Altough Mary Dalton is only alive through the beggining of Native Son, her character is full of meaning and significance. Not only is her attitude towards Bigger contradicting to her "ideals"but her death also symbolizes a turning point in Bigger's life. Do you guys think that it is really Mary the one showing subtle rascism or is it all just in Bigger's head, product of his own self doubt?
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Can it be both racism and self-doubt?
ReplyDeleteI think Mary, like her father is described later on in the book, is "god-like", unaware and detached. She is not racist, if anything she seems blind to racism and the oppression of African Americans. She outputs a naively good nautre to her character, that Bigger does not understand. The killing of Mary is seen as Bigger's symoblic revenge against the white race. But what is really the problem he killed, racism or unawarness?
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