Blog Post 10: Chaptahhhhh 5

Discuss Pilate's association with magic in the chapter. Cite all the magical aids she uses to achieve her ends. Is her magic always benevolent magic?

Pilate uses "magic" for a few reasons in this chapter. The first example is the voodoo doll. “Pilate put a small doll on Macon’s chair in this office.  A male doll with a small painted chicken bone stuck between its legs and a round red circle painted on its belly” (Morrison 132). In this quote, Pilate is trying to use the magical aid of the voodoo doll to prevent Macon Junior form aborting Ruth's baby.
The second time the association with magic is brought up is because of Pilates lack of a naval. The text says "Child, wheres your naval. It's for people who were born natural" (Morrison 143). Pilate always keeps her bellied covered when she goes out looking for a job so shes not turned away due to her strange deformity. But then she found a job and got married to man. She carries around a green sack later in the chapter that symbolizes the devil and/or magic. Pilate not having a naval symbolizes her being helped by the devil and not needing affirmation. The voodoo doll Pilate used is a sign of the devil also. This doll prevented Ruth from killing her baby, therefore doing something beneficial. Her magic isnt always bad. Pilates magic is what helped Milkman live.