There are multiple instances in the chapter where Pilate is associated with magic. Milkman miraculously survives a murder attempt from Hagar, despite being struck in the collarbone. Hagar is also unable to to kill him, as she is somehow paralyzed. This is shown in the quote "Try as she might, the ball joint in her shoulders would not move" (Morrison 130).
All this happened after Milkman wished to a higher power to spare him. Pilate prepared a magic concoction to get Macon to get Ruth pregnant, where Ruth says "She gave me funny things to do. And some greenish-gray grassy looking stuff to put in his food" (Morrison 125). Another instance where she may have used magic is on the doll that she gave to Macon as a threat, which took nine attempts to fully be burned, even with alcohol, which was shown in the quote "Macon knocked it out of the chair and with a yardstick pushed it into the bathroom, where he doused it with alcohol and burned it. It took nine separate burnings before the fire got down to the straw and cotton ticking of its insides" (Morrison 132). Another instance involving magic is when she and Macon saw the ghost of her father after he was murdered. The magical aids she used to achieve her goals were to get Ruth pregnant and protect Milkman throughout his time in the womb, as well as save his life from Hagar. Her magic is not always benevolent, as what Macon drank allowed Ruth to take advantage of him, which would be rape, as Macon was coerced because he was under the influence. She seems to have an ends justify the means attitude in regards to her actions surrounding Milkman's birth.
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