Irony of Bigger's Freedom

Per Dan R.

Bigger has lived in a world of fear and hate of white people for all his life. He knows first hand the opression that the black people of chicago and the nation go through everyday, which turns him into a hateful man, and a scared man. After he gets caught and is sitting in jail, his mother's preacher comes in and tells him the story of Creation. While Bigger doesn't listen intently, he still takes some in and it reminds him of his childhood. He realizes that killing Mary was him killing all the hate and fear in him, and on page 264 (I have an older book) "To live, he had created a new world for himself, and for that he was to die." Do you think that killing Mary was Biggers only choice to start a new life for himself? Why?

Where did it come from?

Throughout the novel Bigger carries fear with him wherever he goes. At the beginning of the story you learn that Bigger is undecisive with what he wants to do with his life. After being tormented by his mother for the families poverty, Bigger fears he might fail to support his family. Then, when plotting to rob a white man, he attacks Gus to cover his fear of what would happen to him if he were caught. When fooling around with Mary and Mrs. Dalton enters the room Bigger sufficates Mary for fear of being fired. He burns the body since he's afraid to be caught. From here on Bigger is on the run and cannot go back to the way things were. Bigger commits murder then to his own girlfriend because she knows the truth and doesn't like the risk of her getting him into trouble. Where did all this fear come from? Was he born with it? Does the fact that his father was killed in a riot years ago contribute to Bigger's violent ways of dealing with fear? Does this fear arise from something other than the way white and black people relate during this time frame?

Hypocrite?

Per Jana:

Mr. Dalton is a professed philanthropist toward blacks and owns real estate that black families live in on the South Side. With the conditions and practices of the real estate, wouldn't Mr. Dalton be considered a hypocrite?

Has our society made progress?

Native Son is obviously a social commentary on racial tensions, prejudice, and economic systems of the 1930s. Wright's novel indictes white society, and calls for radical social progression, in order to prevent the creation of more 'Biggers'. Concerning the inequality of capitalism, white supremacy, and current racial tensions (not just with African Americans), how has this country progressed or improved since the 1930s, if it has at all?

Victim of Society?

Throughout Native Son we are exposed to the mind of a young man who lives in a state of perpetual fear. He fears the oppressive white superiority around him and he fears a sense of an unstoppable tragedy that forebodes his future. Through the series of events in leading up to not only the murder of Mary, but also that of Bessie, Bigger finds himself creating not only more fear, but also a sense of wholeness through these actions. What is the true cause of these emotions though? Is it the environment of oppression Bigger exists in that caused his grave actions or is he merely a man born into a fate of committing these crimes as he has feared his entire life? The prosecutor of Bigger's trial, Buckley, using terms of labeling such as "maddened ape" and "demented savage," portrays Bigger as a mindless killer, but obviously from our perspective we know this not to be the case. What is Wright trying to say about the society that Bigger lives in and is eventually consumed by?

Sympathy for Bigger?

Throughout his life, Bigger has never been in control of the world around him. It has been dominated by whites, and he has simply had to suffer the life of a poor black man. Professor Schaub alluded to the fact that Bigger committed the two murders because it finally gave him power and control over his own life, as well as the lives of others. One of the quotes I found most compelling is: “He had done this. He had brought all this about. In all of his life these two murders were the most meaningful things that had ever happened to him.” In this statement it seems as though the author is setting up a sympathetic situation, in which the reader is supposed to realize the tragedy of Bigger's life and see the anger and sadness that caused him to kill Mary and Bessie. However, Bigger also exhibits very disturbing behavior throughout the book that leads readers to see him as somewhat evil. What kind of feelings do you have toward Bigger, and what kind of feelings do you think the Richard Wright wants you to have toward him? Do you sympathize with him, and believe that the murders are a result of alienation and prejudice against him, or do you think he is simply a violent person who calculated to punish others for his shortcomings?

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?