Pilate can be seen as the protagonist of Song of Solomon because she is the story's moral guide. Although the narrator hardly focuses on what Pilate is thinking or feeling, her presence is strongly felt throughout the novel. Despite being named after the Roman statesman who crucified Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament, Pilate has a complete lack of cruelty. Very often, she is leading someone who is in need of guidance.
Although Pilate's role in the novel isn't as visible as someone like Milkman's, it is definitely just as important. Pilate having been a survivor of strong racism is nevertheless loving and altruistic. Her loving nature implies strength rather than weakness. When a man beats her daughter, Reba, Pilate pushes a knife within an inch of his heart and persuades him never to touch Reba again. Even though Pilate is in her sixties and the abuser is a strong young man, Pilate prevails.
Morrison suggests that Pilate’s supernatural powers, great strength, lasting youthfulness, and boundless love come from African-American cultural traditions. Although Pilate suffers the same disadvantages as Macon Jr., she is still able to preserve a link to her family’s forgotten past. By singing folk songs about Sugarman’s flight, Pilate recreates a past in which her ancestors shed their oppression. Her recreation of this past sustains the characters who live in the present. Milkman later realizes that Pilate is the only human being he knows who is able to fly without ever leaving the ground. That is, she is already liberated and does not need to escape to attain freedom. Ultimately, Pilate becomes the novel’s model character, showing that strength does not have to come at the expense of gentleness, and that personal freedom is not necessarily compromised by love for others.
