"'Don't you realize I'm trying to save your life? Help me just a little bit'" (367).
This is a plea of desperation. Here, Max is actually begging to Bigger - the roles have changed; if anything Bigger should be begging for his life to be saved. This is of significance to me because it takes a lot for a man to beg for something from another man, especially coming from a white man. Max has swallowed his pride and is determined to save someone who doesn't want to be saved. This shows that Max will never give up and will stop at nothing until he sees to it that Bigger is given justice. Because of this quote, I do believe Max will win this case.
I wonder if Max will ever get so frustrated with Bigger that he becomes angry?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Native Son - P.340-363
"Bigger knew that Max was trying to make him feel that he accepted the way he looked at things and it made him as self-conscious as when Jan had taken his hand and shaken it that night" (346).
Here's another white man who is trying to make Bigger feel equal to him. Bigger's been brought up to know that he is not equal to the white folks but Jan and Max have contradicted that thought. This confuses Bigger therefore making him feel self-conscious about his skin color. "He did not want his feelings tampered with; he feared he might walk into another trap" (347). It's difficult for Bigger to trust those he wouldn't normally trust because when he does it usually does nothing for him. The way Jan and Mary treated him, he felt as though they were messing with his emotions. That's why he felt like she made him kill her. However, he keeps getting confronted with different situations where people want to help him and he wants to believe them but is afraid.
Does Bigger still believe he walked into a trap set by Mary and Jan?
Here's another white man who is trying to make Bigger feel equal to him. Bigger's been brought up to know that he is not equal to the white folks but Jan and Max have contradicted that thought. This confuses Bigger therefore making him feel self-conscious about his skin color. "He did not want his feelings tampered with; he feared he might walk into another trap" (347). It's difficult for Bigger to trust those he wouldn't normally trust because when he does it usually does nothing for him. The way Jan and Mary treated him, he felt as though they were messing with his emotions. That's why he felt like she made him kill her. However, he keeps getting confronted with different situations where people want to help him and he wants to believe them but is afraid.
Does Bigger still believe he walked into a trap set by Mary and Jan?
Native Son - pg.287-340
"The preacher's face was black and sad and earnest and made him feel a sense of guilt deeper than that which even his murder of Mary made him feel" (284).
A feeling of remorse becomes instilled in him because he's committed a crime that has not only affected the white community but his own people also. And I knew all along Bigger had a heart in him. It took him a while to deal with this emotion because he's never experienced something like this before. He's feeling so many horrible emotions and is ashamed, "the preacher's words registered themselves in his consciousness ... he loathed it because it made him feel as condemned and guilty as the voice of those who hated him" (283). Him and his people already suffer from an oppression brought on by the white folks and Bigger's caused even more suffering thus Bigger feels guilty and most of all ashamed. Nevertheless, this preacher wants to help him by praying for him, making Bigger feel even more guilty.
"The word had become flesh. For the first time in his life a white man became a human being to him, and the reality of Jan's humanity came in a stab of remorse" (289).
Bigger has just killed the woman Jan loves and Bigger is shocked when he hears Jan saying he forgives him and wants to help him. He did not expect that at all - especially from a white man. Now he sees Jan actually believes in him, he has no idea what to do except think of Jan as a real person. So with the delayed realization of this, Bigger immediately feels remorseful. The reality of what he's done and who he's done it to has finally sunk in: "he has killed what this man loved and had hurt him" (289).
"Bigger wanted to comfort them in the presence of the white folks, but did not know how" (297).
Bigger never knows how to cope in abnormal situations. When he's put in a different situation that stimulates a new emotion he's never experienced before, he has no idea how to react. For most, it would come naturally for one to jus put their arm around a loved one to comfort. However, it's understandable why it's difficult for Bigger to convey these feelings. Bigger's been brought up in a home where he's never been comforted before. He's more of the black sheep of the family and gets scolded more than he does comforted. He's the man of the family and after years of disappointment, he's failed again. Bigger knows they deserve to be comforted but how can he comfort if he's never been comforted; not even by his family?
Question: Will Bigger gain back hope?
A feeling of remorse becomes instilled in him because he's committed a crime that has not only affected the white community but his own people also. And I knew all along Bigger had a heart in him. It took him a while to deal with this emotion because he's never experienced something like this before. He's feeling so many horrible emotions and is ashamed, "the preacher's words registered themselves in his consciousness ... he loathed it because it made him feel as condemned and guilty as the voice of those who hated him" (283). Him and his people already suffer from an oppression brought on by the white folks and Bigger's caused even more suffering thus Bigger feels guilty and most of all ashamed. Nevertheless, this preacher wants to help him by praying for him, making Bigger feel even more guilty.
"The word had become flesh. For the first time in his life a white man became a human being to him, and the reality of Jan's humanity came in a stab of remorse" (289).
Bigger has just killed the woman Jan loves and Bigger is shocked when he hears Jan saying he forgives him and wants to help him. He did not expect that at all - especially from a white man. Now he sees Jan actually believes in him, he has no idea what to do except think of Jan as a real person. So with the delayed realization of this, Bigger immediately feels remorseful. The reality of what he's done and who he's done it to has finally sunk in: "he has killed what this man loved and had hurt him" (289).
"Bigger wanted to comfort them in the presence of the white folks, but did not know how" (297).
Bigger never knows how to cope in abnormal situations. When he's put in a different situation that stimulates a new emotion he's never experienced before, he has no idea how to react. For most, it would come naturally for one to jus put their arm around a loved one to comfort. However, it's understandable why it's difficult for Bigger to convey these feelings. Bigger's been brought up in a home where he's never been comforted before. He's more of the black sheep of the family and gets scolded more than he does comforted. He's the man of the family and after years of disappointment, he's failed again. Bigger knows they deserve to be comforted but how can he comfort if he's never been comforted; not even by his family?
Question: Will Bigger gain back hope?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Native Son - Pg.271-286
"Even death would not matter ... it [death] would be a victory" (275).
This is just a thought going through Bigger's mind but I do believe it can be realistic. Bigger's death really does not matter whatever he says or does. He's already been charged with rape & murder so he's going to die anyway. However, his death can also be seen as a victory. Remembering what Bigger's in jail for - it's a big deal! He's killed a white woman, there aren't many "negroes" in the book that have committed this crime. So not only would Bigger's death be considered a victory for himself but also for his people.
Does Bigger believe in his death being a victory?
This is just a thought going through Bigger's mind but I do believe it can be realistic. Bigger's death really does not matter whatever he says or does. He's already been charged with rape & murder so he's going to die anyway. However, his death can also be seen as a victory. Remembering what Bigger's in jail for - it's a big deal! He's killed a white woman, there aren't many "negroes" in the book that have committed this crime. So not only would Bigger's death be considered a victory for himself but also for his people.
Does Bigger believe in his death being a victory?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Native Son - pg.242-270
"They keep us bottled up here like wild animals" (249).
This is the first time that this statement has been mentioned in the novel. We've already discussed this and we believe this statement that Bigger is thinking supports the claim that Bigger's actions were all caused by his environment. These black people are basically locked up in one area of Chicago where they have little or no privileges/opportunities. They can barely get enough food to eat at night. So when they're hungry and haven't eaten for days, they are going to do whatever it takes to get something to eat. The government who put them in this impossible position leave them no choice. If the society is going to label and treat them as wild animals then they are going to exhibit actions that may portray them as animals.
Will the rest of the Blacks feelings of hatred towards Bigger change possibly to sympathy?
This is the first time that this statement has been mentioned in the novel. We've already discussed this and we believe this statement that Bigger is thinking supports the claim that Bigger's actions were all caused by his environment. These black people are basically locked up in one area of Chicago where they have little or no privileges/opportunities. They can barely get enough food to eat at night. So when they're hungry and haven't eaten for days, they are going to do whatever it takes to get something to eat. The government who put them in this impossible position leave them no choice. If the society is going to label and treat them as wild animals then they are going to exhibit actions that may portray them as animals.
Will the rest of the Blacks feelings of hatred towards Bigger change possibly to sympathy?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Native Son - Pg. 187-209
"The big white cat bounded down the steps and leaped with one movement upon Bigger's shoulder and sat perched there. Bigger was still, feeling that the cat had given him away, had pointed him out as the murderer of Mary" (202).
Reading this, it sounds ridiculous. Obviously nobody is thinking this cat has just solved the case but Bigger is really nervous. Back on page 91, while Bigger was in the process of burning Mary's body, he saw the same white cat watching. He immediately became nervous and thought about killing the cat. Then, he reminded himself that cats could not talk. It sounds like Bigger is worrying too much but I think the author is purposely emphasizing the presence of this white cat. I think it represents something much greater than what it seems to be.
What does the white cat represent?
Reading this, it sounds ridiculous. Obviously nobody is thinking this cat has just solved the case but Bigger is really nervous. Back on page 91, while Bigger was in the process of burning Mary's body, he saw the same white cat watching. He immediately became nervous and thought about killing the cat. Then, he reminded himself that cats could not talk. It sounds like Bigger is worrying too much but I think the author is purposely emphasizing the presence of this white cat. I think it represents something much greater than what it seems to be.
What does the white cat represent?
Native Son - Pg. 164-186
"hating Jan violently ... wanting to strike Jan with something because Jan's wide, incredulous stare made him feel hot guilt to the very core of him" (167).
Again Bigger's emotions take the best of him. But this time, Bigger is not scared, he's feeling guilty. Therefore, he is remorseful for what he's done. He's in so deep that there is nothing he can do to change what he's done. Bigger's feeling really bad about lying on Jan because Jan was so nice to him. He doesn't want Jan to be accused of anything but he'd rather save himself. So when he's put in an uncomfortable situation as this one, Bigger automatically becomes violent or he develops thoughts of violence. It's like the story of a person who plays the "pile-up" game and once they begin feeling uncomfortable they immediately act on impulse; usually violently.
Is Britten buying Bigger's story?
Again Bigger's emotions take the best of him. But this time, Bigger is not scared, he's feeling guilty. Therefore, he is remorseful for what he's done. He's in so deep that there is nothing he can do to change what he's done. Bigger's feeling really bad about lying on Jan because Jan was so nice to him. He doesn't want Jan to be accused of anything but he'd rather save himself. So when he's put in an uncomfortable situation as this one, Bigger automatically becomes violent or he develops thoughts of violence. It's like the story of a person who plays the "pile-up" game and once they begin feeling uncomfortable they immediately act on impulse; usually violently.
Is Britten buying Bigger's story?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
