1. Compare and contrast Bigger's attitude toward the world around him and Mrs. Thomas'.
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?
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)?
1. Bigger feels distain and resentment towards the world while his mother feels nothing towards the world. Bigger feels distain and resentment towards the world because he feels that the world is against him and he is not in control of his life. Bigger wants to have possibilities and do what he wants to do Mrs. Thomas views the world, as take what you get. She views the world this way because she grew up with that mentality.
ReplyDelete2. Even though Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone both profess to be friendly towards African Americans, they are still hostile to each other; this is because they have different reasons for being friendly towards African Americans. Mr. Dalton is friendly towards African Americans because he feels that they should be taken care of, helped, and given a chance to do things in life. In contrast, Jan Erlone is friendly towards African Americans because he sees them as equals. Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone are hostile to each other because Jan wants to mesh black and white societies together and make them equal, while Mr. Dalton just wants to help them, but not make them equals to whites.
3. Fear is the reason for Mary’s murder due to one main reason. It was Bigger’s fear of being discovered in Mary’s room by Mrs. Dalton. He tried to prevent her from hearing Mary’s drunk mumbling by putting a pillow over Mary’s head. The result of this act was that Bigger accidentally suffocated Mary with her pillow. This means, that it is only Bigger’s fear of being found by Mrs. Dalton in Mary’s room is to be blamed for Mary’s untimely death.
Comment By:
Leah Eisenberg
1.Bigger's attitude towards his mother is disrespectful mainly because he has no father figure to give him guidance. "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." this shows their was no one around to teach him responsibility or to develop him into a man of his word. everything has been done for him and now that things are expected of him he does not know how to go about achieving them which is why he starts the fight with Gus.Also why he acts the way with his mother she expects so much out of him and because she is a woman she does not know how to raise him to be a man. in her eyes, she feels like he's old enough to know what he should be doing and how to provide for his family when he has no clue how to. She wants him to drop his dreams to do everything she wants him to and he feels its unfair that he cant do the things he was because of his financial condition .
ReplyDelete- Desiray Williams
Bigger’s feelings revolved around shame, fear, and racism, these three things all defined his character and his repressed emotions towards the world. Bigger is tired of being pushed around and his feelings of fear revolve around racism. For example, “"The moment a situation became so that it excited something in him, he rebelled. That was the way he lived; he passed his days trying to defeat or gratify powerful impulses in a world he feared." p. 44…… This shows that Bigger is afraid of the consequences that result from robbing a white man, but doesn’t want to express his feelings of fear, so instead he lashes out on his friends.
ReplyDeleteBigger’s attitude toward his mother was respectful, but he didn’t connect well with his mother. He didn’t connect well with his mother because his mother treated him like the father figure of the household. He also doesn’t connect well with his mother because he has dreams and aspirations
2. Mr.Dalton and Jan Erlone have a weird relationship because Jan is dating his daughter. Fathers get very protective over their children, so that’s where Mr.Dalton and Jan disagree. Also, their compassion for African Americans are different. Mr.Dalton can be (I am not saying he is) but he can be seen as racist because of his treatment towards African Americans. He believes in capitalism, which uses cheap labor from a company that hires predominantly African Americans. Mr.Dalton claims to want the progression of African Americans and backs his claims up because he sends large checks to “uplift” the African American citizens of Chicago. This could be part of the reason why they don’t come onto common terms. Another reason could be Because Jan Erlone believes in communism. Jan also treats bigger as a complete equal and Mr. Dalton treats bigger like an Employee, but he isn’t mean to him at all.
3. Fear is the reason for Mary’s death because fear is the reason Bigger kills her. It’s not because Bigger has some devious intention of taking out whites, it’s because he’s afraid of consequences that come along with affection for someone of a different race. He explains this in the text "Though he had killed by accident, not once did he feel the need to tell himself, that it had been an accident. He was black and he had been alone in the room where a white girl had been killed: therefore he had killed her. That was what everyone would say, anyhow, no matter what he said." p. 102. This shows that no matter what he did, he was going to be blamed for it. This resulted in him finishing her off for good. This shows that his irrational thinking was clearly caused by his fear.
1. Bigger still thinks that he can do something in the world while his mother only feels distain towards it. Bigger feels that he can still make something out of his life because he is young and still has a fighting spirit. Bigger thinks that he has possibilities, while Mrs. Thomas views the world as take what you get since she has a survivor mentality. This can be seen when she tells Bigger, “We can live in one room just like we living now, even with you gone,” (Wright 9). She views the world this way because she grew up with that kind mentality.
ReplyDelete2. Even though Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone both profess to be friendly towards African Americans, they are still hostile to each other; this is because they have different reasons for being friendly towards African Americans. Mr. Dalton is friendly towards African Americans because he feels that they should be taken care of, helped, and given a chance to do things in life. In contrast, Jan Erlone is friendly towards African Americans because he sees them as equals and wants to level the playing field. Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone are hostile to each other because Jan wants to mesh black and white societies together and make them equal, he wants a revolution and overthrow the government, and form a new government where everybody is equal, whilst Mr. Dalton just treats them as equals, he does not want to overthrow the government. Mr. Dalton is a realist while Jan is a radical. This can be seen when Jan tells Bigger, “After the revolution it’ll be ours. But we’ll have to fight for it. What a world to win, Bigger! And when that day comes, things’ll be different. There’ll be no white and no black; there’ll be no rich and no poor,” (Wright 68). Jan’s intentions are idealist, not realistic, whereas Mr. Dalton’s intentions are realistic. Jan as an agenda, but Mr. Dalton has values.
3. Fear is not the reason for Mary’s murder, despite the fact that it appears that Bigger’s fear of being discovered in Mary’s room by Mrs. Dalton is the reason for Mary’s death. He tried to prevent her from hearing Mary’s drunk mumbling by putting a pillow over Mary’s head. The result of this act was that Bigger accidentally suffocated Mary with her pillow. It was not fear, but the fact that Bigger cannot accept and understand the Dalton’s unconventional views that gets him into trouble.
Comment By:
Leah Eisenberg
1. Bigger still thinks that he can do something in the world while his mother only feels distain towards it. Bigger feels that he can still make something out of his life because he is young and still has a fighting spirit. Bigger thinks that he has possibilities such as when he tells Gus, “I could fly a plane if I had a change,” (Wright 17), while Mrs. Thomas views the world as take what you get since she has a survivor mentality. This can be seen when she tells Bigger, “We can live in one room just like we living now, even with you gone,” (Wright 9). She views the world this way because she grew up with that kind mentality.
ReplyDelete2. Even though Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone both profess to be friendly towards African Americans, they are still hostile to each other; this is because they have different reasons for being friendly towards African Americans. Mr. Dalton is friendly towards African Americans because he feels that they should be taken care of, helped, and given a chance to do things in life. This can be seen when Mr. Dalton tells Bigger, “You see, Bigger, I’m a supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,” (Wright). Moreover, Mr. Dalton donated millions of dollars to colored schools. In contrast, Jan Erlone is friendly towards African Americans because he sees them as equals and wants to level the playing field. Mr. Dalton and Jan Erlone are hostile to each other because Jan wants to mesh black and white societies together and make them equal, he wants a revolution and overthrow the government, and form a new government where everybody is equal, whilst Mr. Dalton just treats them as equals, he does not want to overthrow the government. Mr. Dalton is a realist while Jan is a radical. This can be seen when Jan tells Bigger, “After the revolution it’ll be ours. But we’ll have to fight for it. What a world to win, Bigger! And when that day comes, things’ll be different. There’ll be no white and no black; there’ll be no rich and no poor,” (Wright 68). Jan’s intentions are idealist, not realistic, whereas Mr. Dalton’s intentions are realistic. Jan as an agenda, but Mr. Dalton has values.
3. Fear is not the reason for Mary’s murder, despite the fact that it appears that Bigger’s fear of being discovered in Mary’s room by Mrs. Dalton is the reason for Mary’s death. The real reason for Mary’s death is that Bigger could accept the fact that the Dalton’s were different from other white people. Everything the Daltons do goes against everything Bigger knows about white people, and whenever someone’s beliefs are put into question, they get angry. Such as when Mary asked Bigger during his job interview, “Bigger, do you belong to a union?” (Wright 51); “He hated the girl then. Why did she have to do this when he was trying to get a job?”(Wright 52). Mary was not actually trying to prevent Bigger from getting the job, she was trying to make conversation with him, and try to start a relationship with him, but Bigger could not understand that that was what Mary was trying to do. This means, that it can be concluded that it was not fear, but the fact that Bigger cannot accept and understand the Dalton’s unconventional views that gets him into trouble; it was the fact that Bigger did not want to see Mrs. Dalton’s unconventional reaction when she found him in Mary’s room.
Comment By:
Leah Eisenberg
1. Bigger is like a child in a man’s body. He’s naive and doesn’t realize that people do things that they don’t want to do, because they have to. He still has a selfish outlook on life. He would rather go through the day doing nothing then go to work to provide for his family. Bigger’s mother has worked her entire life. She understands that she has to take whatever opportunity she is given and do her best so she can take care of her family.
ReplyDelete2. Mr. Dalton and Jan are both friendly to Blacks but their reasons are different. Jan wants a complete revolution. He wants blacks and whites to live together side by side without tension in a community. Mr. Dalton donates money to black but he doesn’t want to see them as equals.
3. Fear could be the blame for Mary’s murder because Bigger assumes that if he is caught in her room he could be accused of doing something to her. Bigger fears that he could be accused of getting her drunk and attempting to rape her. He acts without thinking rationally. This results in him smothering Mary.
-Kirsten
1. Bigger is like a child in a man’s body. He’s naive and doesn’t realize that people do things that they don’t want to do, because they have to. He still has a selfish outlook on life. He would rather go through the day doing nothing then go to work to provide for his family. Bigger’s mother has worked her entire life. She understands that she has to take whatever opportunity she is given and do her best so she can take care of her family. Bigger’s mom expresses her frustration by saying, “All you care about is your own pleasure! Even when relief offers you a job you won’t take it till they threaten to cut off your food and starve you!”
ReplyDelete2. Mr. Dalton and Jan are both friendly to Blacks but their reasons are different. Jan wants a complete revolution. He wants blacks and whites to live together side by side without tension in a community. Mr. Dalton donates money to black but he doesn’t want to see them as equals. Jan doesn’t realize that it takes more than just visiting Bigger’s part of town and having one black friend wont make a big difference and cause a revolution.
3. Fear could be the blame for Mary’s murder because Bigger assumes that if he is caught in her room he could be accused of doing something to her. Bigger fears that he could be accused of getting her drunk and attempting to rape her. He acts without thinking rationally. This results in him smothering Mary. Bigger should have considered the fact that the Dalton’s don’t judge blacks because of their skin tone. They would have listened to Bigger explain how Mary told him to take her somewhere to meet Jan, how they got drank, and how he was escorting her to her room.
- Kirsten
2. Mr. Dalton and Jan are hostile to each other because they dont have the same view on african americans. Mr. Daltons donates money to African American schools and is a member of the NAACP. he feels the they should have a chance just like white people do. Jan is a communist. He thinks that they all should be treated equally, no race or poverty. He wants a revolution and he wants more blacks to join but he doesnt get to understand the way they live or how they are. He just watches from a second perspective and sees that he doesnt like they way they are treated but doesnt full understand the concept of why he wants this revolution.
ReplyDelete1.Bigger’s feelings revolved around shame, fear, and racism, these three things all defined his character and his repressed emotions towards the world. Bigger is tired of being pushed around and his feelings of fear revolve around racism. For example, “"The moment a situation became so that it excited something in him, he rebelled. That was the way he lived; he passed his days trying to defeat or gratify powerful impulses in a world he feared." p. 44…… This shows that Bigger is afraid of the consequences that result from robbing a white man, but doesn’t want to express his feelings of fear, so instead he lashes out on his friends. Bigger’s attitude toward his mother was respectful, but he didn’t connect well with his mother. He didn’t connect well with his mother because his mother treated him like the father figure of the household. He also doesn’t connect well with his mother because he has dreams and aspirations. Bigger thinks that his mother puts too much responsibility on him because there was no father figure inside of his household. This makes Bigger feel anger that he has to capsule inside himself, and gradually builds tension between him and his mother.
ReplyDelete2. Mr.Dalton and Jan Erlone have a weird relationship because Jan is dating his daughter. Fathers get very protective over their children, so that’s where Mr.Dalton and Jan disagree. Also, their compassion for African Americans are different. Mr.Dalton can be (I am not saying he is) but he can be seen as racist because of his treatment towards African Americans. He believes in capitalism, which uses cheap labor from a company that hires predominantly African Americans. Mr.Dalton claims to want the progression of African Americans and backs his claims up because he sends large checks to “uplift” the African American citizens of Chicago. This could be part of the reason why they don’t come onto common terms. Another reason could be Because Jan Erlone believes in communism. Jan also treats bigger as a complete equal and Mr. Dalton treats bigger like an Employee, but he isn’t mean to him at all.
part 2:
ReplyDelete3. Fear is the reason for Mary’s death because fear is the reason Bigger kills her. It’s not because Bigger has some devious intention of taking out whites, it’s because he’s afraid of consequences that come along with affection for someone of a different race. He explains this in the text "Though he had killed by accident, not once did he feel the need to tell himself, that it had been an accident. He was black and he had been alone in the room where a white girl had been killed: therefore he had killed her. That was what everyone would say, anyhow, no matter what he said." p. 102. This shows that no matter what he did, he was going to be blamed for it. This resulted in him finishing her off for good. This shows that his irrational thinking was clearly caused by his fear. Another way to explain it is this quote: “No; he did not think they would suspect him of anything. He was black. Again he felt the roll of crisp bills in his pocket; if things went wrong he could always run away. He wondered how much money was in the roll; he had not even counted it. He would see when he got to Bessie’s. No; he need not be afraid. He felt the gun nestling close to his skin. That gun could always make folks stand away and think twice before bothering him.” (Wright, 243)
Because the gun gives Bigger more power, it also reduces his fear. This makes it seem like Bigger’s fear isn’t all about white people, but being powerless in the hands of the people who have the power.
part 1:1.Bigger’s feelings revolved around shame, fear, and racism, these three things all defined his character and his repressed emotions towards the world. Bigger is tired of being pushed around and his feelings of fear revolve around racism. For example, “"The moment a situation became so that it excited something in him, he rebelled. That was the way he lived; he passed his days trying to defeat or gratify powerful impulses in a world he feared." p. 44…… This shows that Bigger is afraid of the consequences that result from robbing a white man, but doesn’t want to express his feelings of fear, so instead he lashes out on his friends. Bigger’s attitude toward his mother was respectful, but he didn’t connect well with his mother. He didn’t connect well with his mother because his mother treated him like the father figure of the household. He also doesn’t connect well with his mother because he has dreams and aspirations. Bigger thinks that his mother puts too much responsibility on him because there was no father figure inside of his household. This makes Bigger feel anger that he has to capsule inside himself, and gradually builds tension between him and his mother.
ReplyDelete2. Mr.Dalton and Jan Erlone have a weird relationship because Jan is dating his daughter. Fathers get very protective over their children, so that’s where Mr.Dalton and Jan disagree. Also, their compassion for African Americans are different. Mr.Dalton can be (I am not saying he is) but he can be seen as racist because of his treatment towards African Americans. He believes in capitalism, which uses cheap labor from a company that hires predominantly African Americans. Mr.Dalton claims to want the progression of African Americans and backs his claims up because he sends large checks to “uplift” the African American citizens of Chicago. This could be part of the reason why they don’t come onto common terms. Another reason could be Because Jan Erlone believes in communism. Jan also treats bigger as a complete equal and Mr. Dalton treats bigger like an Employee, but he isn’t mean to him at all.
Jan seems to think that everything will work out immediately, for example: “"No, I want to work among Negroes. That’s where people are needed. It seems as though they’ve been pushed out of everything."
"That’s true."
"When I see what they’ve done to those people, it makes me so mad. . . ."
"Yes; it’s awful."
"And I feel so helpless and useless. I want to do something."
"I knew all along you’d come through."
"Say, Jan, do you know many Negroes? I want to meet some."
"I don’t know any very well. But you’ll meet them when you’re in the Party."
"They have so much emotion! What a people! If we could ever get them going. . . ."
"We can’t have a revolution without ‘em," Jan said. "They’ve got to be organized. They’ve got spirit. They’ll give the Party something it needs."
"And their songs—the spirituals! Aren’t they marvelous?" Bigger saw her turn to him. "Say, Bigger, can you sing?" (115-116, Wright)
Jan and Mary talk about the terrible things that have been done to blacks while Bigger hears them. Even though they mean well, it’s rude and embarrassing at the same time because they’re talking about Bigger’s life with his “people” in front of him without saying anything to him.
3. Fear is the reason for Mary’s death because fear is the reason Bigger kills her. It’s not because Bigger has some devious intention of taking out whites, it’s because he’s afraid of consequences that come along with affection for someone of a different race. He explains this in the text "Though he had killed by accident, not once did he feel the need to tell himself, that it had been an accident. He was black and he had been alone in the room where a white girl had been killed: therefore he had killed her. That was what everyone would say, anyhow, no matter what he said." p. 102. This shows that no matter what he did, he was going to be blamed for it. This resulted in him finishing her off for good. This shows that his irrational thinking was clearly caused by his fear. Another way to explain it is this quote: “No; he did not think they would suspect him of anything. He was black. Again he felt the roll of crisp bills in his pocket; if things went wrong he could always run away. He wondered how much money was in the roll; he had not even counted it. He would see when he got to Bessie’s. No; he need not be afraid. He felt the gun nestling close to his skin. That gun could always make folks stand away and think twice before bothering him.” (Wright, 243)
ReplyDeleteBecause the gun gives Bigger more power, it also reduces his fear. This makes it seem like Bigger’s fear isn’t all about white people, but being powerless in the hands of the people who have the power.
Another example of this is the way he feels after killing Mary. "He felt that he had his destiny in his grasp. He was more alive then he could ever remember having been: his attention and mind were pointed, focused toward the goal." p. (Wright, p.141)
After killing Mary Dalton, Bigger feels stronger than he ever has in his life. He removes the thoughts of the electric chair in his head. This shows that it revokes more fear in him because he chooses to ignore the inevitable and it provokes him to continue into a destructive path.
2. Mr. Dalton and Jan are hostile to each other because of their different views on african americans. Mr.Dalton is a member of the NAACP and he donated money to schools for african american children. He states in the text that he thinks they should aslo have a chance at life. On the other hand, Jan is a communist. He believes in equality for all. He wants no poverty and no race. Jan is trying to start a revolution. He thinks he can use the african americans to help him revolt. but he atually doesnt know about the people he is fighting for.
ReplyDelete- Desiray
3. Bigger is scared because he doesnt want to get caught in her room. He doesnt want Mr.Dalton to see him in there or he might lose his job or be accused of raping her. When Mrs.Dalton walks in he is so afraid that smary might hint that he is in the room that he suffocates her trying to keep her quiet. This goes back to not having a father figre to teach him how to be strong nd how to be a man and face up to things instead of being scared evertime he is faced with something. He wasnt taught how to man up and be responsible for his actions and he is so scared he doesnt know what to do in situations where he has to confront white people. Also it can go back to the white oppression. They have beat and killed his kind. the fear of being killed is also why he can think of anything else to do nd gets himself caught up.
ReplyDelete- Desiray W