Bigger and Max
Towards the end of the novel, starting on page 320( but I have an old copy of the book and the pages are different)Max, Bigger's lawyer, is questioning Bigger about why he killed Mary and Bessie, and Bigger pours his heart out to Max. In a quotation following this, Bigger reflects on their conversation. "He could not remember when he had felt as relaxed as this before. He had not thought of it or felt it while Max was speaking to him; it was not until after Max had gone that he discovered he had spoken to Max as he had never spoken to anyone in his life; not even himself. And his talking had eased from him a heavy burdon(333)."
Of all the people Bigger has encountered in his life, why does he choose Max to bare his soul to? Why not his mother or one of his friends? Is it simply the knowledge that Max is the man that could save his life? Does he think that his words will turn the entire situation around? Or does Bigger see something in Max that he can connect to, even though Max is white? Is Richard Wright trying to make a connection between the oppression of African Americans and the oppression of Jews in a society where differences are not excepted?
4 comments:
I feel that Bigger told Max everything since he feels it doesn't matter anymore. He knows he's guilty and that he is going to get the worst possible punishment, so he miswel bare all that he has to say. It also helps that Bigger feels he can trust Max, because he knows that he is sticking up for him.
I think that Bigger has finally found someone who understands him, albeit a white person. Bigger could never trust his mother or his friends, because he felt they were blind to what was going on around them. I think that he feels a certain connection to Max. Bigger can finally tell someone how he feels without having that person judge his skin color.
Bigger trust in Max because Max is the one who actually try to save him. No one up untill Max does not try to understand Bigger but tried to force their ideology into him. However, Max tried to question Bigger and lead him the way where Bigger felt actually comfortable to talk about his heart.
I think at some level Bigger realizes Max is an outcast of society, albeit one by choice. At the same time, Bigger seems like he has no more hope and sees nothing to loose by opening himself up and explaining what he felt. When he reflects on everything he starts gaining some new insights, and I think he finds Max earnest and eager to do what he can. I'm not sure Bigger trusts Max; he'd like to but by this point Bigger's almost too afraid and exhausted. He can't really put his feelings into words, but with Max around he can more clearly direct his thoughts and figure things out as if talking to himself (when he's alone he starts getting angry and wanting to 'blot' everyone out again).
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