Do You Think That it was Bigger's Fate to End up Where he Is?

Was there a way out? IS there a way out?
Can Bigger's character change positively even though he is black, in the 1930s, committed double homicide, and has little faith in himself?

A Changing Bigger

I for one have been a main advocate against Bigger being a sympathetic character. However, my view has changed. . Although, we are not at the end of the book I now believe that his character will change too. What do you guys think? Can Bigger become a dynamic Character?

Bigger a sympathetic character?

Although suppressed and limited by his color, Bigger, doesn't seem to give himself a lot of room for us to be able to sympathize with him. Marked with a great intelligence, Bigger could have, with the right upbringing been the hero of the story. Yet, his need for control and web of outrageous lies in my eyes suppress any good there is in him. There are instances in the story, where guilt does consume him but for the most part, he seem to gloat and take pride in his murder. Do you sympathize with Bigger, although he is a murder? Or do you see him as a broken tyrant? Neither?

Blacks over Reds

In Native Son, Bigger Thomas convinces himself that his fabrication of Mary's murder is easily believable not because Bigger is brilliant in his deception --rather Bigger believes that his word as a colored person is more credible than Jan's, who is a Communist sympathizer. The question is, does Bigger, who is blatantly guilty of murder, have a reasoning behind his belief? Does Bigger's plan really hold up, despite the fact that Bigger actually did commit the crime? Historically speaking, the story takes place around a turbulent ideological state where Communism is being picked up from one side of the society and the other side is strictly against it. If Bigger lucks out and manages to convince enough of the right people, Bigger could possibly get off of his crime. (Honestly I'm doubtful of this because of Bigger's furthering plans of taking ransom money, perpetuates the tangling web of lies Bigger caused for himself.)

Can one family really make a difference?

Bigger doesn't know what it's like to be white, but he dreams of equality. He hopes to be equal, but when Jan offers him the opportuinity he feels offended. The reader can see that Bigger is just as hateful to the whites as they are to him. He even goes as far as to ruin a good chance in the Daltons home by commiting murder. Instead of feeling guilty about the act of violence, he feels impowered. An enviroment that wants to help Bigger improve his standings in life isn't enough to make him feel comfortable in his own skin. Besides violence, is there another way for Bigger to gain confidence? In other words, is there a way to stop the violence from escalating or is it too late?

Mary Dalton

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?

Bigger than Death

In the novel Native son, the self-esteem issues which affect Bigger are usually him having to commit the act of crime, or something much bigger. Do you feel theres Irony in his name because he is doing all the acts that society would have thought unacceptable at the time or anytime time by that and finds it in himself is the correct thing to do?