The love she feels for her father she transfers to her son when he is born. Their unusual relationship is big reason that Milkman has problems with relationships and dealing with his emotions. The weight and responsibility that come from Dr. Foster, and, therefore, Not Doctor street, paint a picture of Milkman as trying to live up to his expectations, yet also being so self-involved makes it hard to look past himself.
Lincoln's Heaven was just that for Macon Dead, Milkman's father. Macon had a large impact on Milkman as he got older by instilling in him his materialistic outlook as well as a different sense of superiority. Not Doctor Street gave Milkman a feeling of importance, yet Lincoln's Heaven allowed Milkman a view into a world that allows one to make their dreams come true. The story behind Lincoln's Heaven is that it was his father's paradise. When Macon speaks of Lincoln's Heaven "his voice sounded different to Milkman, Less hard, and his speech was different. More southern and comfortable and soft." (52) Times were simpler for Macon then. He worked by his father's side and raised his sister. He was in a family that worked well together where they were all equal and prospered together. The farm symbolized independence and as well as achievement. Macon's father did the impossible; he became a prosperous. The history behind how Lincoln's Heaven was founded gives Milkman a .
clear example of what he wants. It festers his need to be independent and get away from Not Doctor Street and all it entails. It also opens Milkman's eyes to the notion that his father wasn't always the stringent businessman he became. It also shows Milkman why Macon came into that motto of "own things. And let the things you own own other things. Then you"ll own yourself and other people too." (55) His idealistic memory of what Lincoln's Heaven was travels into Milkman as he realizes that he too could have that.