Native Son-November 28th

1. Compare and contrast Bigger's attitude toward the world around him and Mrs. Thomas'.

         Wright introduces Bigger, “He felt that same way toward everyone. As long as he could remember, he had never been responsible to anyone. The moment a situation became so that it exacted something of him, he rebelled, That was the way he lived; he passed the days trying to defeat or gratify powerful impulses in a world he feared” (Wright 42). In this, one can view Bigger as an alienated character who has always had himself self-centered and sufficient. The acts that occur before this, Wright makes this proposal to bring in the new view of Bigger’s altercation to society. Hence, Wright creates a disposition between man versus society, where Bigger’s rebellion and character play a role to his fear and oppression in society.

         Bigger is forced to play as a father figure, to make up for the disappearance of a real father figure in his life. Bigger is still a child himself, as he lives with his mother and siblings. His mother repeatedly talks down upon his actions, and his lack of motivation to get a job to support the whole family. In retrospect, Bigger’s mother is the degrading and is simulated by the white oppressors. She is not critical like her son, as her son is inquisitive to why the dominance of white power and oppression dominates over all. In contrast, Bigger’s mom takes what is given to her, unlike what her son deeply aspires to obtain more in the society that gives him virtually nothing of his own. Mrs. Thomas begins to hum, “Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that’s brave we must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave…” (Wright 10). Mrs. Thomas utilizes the power of God and religion to get through life. She uses spiritual guides to direct her, as she is a realist character who sees no opportunities for blacks in this society. However, Bigger is a romantic character, who dreams and desires for equality to the white oppression, a life of no struggles and hardships, and to obtain any materialistic item he should ever want or need.       

     

2. Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone both profess to be friendly towards African Americans, yet they are hostile to each other. Compare and contrast their attitudes towards African Americans and explain their mutual hostility?

         Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone are both very friendly towards African Americans, and are especially towards Bigger. Mr. Dalton gives an opportunity for an altercation in Bigger’s life. He hires Bigger as his driver and personal housing employee, regardless of Bigger’s ethnicity, background, and his criminal past. Bigger is granted a his own room in the house, free meals daily cooked by Peggy, as well as a day he is exempted from work. In addition, Bigger is paid twenty- five dollars a week for his services, which is an employment rate any African American has not heard of in this oppressed society. Peggy speaks of the Dalton’s, “ ‘They’ve got millions, but they live like human beings. They don’t put on airs and strut’ ” (Wright 56). Mr. Dalton is very genuine towards Bigger in all aspects, as he does not see him as a black man, but more of a mere individual. Unlike Mr. Dalton, Jan, is the leader of the Communist Party. He invites Bigger to dinner with Mary as they are all out and he also drives the Dalton’s car. On Bigger’s first night on the job, he is employed to drive Mary, and her boyfriend Jan around the city. Jan believes in equality for all, but his real situation seems superficial, as he still instructs Bigger to complete some tasks. If he was treating Bigger like a true individual, like what he proposes as the leader of the Communist Party, he would make him truly feel more accepted and less awkward in that scenario. Both Mr. Dalton and Jan encompass a good sense of striving for equality, righteousness, and not reverting to societal racism. However, the approaches and thoughts of these aspects between both men are completely contradictory.-Jan’s a Communist, while Mr. Dalton is a normal wealthy white man.     

3. How is really fear to blame for the murder of Mary (this is a comprehensive question, be thoughtful and think of all aspects of fear that lead to the murder of Mary)?

         Fear is certainly to blame for the murder of Mary. Because of the white oppression, Bigger is determined to not fail his mother, his family, or himself yet again. Out of this fear of another possible failure, he receives this job to attempt to finally do what is right. When he is driving Mary and Jan around, he is essentially doing his job, out of fear that he will fail and lose another opportunity. Bigger does not want to prove his mother’s words right about how he is a failure to be a man and take responsibility for the family.  Essentially, when Bigger places Mary on top of her bed, he feels like he has done something right. Wright explains, “He wanted to lie down upon the floor and sleep off the horror of this thing. But he had to get out of here” (Wright 92). It is not until she does not respond is when he starts to panic with fear. Not aware of his capabilities, he accidently murders Mary out of the fear of being caught in her room, losing his job, and reverting back to his old being as an inferior character living in a harsh society’s complete racism and oppression.    


Love, 
Allison :)

Native Son-November 14th

1. At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to the Thomas family. Describe this family and the conditions in which they live? Be descriptive and use concrete details!

         At the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to the Thomas family in a very interesting perspective. The scene is presented Bigger being awakened by his mother in a hastily manner, as she also has to wake up her two other children: Buddy and Vera. The mother explains to Bigger, “ ‘Well, I’m telling you again! And mark my word, some of these days you going to set down and cry. Some of these days you going to wish you had made something of yourself, instead of just a tramp. But it’ll be too late then” (Wright  9). The tension and relationship between the family are highly contradictorily. The reader can note that the in one aspect, the mother treats Bigger childishly, as well as in another perspective, she treats Bigger as a grown adolescent.

      Moreover, then tension between the family is obvious, as Bigger becomes frustrated and angered by the petty remarks of his mother. For the conditions the Thomas family lives in; it does not support the bond of the family as they live together in a one room apartment. Overall, the whole family lives in complete poverty. The conditions are so extreme that Bigger and Buddy sleep in one bed, and Vern and the mother sleep in one bed all in the same room. The family also has to worry about infestations with rodents, which adds to the overall struggling home environment in an underprivileged society. The home environment is quite an unfortunate one, as it effects the emotion tensions of Bigger, of how his family digs under his skin, as they all want him to get a job and get them out of their miserable poverty.

       As a way to escape these hardships and tensions within his family, Bigger only knows of one solution: to run, and to run away for a bit. However, as Bigger interacts into society, the reader can see that Bigger’s manners alter, as well as his oppressed emotions. Ultimately, by the way he presents himself in society and around his peers, creates more tension in his home environment, as Bigger is unable to perform responsibly in the real world.

2. The title of Book One is Fear, how is this title symbolic and prophetic at the same time? What was Wright's intention with this title?

         Book One contains the title Fear, which contains many symbolic and prophetic aspects. Wrights intention with this title is carefully constructed as Book One encompasses all the fears of Bigger Thomas. The narrator says, “The rat’s belly pulsed with fear. Bigger advanced a step and the rat emitted a long thin song of defiance, its black beady eyes glittering, its tiny forefeet pawing the air restlessly. Bigger swung the skillet; it skidded over the floor, missing the rat, and clattered to a stop against the wall” (Wright 6). At the beginning of the text, the readers are introduced to the scene of the Thomas family, where they all encounter a rat roaming throughout their small living space. This rat exemplifies multiple symbolisms towards Bigger’s character and the society around him.

The rat inside the Thomas’ one room apartment also symbolizes the characteristics of Bigger. When the rat is roaming inside of the Thomas’ one room apartment, Bigger places a trunk in front of the wall, so the rat is unable to escape. This action resembles how Bigger is trapped in his own life. How this relates to his fear, is the fear of his society will never change. Daily, Bigger dreams of his society changing, so that black will have the same opportunities as the whites do. However, there is not much he can do now. He fears that he cannot go out in the world, get a job, and start supporting his family. Essentially, Bigger fears failure, as he does not want to fail again to support his family, or support and symbolize the voice of the black community.  

3. What initial event happens in the beginning of the novel that is clearly a foreshadowing of events to come?

         The initial even that occurs in the beginning of the novel is the rat that roams throughout the Thomas’ compact living space. A rat enters from the inside, where it is in the presence of the family. Bigger identifies that rat, and traps it within the house so it cannot escape. Bigger’s mother screeches at Bigger, “ ‘You’ll regret how you living some day,’ she went on. ‘If you don’t stop running with that gang of yours and do right you’ll end up where you never thought you would. You think I don’t know what you boys is doing, but I do. And the gallows is at the end of the road you traveling, boy. Just remember that’ ” (Wright 9). This who scene foreshadows events that will occur later in the book. The symbolism of the rat being trapped in the living space is a metaphor of how Bigger is trapped within his own society. Bigger aspires to do much more with his life, but is trapped and lives in fear of the white oppression.

      When his mother speaks to him, she speaks to him either as an adult or as a child. As her son, she still knows that he has not matured fully, but also speaks to him in a strict tone in how he needs to be a man and take responsibility for the entire family. As the rat is trapped, it displays its failure for escape, and eventually is killed. However, this is the same representation for Bigger. Bigger is trapped in a society, where he cannot escape. Therefore, this rat is a symbol of Bigger’s failure for escaping societal oppression through his attempted action, where he will later fall to his own demise.       

4. How does Bigger feel about his home and its surroundings?

         Bigger feels trapped about his home and surroundings. At home, he feels pressured to become the father figure of the family and support his mother and two siblings. Despite that, he does not believe in himself that he can do it because he is still a child himself. His mother always antagonizes him for going out with his friends, and for him to get a job for support. However, Bigger does not want to face this reality. He lives in a world where white power conquers all. He is discriminated against because of his ethnicity, and the oppression makes finding a job and a happy life almost impossible. Bigger goes out into the surroundings always thinking of he will be equal to the whites. He walks through society every day wondering what it would be like if all were the same, and he deeply aspires that society’s standards will change.

5. Who are Bigger's friends and what event takes place that creates a level of aggression with these friends?

         Bigger’s friends are Gus, G.H., and Jack. What one needs to know about Bigger is that he contains a lot of irritation from his environment in his home and from all of the societal oppression. The guys all concoct a plan to rob Blum’s store whom is a white man. The purpose of this plan is to rob a white man, and steal some easy money, to make it through life because each man lives in poverty. Bigger thinks to himself, “He had argued all of his pals but one into consenting to the robbery, and toward the lone man who held out he felt a hot hate and fear; he had transferred his fear of the whites to Gus. He hated Gus because he knew that Gus was afraid, as even he was; and he feared Gus because he felt that Gus would consent and then he would be compelled to go though with the robbery” (Wright 25).

      Bigger contains the fear of robbing Blum, as he has never attempted to rob a white man before. To hide his fear from his friends, he shifts the concentration to make it seem like that Gus contained a great fear of robbing Blum’s. In reality, it is Bigger who contains this fear, but he knows that if Gus knows that he is truly fearful of this scheme, Gus will go through with the robbery. This leads to, if Gus goes through the robbery with G.H. and Jack, Bigger will have to succumb to go through with the robbery, so he does not lose his sense of power around his friends. However, Bigger’s friends see right through Bigger, and change the focus of the concentration. Gus tries to revert what Bigger had imposed on him by questioning him if he is fearful to go through with the robbery. Immediately, Bigger tries to cover up his fear, and pulls a knife to Gus. Bigger’s violent reaction, leads Bigger to fight Gus. His aggravation and violence is a natural cope toward his oppressed internal emotions, as well as his isolation in his life poverty and hope.      

6. Who are the Dalton's, and where and how do they live?

         The Dalton’s are the wealthiest family in all of Chicago. They lived in a mansion, drive expensive, cars and contain a few people at the house for personal employment. Mr. Dalton is the CEO of the largest realtor company in the city. Mrs. Dalton is blind, and spends her time around the home. Their daughter, Mary is a young girl who studies at the university in the city. Mary has a boyfriend named Jan, who she often misses class to go visit him on the other side of the town. Jan is the leader of the Reds, which is a nickname for the Communist Party in Chicago. As wealthy and prosperous white people, the Daltons oppose the Communist Party, which is the reason why Mary sneaks around to see Jan.

      Wright explains of Bigger’s reaction, “This was a cold and distant world; a world of white secrets carefully guarded. He could feel pride, a certainty, and a confidence in these streets and houses” (Wright 44).  When Bigger arrives at the Dalton house for his job interview, he is pleasantly surprised with the environment the Dalton’s live in. Actually, he is quite surprise as the conditions the Dalton’s live in are what he aspires in his own hopes of societal change-It knocks the breath out of him, as the Dalton’s living conditions are so far fetched from his own housing.  

Love, 

Allison  

Native Son-November 7th

In the introduction, written by the author Richard Wright, Wright discusses at length the making of his protagonist, Bigger Thomas; he reflects on his childhood all the way up to his adulthood, and outlines specific examples of when he met a Bigger and the informing aspect of each incident. Please discuss the many Biggers that Wright experienced in the course of his life, and what did they ALL have in common. Please use concrete details to support your analysis.

            Richard Wright quotes, “ The birth of Bigger Thomas goes back to my childhood, and there was not just one Bigger, but many of them, more than I could count and more than you expect” (Wright  434). From Wright’s reflections, he assures readers that the character of Bigger Thomas did not form from one event in his life. Moreover, the character developed as Wright progressed through his life. Bigger’s character transforms and develops throughout all the people Wright encountered in his life and who were remarkably significant. Without seeing the lightened perspective of Bigger through each encounter, Wright proclaims that he would have been unable to create such a deep and composite character. 

Wright describes Bigger number one as, “His life was a continuous challenge to others. At all times he took his way, right or wrong, and those who contradicted him had to fight. And never was he happier than when he had someone cornered and at his mercy; it seemed that the deepest meaning of his squalid life was in him at such times” (Wright 435). Bigger number one is described as he feels like he needs to prove his superiority by degrading his own kind. Wright says that he and his friends were afraid of Bigger number one, as his actions were criminal. Bigger number two, Wright explains, “And the hardness of this Bigger number two was not directed toward me or the other Negroes, but towards the whites who ruled the South” (Wright  435). Bigger number two is portrayed that he is like Wright and his friends-having no money and living an unjust life. Wright says of Bigger number two, “Further, he would tell us that we were fools not to get what we wanted while we were alive in this world. We would listen and silently agree. We longed to believe and act as he did, but we were afraid” (Wright  435). The fear of Bigger number two conquers over the emotions and actions of Wright and his friends, as all of them were beginning to understand what the Whites had taken away from them. Bigger number two is dismissive of the whites, as he encourages the black community to fight to have a life like what the Whites had. Bigger number three, struck Wright to see a new perspective of a man. Wright recalls, “And the episode would end right there. But later on Bigger number three was killed during the days of Prohibition: while delivering liquor to a customer he was shot through the back by a white cop” (Wright  436). Bigger number three is considered to be an atrocious man by an average reader for his actions.

However, Wright saw that the refusal of a man for what he did not desire could be so astounding. A man could refuse to do what a society as told him to do, as he fights to not succumb to what society has become. Wright composes Bigger number four as a man who broke the law and knew that he was going to have to pay for his freedom-meaning his life. Bigger number four displays as, “His rebellious spirit made him violate all the taboos and consequently he always oscillated between moods of intense elation and depression” (Wright 436). This man is another rebel, who oppresses the Whites who shape him into living an unjust melancholy life. Bigger number four believes that he can overcome what his oppressors have made his life to be, but he convinces himself by the cynical manner of the Whites have led him to lost all hope and see the reality of always living an unrighteous life. Lastly, Bigger five had concluded what all the Biggers in society have encompassed. Wright mentions of Bigger number five, “The Negroes experienced an intense flash of pride and the streetcar moved on its journey without incident. I don’t know what happened to Bigger number five. But I can guess” (Wright  437). Bigger number five is expressed as another example of refusing to do what society has come to. His action to not move out of the white only streetcar, is a starting point to empower the black community-that together, they all can change the way of society and create justice and equality for all. The quote of Bigger number five surely captivates the quality that all five Biggers encompass. It is pride, to where each Bigger is proud of his ethnicity, even if he is white or black. This pride will never succumb to such a prejudice society, as each Bigger contains pride and passion for who he is and will never change his character and being to be accepted. One can conclude that each Bigger would rather die as a man with great pride, than to alter himself. With this pride, each Bigger is confident within his own skin, and as a community, together can make an impact to reform a society with an aspiration towards equality and tolerance.  


Analyze the following quote from the introduction to Native Son, written by Richard Wright:

 "From these items I drew my first political conclusions about Bigger: I felt that Bigger, an American product, a native son of this land, carried within him the potentialities of either Communism or Fascism. I don’t mean to say that the Negro boy I depicted in Native Son is either a Communist or a Fascist. He is not either. But he is product of a dislocated society; he is a dispossessed or disinherited man; he is all of this, and he lives amid the greatest possible plenty on earth and he is looking and feeling for a way out"

 Richard Wright entails his character Bigger is one of a complex structure. It is not until Wright looks at Bigger’s character is a global aspect when he realizes that in his mind Bigger is an American product and he is also a product distinguished around the world. Wright begins to understand as, “And on innumerable occasions I started to detect, either from the side of the Fascists or from the side of the oppressed, reactions, moods, phrases, attitudes that reminded me strongly of Bigger, that helped to bring out more clearly the shadowy outlines of the negative that lay in the back of my mind” (Wright 444).

Bigger is a reactor to his world. His world lies into two different societies. There is the glorious white society where all the money, luxury, and power is contained. On the other side of the tracks, is where Bigger is from the perspective of the novel is told from. Bigger’s background is from the black community in the south side of Chicago, where the entire community lives in poverty and is of the working class. Wright explains there are many perspectives and influences that he integrated to create this Bigger story in Native Son. Bigger is neither a member of the Communist Party, nor a member of the Fascist Party. He is a black man, like the others in his community, desperately searching and aspiring to be something greater in the society, he lives in

 Bigger is a product of his society, as he is a symbol of the hardships that the black community faces. However, as a black man, he does not fit in this society. This society is favored and centered on the white power, which morphs into the succession and power of white oppression and racism. Bigger is brought down by his oppressors in society, as he lives in poverty and struggles with his family relationships. The control of the white oppression creates men like Bigger to make them feel like they own nothing in this society. Within a society, if one is told that he is not able to achieve something, it empowers one to rise above the oppression. Similar to Bigger, as well as the entire black community, these people desire to have society’s standards and ultimate racism, as they all want to live in the American dream-a life promised in full liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness- in equality. 

What is at the heart of Bigger's fears? 
Quite a few things are at the heart of Bigger. Wright quotes in his introduction, “I had also to show what oppression had done to Bigger’s relationships with his own people, how it split him off from them, how it had baffled him; how oppression seems to hinder and stifle in the victim those very qualities of character which are so essential for an effective struggle against the oppressor” (Wright 452-453). Wright creates the character Bigger to feel inferior to the power of the whites. In this society, the white oppression is a key magnet that holds the black community into place of being subordinate. The author proposes that Bigger creates some sort of actions that alienates him from this white world, as well as the world he comes from. For Bigger, he is a man that always needs a sense of confidence with obtaining complete power. Within his actions, if he isolates himself from the society where he belongs, he will have nothing left-leaving him to be alienated and powerless.                
Wright also proposes of Bigger, “…a fear and dread which exercises an impelling influence upon our lives all out of proportion to its obscurity. And, accompanying this first fear, is, for the want of a better name a reflect urge toward ecstasy, complete submission, and trust” (Wright 452). What Bigger fears the most, is that the society he lives in will never change. Currently, he lives in an oppressed world where the white power is dominating over all. As Bigger lives in the oppression, he strives for the greater, as he wants to make something out of himself, life, and gain power. The white members of society do not trust blacks, as it is a way to describe how whites are blind to see blacks as equal human beings. Bigger fears that this structure of society will never change and blacks will have to live with oppression for future generations. 

Allison

Native Son-Bigger's confinement, as well as his own escape socially and personally

Describe some of the many ways in which Bessie Mears, Bigger's girlfriend, is trapped in a life that is not of her own choosing (use concrete details).

         Bessie is trapped in a life that is not of her own choosing. In a way, she is trapped in a life, just in the identical manner that Bigger is in. She works long and exhausting hours, and is brought down by the white oppressors. Bessie explains to Bigger, “All I do is work, work like a dog! From morning till night. I ain’t got no happiness I ain’t never had none. I ain’t got nothing and you do this to me. After how good I been to you. Now you just spoil my whole life. I’ve done everything for you I know how and you do this to me….” (Wright  180).

      When Bessie explains this to Bigger, one can infer that she is not satisfied, nor at least somewhat happy with her life. She is miserable, as she is trapped within the society that does not allow African Americans to contain equality. The oppression affects her, and is another instinct of her being so self-conscious and her insecurity. Her insecurity is a reason why she is with Bigger. If she did not have this insecurity, she would not need to be with Bigger, and could fight against the oppression. However, she is very insightful and intelligent to where she realizes the tactics and strategies of Bigger’s capability. 

      Bessie has lived through society’s oppression long enough to know of Bigger’s plots and schemes. However, one could infer that she would not leave him because he would have some money and she hopes that he would finally be able to take care of her. Bigger leaves her the money he stole from Mary’s handbag, and Bessie feels a sigh of relief to have some power and the thought of not living in complete poverty for the rest of her life. She does not necessarily need him, because she has been living independently for a while and has been fine herself. One could think in her perspective that it would be a very nice change if she did not have to slave herself anymore and finally have a man who would take responsibility and take care of her. 

Describe the way Bigger is hunted down after he has fled the Dalton home. How would this manhunt have been different if Bigger were white?

         The manner that Bigger is hunted down is quite of an unusual aspect for this scenario. Once the investigators found Mary’s body, Bigger decides that he is going to slowly walk away from the situation and the discovery. As Bigger trembles backward to get out of the basement, no one recognizes that he has left. This decision of Bigger’s is a bold movement for his strategic plan; as if he leaves at first with the inspectors then Bigger would have been thought of as a suspect.  

      Wright explains of Bigger, “To Bigger and his kind white people were not really people; they were a sort of great natural force like a stormy sky looming overhead, or like a deep swirling river stretching suddenly at one’s feet in the dark” (Wright 114).

Bigger consistently explains how he feels tramped and secluded by the oppression of the whites. Because of his color, Bigger always contains a reminder of his ethnicity as a default for all the hardships he holds as a black man living in a separate world. This is the same when the manhunt begins around Chicago as Bigger flees. However, this manhunt would have been much different if Bigger were white. Since Bigger is black, the manhunt is taken to the extreme. There are one thousand people on the Black Belt, and additional white oppressors have volunteered to track Bigger. Furth more, schools were shut down, the borders of the city were blocked, and every black man who resembled Bigger was tormented and interrogated. Bigger detains the entire black community as he creates complete havoc and is wondering around the city searching for an escape.

      If Bigger was a white man, I do not think the search would be taken to this extent. The search squad would have not forcefully search the south side of the city, as a white man would never even think twice about going into that section of the city. Therefore, white men would probably not volunteer to search for the murderer. As a white man, he should be confident and powerful to contain ownership and responsibility for his actions. Moreover, the schools or sections of the city would have not been shut down, because if Bigger were white, because in all honesty this society favors the whites. In all, the seriousness would still be held if Bigger were white and the authority would still find him, but the whole dramatization with the search and the city would not exist as it does since he is a black man. 

Mr. Dalton's private investigator, Mr. Britten, alternately expresses his hatred of African Americans and of Communists. After he interrogates Bigger, Bigger thinks to himself that "Mr. Britten was familiar to him; he had met a thousand Britten’s in his life." What is it about Mr. Britten's thinking that makes him so easy for Bigger to understand, and how does Bigger intend to use Mr. Britten's prejudices to his own advantage?

         Bigger’s thinking about Mr. Britten is certainly familiar indeed to someone like him. As Mr. Britten enters the Dalton house, he immediately turns to Bigger and starts to interrogate him. Mr. Britten wants to know every detail to where Bigger was with Mary and Jan, the times he was out with them, as well as what happened when Bigger brought Mary home from the night. One can see that Mr. Britten is a symbol of an average white oppressor during this time. Mr. Britten does not contain the same values as the Daltons do, who are very understanding and welcoming people. Mr. Britten views blacks to be animals and not helpful to society in any way, as other white oppressors believe.

        Wright explains the emotions of Bigger, “He had not thought of anyone would dare think that he, a black Negro, would be Jan’s partner. Britten was his enemy. He knew that the hard light in Britten’s eyes held him guilty because he was black. He hated Britten so hard and hot, while standing there with sleepy eyes and parted lips that he would gladly grabbed the iron shovel from the corner and split his skull in two. For a split second a roaring noise in his ears blotted out sound He struggled to control himself; then he heard Britten’s talking” (Wright 162). In this scenario when Bigger meets Mr. Britten, he recognizes that Mr. Britten is another white oppressor that Bigger has always lived to fell powerless for his entire life. As a black man in the south side of Chicago, Bigger has always admired oppressors like Mr. Britten, and wonder what his life would be like if he was equal to them. Upon his realization, Bigger becomes very angry and his agitation is to the point where if he could defeat the one thing that holds him down, he would instantly. Bigger hates Mr. Britten, as he is hateful towards all the white oppressors in society, who make him, feel trapped and powerless within his life.

         Moreover, Bigger thinks to himself, “Unwittingly, Jan’s desire to protect Mary had helped him. Jan’s denial of having come to the home would not be believed now; it would make Mr. Dalton and Britten feel that he was trying to cover up something of even much greater seriousness” (Wright 169). Since Bigger is very familiar to the character of oppressors like Mr. Britten, he strategizes to use his prejudices for his own benefit. Bigger also learns that Mr. Britten highly despises the Reds, who are the members of the Communist Party. As a deed for self-preservation, Bigger concocts a story to blame the murder on Jan. Bigger believes that he can fool Mr. Britten, because he believes that his hatred for communists will be greater than his hatred for blacks. At first, Bigger’s scheme works, as Mr. Britten is determined to find Jan and persecute him for the murder of Mary. However, it is not until he discovers Jan’s innocence that Mr. Britten is led on the path to search Bigger and rightfully convict him for Mary’s murder.

         

Your Ultimate Decepticon, 
Allison 

blog answers for the week of december 5th

1.) Bessie is trapped because she works six days a week as a waitress but does not make anything of her self beside that. She is a woman but she is also black. Two things that are seem to be discriminated agented, so she does not have many opportunities. She feels that Bigger’s plan is her only option to make a better life for her self and to escape from her dead in job and what looks like her dead in life.   

2. When Bigger is on the run from the law the police are willing to use any means possible to catch him. They put his face on the news and his name on tv and put of flyers around town about what he has done and who he is and what he looks like. They try to get as many people to know about his wrong doing as possible and it seem like they are trying to embarrass him at some points.  

3.) Mr. Britten is prejudice but try’s not to act like it. When he first meets Bigger and wants to interrogate him, Britten wants Bigger to trust him and tell him the truth and for Bigger to trust him, he has to make bigger like him and he knows Bigger wont like him if he is prejudice. Bigger has experienced people pretending to be something that there not in order to get what then want.

-RACHEL LYNN KAPLAN

Last few Book One Blog Q&A

Compare and contrast Bigger’s attitude toward the world around him and Mrs. Thomas’.
Bigger is more hopeful than his mother towards his prospects in the world.  He sees all the things that he could do if he weren’t a poor black man.  He fantasizes about flying a plane “if [he] wasn’t black and if [he] had some money and if they’d let [him] go to that aviation school,” (Wright 17).  However, racism and oppression have severely limited the options for any black person, and his mother knows this.  She accepts the racism and bends her life to fit it and reduce problems for herself and her family.  In a way, she is also an oppressor; she tries to suppress Bigger’s dreams and make him take a job directly benefitting them in the now, because if he doesn’t, “the relief’ll cut us off.  [They] won’t have any food,” (Wright 12).  She is a realist concerned with the present, while Bigger is a romanticist dreaming about an imaginary future.

Bigger rebels because he wants to do things that he isn’t allowed to do.

Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone both profess to be friendly towards African Americans, yet they are hostile to each other.  Compare and contrast their attitudes towards African Americans and explain their mutual hostility.
Mr. Dalton is kind to Bigger by allowing him to work for him even while knowing that he has an extensive criminal background.  He also gives Bigger an extra five dollars more than the usual twenty dollar weekly pay, saying that Bigger can use those five dollars on himself.  Mr. Dalton also gives Bigger his own room in the house to keep for his own.  Jan tries to be friendly toward Bigger by treating him as an equal.  Mr. Dalton doesn’t like Jan because of his then radical Communist beliefs at the time.  Because Jan is dating Mary, he is also influencing her and passing his Communist beliefs to her.  I don’t think Jan despises Mr. Dalton, but that Jan thinks that Mr. Dalton’s views and actions to help African Americans are too passive.  Jan also uses Mary to take money from her parents and pay for his friends.

Both Mr. Dalton and Jan believe in equality among all people, but each believes his way is the correct one.  Mr. Dalton gives money to charity, while Jan calls for riots to change America.  Mr. Daltons view is more palpable than Jan’s; Jan is calling for a structural change of the entire country.

 
How is fear really to blame for the murder of Mary (this is a comprehensive question, be thoughtful and think of all aspects of fear that lead to the murder of Mary)?
Bigger is afraid of the consequences of being caught in Mary’s bedroom, which would most likely be being thrown in jail or executed at the worst.  He’s also afraid of losing his job and therefore the 25 dollars he makes each week.  He won’t be able to provide for his family and live a better life than he previously has.  Bigger’s fear of the white oppressors and racism and the possibility that he won’t succeed at his new job.

--Maria(:

blog questions for this week

1.)Mrs. Thomas’s out look on the world is that she cant change the life she was given and all that she can do is to work hard to make it a little better. She is a realist and can only see the world through a bleak view. Bigger is a romantic. He sees how the world could be a better place but only for him. He knows that the world is a better place for some people but just not for him and he wants to change/escape from his own reality.

2.) It is human nature to be hostile toads one thing on another.  In this time period  the vast majority of white people are hostile toads black people.  Bigger is shocked to find a white family that is so comfortable with a black man but is so dysfunctional themselves.

3.) Everything in book one is based on fear. Everything in Bigger’s life revolves around fear.  His plan to rob a white man is because he is scared of what might happen to his family if they don’t have money. The murder of the white girl Mary was not purposeful but once it was done Bigger’s whole world was nothing but fear.  

Native Son Book One Blog Q&A #2

Here are the rest of the questions and answers.

How does Bigger feel about his home and its surroundings?
Bigger hates his family and the environment in which he lives.  He despises his family because he knows all too well that they suffer and that he is powerless to help them.  He hates his home because everywhere he looks, he sees oppression.  He sees all the things that he could do if only he weren’t a poor African American.  He sees all the places where he is forbidden to go.  He sees all the things that he will never be able to have.  This daily reminder of his suffering and misery is the reason why Bigger hates his home and his family.

Who are Bigger's friends and what event takes place that creates a level of aggression with these friends?
Bigger’s friends are Gus, Jack, and GH.  They are part of Bigger’s gang of sorts.  Gus came up with the plan to rob from Blum’s (a white man) store.  Although he was the one who came up with the original idea a month ago, Gus is hesitant to actually perform the deed.  Outwardly, Bigger is all for charging into the store, but he does this to boost his own pride and confidence.  Inwardly, he is also afraid of the probably consequences that will happen.  He initiates an argument with Gus in order to show to his other friends that Gus is a coward while he is unafraid.  In this argument, Gus states that Bigger is the true coward and is afraid of Gus accepting the challenge to rob Blum, knowing that if he (Gus) does, than Bigger will have to carry out the plan.  Bigger becomes enraged and picks a fight with Gus knowing that he has the upper hand with his knife.  He forces Gus to be submissive to himself and ends up scaring his friends so much that they all leave, thereby ruining the plan.  Before they leave, however, GH says, “You done spoiled things now, I reckon that was what you always wanted…”  He realizes what Gus had realized earlier.

Who are the Dalton's, and where and how do they live?
The Daltons have a cook who makes all their meals, and Bigger is their newest chauffeur.  Mr. Dalton is a wealthy businessman married to blind Mrs. Dalton, and their daughter Mary takes classes at the university.  She has a boyfriend named Jan, and she regularly skips classes to go meet him.  While her parents (or at least her father) are firmly against communism, Mary is beginning to be a communist under the influence of Jan.  The Daltons are millionaires who live 4605 Drexel Boulevard.  They live in a mansion with the most modern technology, furniture, and decorations.  This is a far cry from the home that Bigger lives in.

--Maria(:

Native Son Book One Blog Q&A

I came home from Model UN in Chattanooga and sat down to update my blog. Here are the first few questions and answers for Book One: Fear of Native Son!

At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to the Thomas family. Describe this family and the conditions in which they live? Be descriptive and use concrete details!The Thomas family lives in poor conditions.  All four: Bigger’s mother, sister, brother, and he, live in one single tiny room.  His mother and sister Vera share one cot while Bigger and his brother Buddy share another.  There is “a narrow space” between the two beds.  There are rats living in the walls of the room and often come out in search of food.  Bigger’s mother is very loud and expresses what she thinks.  For example, when a rat appears in the room, her eyes become “round with fascinated horror” and screams at Vera to “get up here on the bed!”  Vera is described by Bigger as “a sappy girl” not having “any more sense than to believe everything she was told.”  Buddy is “tough, plenty” and Bigger doesn’t worry too much about him.  As for Bigger himself, he is depicted by Wright as having a tough exterior which he doesn’t like to break to his friends or to himself.

The title of Book One is Fear, how is this title symbolic and prophetic at the same time? What was Wright's intention with this title?
Fear is symbolic of black people’s fear of the white oppressor at the time the book was written.  In the rat scene, we find a parallel between Bigger and the rat.  Bigger traps the rat by getting Buddy to block the hole in the wall and cuts off its only means of escape.  The rat is trapped with no escape.  Like it, Bigger is trapped.  He has very limited choices as to the jobs he can take, the places he can go, and the things he can say.  The rat is also described as being fearful; its “belly pulsed with fear.”  Bigger is also afraid, except he is afraid of the consequences of upsetting a white man. 

What initial event happens in the beginning of the novel that is clearly a foreshadowing of events to come?
The initial event is the killing of the rat.  Just as the rat was trapped and eventually killed by Bigger, Bigger is also trapped with no means of escape and will die with or without the support of a white lawyer.  The “thing” trapping him is the oppression and racism against African Americans.

--Maria