Free Essays on Native Son: Two Schools of Thought Native Son - Two Schools of Thought Was it not the unexpected presence of Mrs. Dalton that caused Bigger to smother Mary Dalton? Wasn't it his fear of the consequences of the white justice system that forced him to burn the evidence? Wasn't it the shame that Jan Erlone made him feel that encouraged Bigger to blame Jan for Mary's murder? Is Bigger not a victim of his overwhelming environment which pushed him, beyond his control, to take such drastic measures? In Native Son, there is an abundance of evidence supporting two schools of thought. Bigger and his people had been oppressed by their white counterparts for so long. A colored man was never to progress in life. Not that they could since their simple minds could not obtain everything that was necessary to live a good life. Negroes had to be kept firmly in their place. These very ignorant beliefs caused Bigger to isolate himself from the real world to want and desire it even more since he was not allowed to achieve it. There would come a time when Bigger would be enlightened and create a new attitude, a new state of mind – because he had killed. A new freedom had appeared in Bigger. He had done the impossible. Murder, cover-up and deception. Was it just the Biggers' bidding, cold and clinical? Or was this all based on the shame and fear Bigger felt? Would he have considered the same crime at another time? Throughout the novel it was illustrated with precise articulation that Bigger could never, could not act by his own will. An emotion, a force has always driven him, even towards his flight. And during his escape, Bigger felt the urge to steal, commit crimes and act in such brutal ways. Could this all be the product of a less manipulated environment? Bigger Thomas' undeniable criminal actions are fueled only by his own self-oppression and acceptance of the limitations placed on him. He acted as expected by the ignorant society responsible for him.

Essay / Free Essays on Native Son: Two Schools of Thought Native Son - Two Schools of Thought Was it not the unexpected presence of Mrs. Dalton that caused Bigger to smother Mary Dalton? Wasn't it his fear of the consequences of the white justice system that forced him to burn the evidence? Wasn't it the shame that Jan Erlone made him feel that encouraged Bigger to blame Jan for Mary's murder? Is Bigger not a victim of his overwhelming environment which pushed him, beyond his control, to take such drastic measures? In Native Son, there is an abundance of evidence supporting two schools of thought. Bigger and his people had been oppressed by their white counterparts for so long. A colored man was never to progress in life. Not that they could since their simple minds could not obtain everything that was necessary to live a good life. Negroes had to be kept firmly in their place. These very ignorant beliefs caused Bigger to isolate himself from the real world to want and desire it even more since he was not allowed to achieve it. There would come a time when Bigger would be enlightened and create a new attitude, a new state of mind – because he had killed. A new freedom had appeared in Bigger. He had done the impossible. Murder, cover-up and deception. Was it just the Biggers' bidding, cold and clinical? Or was this all based on the shame and fear Bigger felt? Would he have considered the same crime at another time? Throughout the novel it was illustrated with precise articulation that Bigger could never, could not act by his own will. An emotion, a force has always driven him, even towards his flight. And during his escape, Bigger felt the urge to steal, commit crimes and act in such brutal ways. Could this all be the product of a less manipulated environment? Bigger Thomas' undeniable criminal actions are fueled only by his own self-oppression and acceptance of the limitations placed on him. He acted as expected by the ignorant society responsible for him.

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