Book 1 Part 3

This forum is for the discussion of Native Son, Book 1 Part 3.

Bigger gets a break, but is reluctant to concede to all being well. He took his gun with him.

I really think that there was a set-up when Mary Dalton was to be escorted to the University by Bigger. He was a new employee, black, it was at night and Mary was very young. Bad variables.

Interestingly Bigger and Dalton's exhibit one key similarity in this section: they view the entire other race as another a species, as a singular object with specific qualities. Bigger sees the 'whites' as rich and condescending the oppressors and often believes they are out to get him. The Dalton's view 'blacks' as a cause or a charity, that is convienent both for them to donate to or take advantage of.

It's funny, where did they get the ideas that they were looking at the whites as a different race. Probably us.

i replied at length in book one part two but to touch on what you guys are saying here, I think this book may have really stirred up some controversy in the 1940s. The author wrote pretty specifically about M. Daltons philanthropy and Biggers intense dislike of all whites.