Toni Morrison juxtaposes Ruth Foster and Pilate Dead, in Song of Solomon, to highlight the separate roles they play in the journey of the protagonist Milkman. At the beginning of the novel Morrison uses the juxtaposition of the dead Ruth Foster and Pilate when he tells of Mr. Robert Smith's escape from Mercy Hospital. Ruth Foster, not yet described as such, is known as the “dead doctor's daughter” (5). In this scene its insignificance is made clear: “the noise of the rose petals attracted a lot of attention, but the moans of the pregnant woman did not” (5). This scene perfectly embodies Ruth Foster's character, as she is tiny and unimportant, she also ignores Mr. Smith's flight as pedestrians ignore her and Mr. Smith. On the other hand, Pilate Dead, is the singer in the crowd who notices Mr. Smith's escape and says, "O Sugarman, made to fly away" (6), introducing the novel's theme, flight, and representing his understanding of it, while others remain unaware. This is important, because this is Milkman's journey, the discovery of his people's escape or the realization of his people's culture. Pilate, Milkman's aunt, also foreshadows his "flight", which is one of the main themes of the novel, "A little bird will be here in the morning" (9), while his mother, Ruth, says: "It can't be... It's too soon,” (9) this shows his role in the novel of preventing Milkman from flying, while Pilate teaches him that he can fly. "Mr. Smith's blue silk wings must have left their mark, for when the boy discovered, at four years old, the same thing that Mr. Smith had learned before - that only birds and airplanes could fly - he lost all interest for himself" (9 ). This loss of flight symbolizes Milkman's loss of his inheritance, which Pilate seeks to reinstall in him, ... in the center of the paper ... photography book. But he had been from one end of the country to the other. One totally dependent on money for life, the other indifferent to it. But those were the nonsense things. Their similarities were profound. Both were extremely interested in the son of Macon Dead, and both had close and supportive posthumous communication with their fathers” (139). They have very different personalities, but they both want Milkman, Pilate wishes to teach him love and culture, and Ruth wishes to keep Milkman by her side. These characteristics guide Milkman along his journey, both as obstacles and salvation, and without these juxtaposed maternal figures in Milkman's life he would not have the well-rounded character and growth that comes from his struggles brought on by his mother and his triumphs. by Pilate.Works Cited Morrison, Toni. Song of Songs. New York: Penguin Books, 1987.