Native Son pages 34-62 Question 2nd period

Native Son pages 34-62 Question 2nd period

Bigger is a very confusing character to look at. He is "selling out" to the Dalton's, and he seems to be surrendering because of his attitude to the white Dalton's when he speaks to them, but when he is by himself in his room he seems to be destructive with his own fantasized dreams. Getting back to the idea of Bigger "selling out," he mentions many times that he is happy with his new life at the Dalton's because of all the new food, money, warmth, and the presence of a new different acting rich girl, Miss Dalton. he says, "She was rich, but she didn't act like she was rich...Maybe she was all right."(Wright 59) This quote symbolizes Bigger's thoughts towards Miss Dalton, he does not hate here like other rich girls because of the way she acts towards him. In a way he feels different, and on kind of a stretch, connected. He also says, "This is not going to be bad at all" (Wright 59), “There were a lot of new things I could get” (Wright 59), and "This would be an easy life" (Wright 59). All these quotes show that Bigger has been "sold out." In just a few hours he already seems to believe he is in a better life than before, he thinks its going to be easy, and that he knows he will be able to by many things. The fact that his whole mind has changed from, "terrible life as a black person" to "great life no matter the skin color." He surrenders whenever he is talking with one of the white folks by only saying, "Yessum" to every single order he gets. He says, "Ill be careful" (Wright 61) when she talks to him about the car. But when he is in his room he has the total opposite idea of being safe. He says, "What make of car was he to drive? He had not thought to look when Peggy had opened the garage door. He hoped it would be a Packard, or a Lincoln, or a Rolls Royce. Boy! Would he drive! Just wait! Of course, he would be careful when he was driving Miss or Mr. Dalton. But when he was alone he would burn up the pavement; he would make those tires smoke!” (Wright 59)  This shows that Bigger seems to be surrendering to the Dalton's when he is talking to them face to face and he seems responsible, but when he is alone and is thinking in his fantasy world, he only thinks about himself and all responsibility is lost. Bigger is pretty happy with his new lifestyle and is ready to take advantage of what the Dalton's are giving him. He is in for a brand new journey with white people. Everything he does is on the line.

http://jg007kill.blogspot.com/ Joey Guerra