Apparition Appearance
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The theme of the supernatural has been present throughout Toni Morrisons works. From the ghost of Beloved haunting Sethe in Beloved to the persistence of apparitions in Song of Solomon, Morrisons preoccupation with the supernatural has permeated the pages of her prolific prose collection. The use of the supernatural evokes emotion among audience members along with a sense of fantasy. As a literary tool, apparitions are used to emphasis character traits and to build complex characters. That certain characters are haunted while others are not evidences the fact that seeing ghosts is a particular trait. Ghosts can cause fear as much as they cause comfort and evoke memories of relationships with other characters. The use of ghosts in Song of Solomon also presents Morrisons possible interest in the divine. Ultimately, the common presence of ghosts in Morrisons fiction allows the author to involve a unique aspect in her story telling, creating an engaging novel.
The apparitions of father figures observed by Pilate and Ruth are major scenes involving the supernatural. Here, Morrison uses ghosts to reveal clues about the characters and to lead characters to do what it is that they need to do. Ghosts serve as guides for the characters. The ghost of Pilates father appears in the cave just after the fathers death. At the time, Pilate and Macon II fear that they have murdered a man. The appearance of the apparition is eerie, leading the characters to feel uncomfortable and exhibit signs of fear. The ghostly father does not speak. His silence emphasizes his ominous presence, instilling even more fear. After learning that the fathers body was found outside of its grave after the death, the appearance of the apparition seems to be a clue representing the disturbance of the body. Later, the ghost tells Pilate to get the body from the cave. In this moment, the ghost is encouraging Pilate to have the body returned home. Submitting to the wishes of the ghost, Pilate is able to serve her father and do what he wishes and remove her father from the cave.
In another interaction with the ghost, Pilates misunderstanding leads her to discover information about her familys past. Pilate thinks that the spirit is ordering her to sing, but in actuality, the ghost is calling out for his wife- whose name is Sing. At the time Pilate was unaware of her mothers name, but after conversing with Milkman about her interactions with the ghost, she is able to gain insight to her familys history. In this way, Morrisons use of the supernatural allows for discovery. Pilates ghostly encounters fuel her uncovering of her ancestry. Here the apparition serves as a means of revelation for the character Pilate.
Milkman never encounters Macon Is spirit, but the appearance of his grandfather in ghost form impacts him. Had Pilate not shared the stories of her interactions with the spirit, Milkman never would have been able to collect the necessary information to compile a more complete family tree. Once Milkman understands his ancestry, he is able to present the information to Pilate and thus able to explain the appearance of the apparitions. Building off the ghosts wishes, Milkman confirms that it is best for the body to be buried elsewhere�€”at home, near Lincolns Heaven. It seems the exhumation of the body caused the apparitions to begin with. Although Milkman did not witness the spirit directly, the