken with him. Susan Byrd shares that her late father Crowell had a sister named Sing who didn't marry and left Virginia for Massachusetts instead of Pennsylvania. Feeling let down by his failed search, Milkman leaves, forgetting his watch and taking only a box of cookies and Grace's address. Continuing from Susan's home, Milkman realizes the significance of his family history and the importance of knowing "his own people." He crosses paths with Guitar, who accuses him of stealing the gold and sending it to Virginia. Despite Milkman's denial, Guitar is convinced he's guilty, recalling a sight of Milkman assisting an old man with a heavy crate in Danville. Believing Milkman has stolen the gold and disrupted his mission for the Seven Days, Guitar threatens to kill him. When asked, Guitar admits leaving a death threat at Solomon's store as a minimal courtesy to a friend. After his confrontation with Guitar, Milkman spends another night with Sweet and goes back to Shalimar. Recent events help him realize how much he misses Pilate and allows him to view his parents' strengths and weaknesses more objectively. He also gains insight into their past traumas. Milkman regrets how he treated Hagar and recognizes that he benefitted from her frantic love for him as it affirmed his masculinity. Upon hearing the local children's song about Jay, Solomon's only son, Milkman learns the song by heart. The song tells the story of Solomon flying home across the sky, leaving a woman named Ryna weeping and a woman named Heddy raising Jay in a “red man’s house.” Listening to the song, Milkman sees that it is about his grandfather, Macon Dead I, and his great-grandfather, Solomon. He realizes that Susan Byrd withheld information and plans to visit her again, excited by his newfound knowledge.
chapter 13
Guitar discovers an unclothed and heartbroken Hagar in his apartment upon his return to Michigan. He takes pity on her, transporting her back home and encouraging her to quit tormenting herself over Milkman. Nonetheless, both Pilate and Reba's attempts to uplift Hagar's spirits prove futile. Suddenly, Hagar awakens from her depressive state and becomes frantically active, thinking she can win Milkman's love by enhancing her looks. Hagar goes on an intense shopping spree financed by $200 Reba obtained by pawning her Sears diamond. She purchases various fashion items and cosmetics, including a garter belt, transparent pantyhose, underwear, and nylon dresses. However, a heavy downpour ruins her new acquisitions on her way home. Despite this, she rushes into her room to dress up in her new attire without even drying herself off. Hagar's appearance is disheveled when she meets Pilate and Reba, her hose torn, her dress dirty, her face powder clumpy, and her hair unruly. Soon after, she falls seriously ill and tragically passes away. Ruth goes to Macon Jr.’s office to request funds for Hagar's funeral. Despite his reluctance, he grants her the money. As the sparsely attended funeral service is about to conclude, Pilate and Reba dramatically arrive and sing a classic gospel, “Mercy.” Pilate approaches Hagar's coffin, calling her “[m]y baby girl” repeatedly before declaring, “And she was loved!” as she concludes her dirge.
chapter 14
Susan Byrd uncovers more about Milkman's family lineage. Sing, his ancestor, went North with Jake, a member of the mythical flying African tribe, Solomon's descendants. Solomon and Ryna, once slaves on a cotton plantation, were parents to twenty-one boys, with Jake being the youngest. Solomon tried to fly away from Virginia with baby Jake, but accidentally dropped him near an Indian woman, Heddy, during the flight. Heddy, mother to a baby girl named Singing Bird (later Sing), took Jake under her wing when Ryna turned mad after Solomon's disappearance. Eventually, Heddy gave birth to another son, Crow Bird (later Crowell Byrd), Susan Byrd's father. In due course, Jake and Sing embarked on a clandestine escape together.
chapter 15
Following his discovery from his cousin, Milkman departs from Susan's house and visits Sweet. In high spirits, he opts to swim rather than take Sweet's suggested bath, bellowing out Solomon's song with great fervor. Eventually, Milkman decides to head back to Michigan, selling his car and journeying by bus. He reflects on his family and his fractured friendship with Guitar during the trip. Upon his return, he goes to Pilate's house to share his new knowledge, only to be struck unconscious with a wine bottle due to his ignorance of Hagar's death. Upon regaining consciousness, Milkman finds himself amid Hagar's belongings in Pilate's basement, forcing him to realize that Hagar is no longer alive. He comprehends Pilate's philosophy of owning the lives taken, reflected in the green tarp she carries with what she believes to be a white man's remains. Milkman recognizes Pilate's attempt to make him accountable for Hagar's life, an onus he will bear forever. He informs Pilate that the bones in the tarp are her father's and should be buried. Pilate sends him home with Hagar's hair in a box. Back home, Milkman observes changes in his family's dynamics, with First Corinthians moving in with Henry Porter, and Lena choosing civility despite her resentment. His parents' relationship remains strained. Macon Jr., however, considers visiting Reverend Cooper and others in Danville. Milkman and Pilate journey to Virginia to inter Jake's remains. They reach Solomon's Leap, where they bury the bones. Pilate marks the grave with her snuff-box earring. Just as they complete the burial, Pilate is shot by a bullet meant for Milkman and dies in his arms, despite his attempts to comfort her by singing Solomon's song. A flock of birds appears overhead, with one diving to retrieve the snuffbox from the grave. Following Pilate's demise, Milkman confronts Guitar, fearless of his weapon. He calls out Guitar's name and leaps towards him upon spotting his silhouette, realizing that "if you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
