" He looked out upon the world and the people about him with a double vision: one vision pictured death, an image of him, alone, sitting trapped in the elctric chair and waiting for the hot current to leap through his body; and the other vision pictured life, an image of himself standing amid throngs of men, lost in the welter of their lives with the hope of emerging again, different, unafraid" (364).
I believe this quote is significant because it is very similar to the image of the cross presented earlier in the book. It has two sides, a good and a bad. Bigger sees the people as both hateful and hopeful. He realizes that, though there are those out there that despise him, there are also those like Max and possibly Jan who don't hate him, who really just want him to get justice, but not so ar as death. This is possibly a quote representing Bigger's acceptance of the white race, as he finally acknowledge's the fact that not all white people hate him.
Do you think Bigger will die hating whites?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Native Son Quote Significance Pg. 363-4/15
"'Jesus, Mr. Max, when folks says things like that about you, you whipped before you born'" (351).
In this quote, we see Bigger openly contributing to the black sterotype common in the 30s. Throughout the book, it seemed like Bigger was fighting that same stereotype, and here he's using it as an excuse for his actions. This sort of thinking is contradictory to our undrstanding of Bigger, and I think this is simply a reason his mind has fallen back on since he can't really explain his real motives, his feelings. Because Bigger can't express himself, he turns to the reason that he possibly thinks is the closest to his feelings and uses that.
Do you think Bigger will ever learn to express himself?
In this quote, we see Bigger openly contributing to the black sterotype common in the 30s. Throughout the book, it seemed like Bigger was fighting that same stereotype, and here he's using it as an excuse for his actions. This sort of thinking is contradictory to our undrstanding of Bigger, and I think this is simply a reason his mind has fallen back on since he can't really explain his real motives, his feelings. Because Bigger can't express himself, he turns to the reason that he possibly thinks is the closest to his feelings and uses that.
Do you think Bigger will ever learn to express himself?
Native Son Quote Significance Pg. 340 -4/14
(1)"a particle of white rock had detached itself from that looming mountain of white hate and had rolled down the slope, stopping still at his feet. The word became flesh. For the first time in his life a white man became a human being to him" (289).
This quote is significant because it is the first time ever that a white man seems human to Bigger. For the entire book so far, the white race has been portrayed as a white force, and now they have switched to the image of an immoveable mountain. The mountain, however, is falling apart in front of Bigger, as in pieces of it are breaking off and he's seeing them for what they are. Also, I think this is a subtle hint on the Author's part with his 'the word became flesh' comment. He's trying to portray Communism(Wright being a communist) as what Jesus would've wanted.
Do you think Communism has been prtrayed this way in the book thus far?
(2)"He had lived and acted on the assumption that he was alone, and now he saw that he had not been. What he had done mades others suffer" (298).
In this quote, Bigger finally realizes that his actions affect others instead of only himself. It's a major turning point in his character, and the quote itself is pretty self-explanatory, simply significant. He had stubbornly thought of himself as alone, as the only true person who could "see", but now he sees it isn't so.
Do you think this will affect how Bigger's goes about his actions in the future.
(3) ""(knowing that it would never be, knowing that his heart did not believe, knowing that when he died, it would be over, forever)" (300).
I think this quote is significant because it seems like Bigger is trying to reassure himself, almost as if someone tried to sway him into actually believing in the action he was about to do. It's like Bigger is about to believe in God, believe in what his mother and the preacher want him to believe in, but then he tells himself not to.
If Bigger is trying to persuade himself not to, what would cause him to start believing in it after he said it was pointless?
This quote is significant because it is the first time ever that a white man seems human to Bigger. For the entire book so far, the white race has been portrayed as a white force, and now they have switched to the image of an immoveable mountain. The mountain, however, is falling apart in front of Bigger, as in pieces of it are breaking off and he's seeing them for what they are. Also, I think this is a subtle hint on the Author's part with his 'the word became flesh' comment. He's trying to portray Communism(Wright being a communist) as what Jesus would've wanted.
Do you think Communism has been prtrayed this way in the book thus far?
(2)"He had lived and acted on the assumption that he was alone, and now he saw that he had not been. What he had done mades others suffer" (298).
In this quote, Bigger finally realizes that his actions affect others instead of only himself. It's a major turning point in his character, and the quote itself is pretty self-explanatory, simply significant. He had stubbornly thought of himself as alone, as the only true person who could "see", but now he sees it isn't so.
Do you think this will affect how Bigger's goes about his actions in the future.
(3) ""(knowing that it would never be, knowing that his heart did not believe, knowing that when he died, it would be over, forever)" (300).
I think this quote is significant because it seems like Bigger is trying to reassure himself, almost as if someone tried to sway him into actually believing in the action he was about to do. It's like Bigger is about to believe in God, believe in what his mother and the preacher want him to believe in, but then he tells himself not to.
If Bigger is trying to persuade himself not to, what would cause him to start believing in it after he said it was pointless?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Native Son Quote Significance to pg. 286- 4/9
"He had killed within himself the preacher's haunting pitcure of life even before he had killed Mary; that had been his first murder. And now the preacher made it walk before his eyes like a ghost in the night, creating within him a sense of exclusion that was as cold as a block of ice" (284).
This quote is significant because it relates back to our discussion in class about Bigger and religion. Bigger's life was terrible, so how, then, can you believe in something higher that's Good? In this quote, Bigger doesn't want to see life in the preacher's image--that those who are different or strive to be better are then excluded--but by reciting a bible verse(a religious verse, which Bigger already hates) that view of reality is reenforced. He doesn't want to think that way, but the preacher is forcing him to listen to it. Therefore, Bigger's first murder was when he killed in himself that same sense of life his mother had but cold not force on Bigger.
Is an inquest just like a questioning or interview before the trial?
Do you think there is a reason the preacher seems to have a bigger drawl than any other character?
This quote is significant because it relates back to our discussion in class about Bigger and religion. Bigger's life was terrible, so how, then, can you believe in something higher that's Good? In this quote, Bigger doesn't want to see life in the preacher's image--that those who are different or strive to be better are then excluded--but by reciting a bible verse(a religious verse, which Bigger already hates) that view of reality is reenforced. He doesn't want to think that way, but the preacher is forcing him to listen to it. Therefore, Bigger's first murder was when he killed in himself that same sense of life his mother had but cold not force on Bigger.
Is an inquest just like a questioning or interview before the trial?
Do you think there is a reason the preacher seems to have a bigger drawl than any other character?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Native Son Quote Significance to End of Book II- 4/8
"To hint that he had committed a sex crime was to pronounce the death sentence; it meant a wiping out of his life even before he was captured; it meant death before death came, for the white men who read those words would at once kill him in their hearts" (243).
This quote is significant because it is alot like the qote from 1984, "Thoughtcrime does not entail death, thoughtcrime is death." In this world, committing a sex crime, especially for a black person, is the same thing. It is so because once a white person reads that Bigger committed a sex crime, nothing else matters. Bigger is indefinitely guilty. No longer do little details in the case even matter. Bigger will be found guilty of everything without question because the public already sees him as guilty.
How will Mr. Dalton react to Bigger now that he knows Bigger killed his daughter?
Will Bigger's trial even be a fair one?
This quote is significant because it is alot like the qote from 1984, "Thoughtcrime does not entail death, thoughtcrime is death." In this world, committing a sex crime, especially for a black person, is the same thing. It is so because once a white person reads that Bigger committed a sex crime, nothing else matters. Bigger is indefinitely guilty. No longer do little details in the case even matter. Bigger will be found guilty of everything without question because the public already sees him as guilty.
How will Mr. Dalton react to Bigger now that he knows Bigger killed his daughter?
Will Bigger's trial even be a fair one?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Native Son Quote Significance to pg. 209- 4/3
"The muscles of Bigger's face jerked violently, making him feel that he wanted to laugh. He turned his head aside and fought to control himself. He was full of hysteria" (206).
I think this quote is an example of how Bigger doesn't have the right emotions due to his socialization process. Here, someone is trying to investigate a murder scene and bigger is laughing about it. But what is he laughing about? Is he laughing because they would never know he did it? That option seems the most logical, but that would give him away, or at least make people suspicious, so why do it? This could also possibly be a time when Bigger is realizing he's being too paranoid about things, as he was with the cat.
Do you think the publicity Bigger gets in the papers will affect his relationships with his family or friends? Make people suspicious?
I think this quote is an example of how Bigger doesn't have the right emotions due to his socialization process. Here, someone is trying to investigate a murder scene and bigger is laughing about it. But what is he laughing about? Is he laughing because they would never know he did it? That option seems the most logical, but that would give him away, or at least make people suspicious, so why do it? This could also possibly be a time when Bigger is realizing he's being too paranoid about things, as he was with the cat.
Do you think the publicity Bigger gets in the papers will affect his relationships with his family or friends? Make people suspicious?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Native Son Quote Significance to pg. 186- 4/2
"Around him were silence and night and snow falling, falling as though it had fallen from the beginning of time and would always fall till the end of the world" (184).
This quote uses our new symbol--snow. Here, I believe it represents/foreshadows two different things. For one, it could be a foreshadowing of the 'white world'. It literally falls. There has always been some type of race oppressing the other, but in the end it always fails. This, perhaps, could be representing that idea and also foreshadowing what would eventually happen with this time period. Also, it could mean that there is always somebody there that tries to put you down. For Bigger, it's the whites, repsented by the snow. They'll always be there, and they'll always be an obstacle for him to overcome.
What else do people see this quote meaning, or is it just a description of the environment?
When Bigger seals the letter by licking it, can't they identify him by DNA? Or is technology not that advanced back then?
This quote uses our new symbol--snow. Here, I believe it represents/foreshadows two different things. For one, it could be a foreshadowing of the 'white world'. It literally falls. There has always been some type of race oppressing the other, but in the end it always fails. This, perhaps, could be representing that idea and also foreshadowing what would eventually happen with this time period. Also, it could mean that there is always somebody there that tries to put you down. For Bigger, it's the whites, repsented by the snow. They'll always be there, and they'll always be an obstacle for him to overcome.
What else do people see this quote meaning, or is it just a description of the environment?
When Bigger seals the letter by licking it, can't they identify him by DNA? Or is technology not that advanced back then?
Native Son Quote Significance to pg. 160- 4/1
"Had he not done what they thought he never could? His being black and at the bottom of the world was something which he could take with a new-born strength. What his knife and gun had once meant to him, his knowledge of having secretly murdered Mary now meant" (150).
This quote is significant because here we see exactly what Bigger's crime means to him. Earlier in the book, we learned that his knife and his gun made him feel safe in the presence of white people. His crime makes him feel the same way. It is something that he holds over others, much in the same way someone would feel if they knew a secret no one else knew. It gives him a sense of superiority and safety.
Is that random green swirl on the cover of the book intentional? Does it mean something?
Why did Bigger enjoy Bessie's agony, as it says on pg. 148?
This quote is significant because here we see exactly what Bigger's crime means to him. Earlier in the book, we learned that his knife and his gun made him feel safe in the presence of white people. His crime makes him feel the same way. It is something that he holds over others, much in the same way someone would feel if they knew a secret no one else knew. It gives him a sense of superiority and safety.
Is that random green swirl on the cover of the book intentional? Does it mean something?
Why did Bigger enjoy Bessie's agony, as it says on pg. 148?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
