Book 1 Part 2

This forum is for the discussion of Native Son, Book 1 Part 2.

Bigger is so scared of attacking a white man that he would rather attack a close friend. His fear of the white world may be why he doesn't interact with others, or has a hard time taking a job.

All of Bigger's knowledge of white people seems to come from the movies or the billboards.

I agree with you Kelley, all Bigger's exposure is from billboards or movies.

Bigger's opinion that rich white people would treat him better than a poor white person is interesting too.

I was sad to see Bigger starting a fight with Gus.

My copy is an original, publised in 1940. the parts must be broken down differently than your books. Part one is called 'Fear' and part wo is called 'Flight' which begins with Bigger waking up in his bed after the murder of Mary.
to recap part one: I felt bigger was doing everything he could not to have to rob the deli but I was surprised that his friends allowed him to be so merciless with Gus.
The author did a good job depicting just how conflicted Bigger was about goiing to work at the Daltons. I thought the woman who was showing him around was also black until she said she was from Ireland. Bigger really had a good situation there, an easy job and a nice place to live with good food. 20 dollars a month for his family, if he ever got around to giving it to them and 5 dollar a week for himself. Even though we easily get the drift that he isn intensly angry with his lot in life I also felt that he was a selfish individual just by the way he treated his sister and mother (and friends) He probably had no intention of giving his family money.
He also had no remorse about killing Mary who had really been kind to him in her convoluted way, nor abou trying to pin the murder on Jan, who had also been kind to him. Bigger didn't seem to get any ind of feeling from them that they might have been able to help the black man. He seemed to think they were ;making some big joke out of it all.
I was surprised that Mrs. Dalton could hear Mary and Bigger tiptoe in, yet she did not hear Bigger struggling with the trunk in the bedroom or down the stairs.
He was pretty dang callous to be able to cut off marys head. No matter how tough a person is, that would be something awful.

Mom- Mine is divided the same way as yours. I am just trying to keep up with the SparkNotes divisions, so that if I need help it is there.

Good imput

ok. that is what I have been doing after i finished the first part. I am nearly finished and have really enjoyed the book.

Mine is set up in the parts fear, flight, etc. too