Song of Solomon

Milkman looks for Charlemagne, Virginia, where his grandparents were from, but soon realizes that the town with the closest-sounding name is Shalimar. When he arrives, he heads to a store and is told that Guitar was there earlier with a message for Milkman. The store owner, Mr. Solomon, repeats the message: “Said to tell you your day was sure coming or your day…something like that…your day is here” (262). Milkman is stunned by the warning, the same warning Guitar gives to his Seven Days victims before killing them. He leaves the store, wondering what his friend is up to.

When he returns to the store, he gets into a fight with some of the younger patrons, who resent his wealth and his attitude toward women. The fight is broken up and the patrons are arrested while Milkman tends to his wounds. One of the older men at the store invites Milkman to go hunting with them. Milkman is suspicious of their motives but agrees to go.

The men lend Milkman a gun and clothes for the hunt. Soon Milkman grows fatigued and sits down. As he rests, he reflects on his journey, feeling a surge of appreciation for his life when, suddenly, Guitar appears behind him and attempts to strangle him with a wire. Milkman gets away, shooting his gun, and Guitar disappears. Milkman doesn’t tell the hunting group what happened, joking instead that he is simply an inept city guy who tripped and shot the gun by accident. The men encourage Milkman to seek out Sweet, a local prostitute. Milkman learns that someone named Susan Byrd might know who his grandmother was, so he plans to visit her.

When Milkman arrives at Susan’s house, he also meets her visitor Grace Long, who is very curious about Milkman. Milkman does his best to ignore her flirtations as he asks Susan questions. He tells her, “I think some of my people lived here a long time ago. I was hoping you’d be able to help me” (287). When he asks about his grandmother Sing, Susan says Sing was her aunt, the sister of her father, Crowell Byrd. Milkman is disappointed to learn Susan’s Aunt Sing couldn’t have been his grandmother because she moved to Boston and never married; Susan also thinks she would be too light-skinned to be Milkman’s grandmother. She also says that Sing’s mother Heddy tried to find her after she left but never could locate her.

Milkman asks if Susan knows about Pilate, but she doesn’t. Milkman leaves, disappointed. He has no gold and no information about his family. Still, he feels more connected on his journey than he ever did while at home. He puzzles out the pieces of his family history. As he reflects, he runs into Guitar, who is standing on the side of the road. Milkman asks him simply, “Why, Guitar? Just tell me why” (295). Guitar explains that he tried to kill him because he believes Milkman secretly took the gold so he wouldn’t have to share it with Guitar. Milkman tries to explain that he is mistaken, but Guitar refuses to believe him. They have nothing left to say to each other.

As Milkman continues to reflect on his past, he overhears children playing a game. He is struck by the words, some of which echo a song that Pilate used to sing: “Solomon done fly, Solomon done gone / Solomon cut across the sky, Solomon gone home” (303). Milkman realizes the connection between this song and his family: Solomon is his great grandfather. Solomon had a son named Jake, and Jake later became Macon Dead, Milkman’s grandfather. Jake’s wife was Sing, the same Sing whom Susan spoke about. Milkman realizes that “Solomon” is pronounced much like “Shalimar,” the town in which he is staying. He understands he must return to Susan Byrd’s house for more answers because she likely knows more than she told him.