Significance of Naming

In Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison gives each of her characters a name that has a deeper meaning behind it. The character's names define their origin as well as parts of their past. Toni Morrison also chooses not to name certain minor characters. Their lack of a name represents their lack of significance because names imply importance in this novel. 

Milkman's grandfather, Macon Dead (the first), was named by a drunk Yankee. When registering as a free man, the drunk Yankee mixed up his home town, Macon, with his first name. It's ironic that when he becomes a free man, he is still named by a white man. The Yankee also names his last name 'dead' when Milkman's grandfather says, "He's dead" in reference to his own father(53). Irony is shown in his last name because he is given a new life as a free man, but his last name is Dead. 

Even though he was named by a white man, Macon Dead decides to keep his name. He kept the name because his wife "liked the name," and he thought it "would wipe out the past"(54). He believed a new name could give him a new identity and a new start. However, we know this was not true, because even though slavery ended, the racism towards blacks did not. 

Macon Dead's name is passed down throughout generations. Both Macon's son and grandson share the name. This represents the passing down of the racism surrounded by the name. Because both Milkman and his father have the name 'Macon Dead,' they were both named by a white man. Throughout the generations, two things have remained the same- the name Macon Dead, and racism.