Native son to page 360 - 381

"He unfolded the Tribune and his eyes caught a headline: TROOPS GUARD NEGRO KILLER'S TRIAL. Troops? He bent forward and read: Protect Rapist From Mob Action." (365)

Bigger’s situation is similar to that of Jesus. Bigger and Jesus are both hated by people. The judge most likely feels some degree of pressure to appease the angry mob in the same way that Pontius pilate succumbed to the will of the people. Like jesus, Bigger is having trouble understanding why he must die for others, or abstract concepts like racial equality. Based off of these observations, I believe that Bigger’s death will not have immediate significance. Bigger sacrifice will be recognized after his death and create awareness to American racial injustice.

Will the mob cease if Bigger is not killed?

Does Max truly value the outcome of Bigger's trial?

Native son to page 340-360

"He had to die. It was more important to him to find to find out what this new tingling, this new elation, this new excitement meant" (363)

Bigger’s new dream to find a deeper meaning to life is destined to fail. Even if he were not condemned to die Bigger would be thrown back into the under tow of society. If Bigger hadn’t been killed, he would still have to live with the history of his crimes. He would most likely be unable to attain employment to sutain himself in his family. Consequently, he would be forced to remember his family hardships and shame. This would set Bigger back on the track of his original cycle of life.

Does Max really care about Bigger or does Max just use Bigger to showcase his politics?

Will Bigger’s new dream lead him to happiness before he dies?

Native son to page 340 part 3

“I can die without a cross!” (338)

This is outburst by Bigger is his last straw. In Bigger’s situation, with everything set against him, he mind as well act pious in case there, is in fact, a God. When Bigger rejects religion, he rejects his mother and the preacher which were the only people who never exhibited signs of hating him for his crime. Now that Bigger has turned away from heaven and earth, remaining sympathetic toward him is becoming an arduous task.

Will anyone visit Bigger before his death (besides max and Jan)?

Will Bigger regret turning away from God?

Native son to page 340 part 2

“He wept because he had once again trusted his feelings and they had betrayed him. Why should he have felt the need to try to make his feelings known? And why did not he hear resounding echoes of his feelings in the hearts of others?”(310)

The society in which Bigger resides does not allow him to live naturally. He cannot trust his feelings or instincts because they are the ways in which Bigger violates the laws of society. When Bigger gives in to his sexual instincts and molests Mary it led Bigger to killing her. Bigger struggles immensely with surpressing his instincts and he wonders if others share his struggles.

Will Bigger commit suicide?

Will Jan be blamed for Bigger’s crime?

Native son to page 340 part 1

"I want you to know that my heart is not bitter," Mr. Dalton said. "What this boy has done will not influence my relations with the Negro people. Why, only today I sent a dozen ping-pong tables to the South Side Boys Club...." (294)

In this section Richard Wright makes it apparent that communism is the only way that Chicago could have changed. It is simply insufficient for Mr. Dalton to donate a few pinball machines when those to whom he is giving them to cannot even afford to eat. If all of Mr. Dalton’s wealth was distributed to the masses then crime and negative feelings toward those who are more fortunate than you will be inexistent.

Will Bigger survive?

If Bigger does not get sentenced to death how will he face his family?

Native son 286

"Sitting beside Mrs. Dalton was Mr. Dalton, looking straight before him with wide-open,unblinking eyes. Mr. Dalton turned slowly and looked and Bigger and Bigger's eyes fell." (277)

Throughout his entire life, Bigger attempted to ignore problems and responsibilities by concealing them under a curtain. Now that the curtain option is no longer accessible to Bigger he will have to face his problems. In doing so, Bigger will be forced to realize that he had been wrong about all of the other things that he had hidden under the curtain. Fainting during trial is but a morsel of guilit which due to befall Bigger.

Will the Dalton's forgive Bigger?

How will Bigger deal with his guilt?

Native son end of book two

He thought he was in the Paris Grill listening to automatic phonograph playing; but that was not satisfying. Next, his mind told him that he was at home in bed and his mother was singing and shaking the matres, wanting him to get up[...] But that, too, did not answer the question. (253)

In nearly everyone's life there was a moment that is more enjoyable than others. This is typically referred to as one's happy place. Bigger has destroyed his happy places. He fought with his family, killed Bessie and cannont return to work for the Dalton's. When one is living without goals, anything to look forward to, and is scarred by the past, one may lose the will to continue the uphill battle of life.

How will the men who captured Bigger punish him?

Will Bigger attempt to commit suicide?

Native son 186-209

"The muscles of Bigger's face jerked violently, making hi feel that he wanted to laugh. He turned his head aside and fought to control himself. He was full of hysteria." (206)

Whenever Bigger is in a situation when "blind" people fail to comprehend Bigger role in Mary's murder Bigger's second, hysteric personality seizes control. Bigger argues with that second self that violence is not the answer. This second self is derived from Bigger's anxiety that he does not understand. Very often this anxiety presents a great stress to Bigger and becomes misplaced aggression.

What will Jan tell the papers?

Will Bigger eventually speak to the men who work for the papers?

Native son 163-186

“Say, what is this!” Jan demanded. “What’re you making this boy lie for?” (167)


Jan is still unable to understand Bigger. Jan’s belief in respect towards blacks has blinded him from even suspecting that Bigger is lying on own accord. It does not even occur to Jan that he gave Bigger pamphlets and preached to him about communism without Bigger’s compliance. Any white person could easily use this information to frame Jan and he would suspect it. However, in Bigger’s case Jan can only feel sorry for Bigger, unable to piece together the truth.

Will Jan finally suspect Bigger of lying or murder (on his own accord) now that Bigger pointed a firearm at him?

Will Bigger’s savage writing style allow the Dalton’s and Britten to suspect him?