This post should be your safe place to go while reading Native Son. There are many things that are disturbing, breathtaking, and artful within the pages of this novel; sometimes they all occur at once.
The challenge in reading this book is confronting the psychological depths Wright wants you to probe. You can stretch your mind there and you can analyze them. It is difficult, but we have spent almost an entire school year together and I am confident in your abilities as close readers and critical thinkers.
So, for the time being, voice what is troubling you here and we'll walk you through it.
Happy Thinking,
Mr. B
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Mr. Bruno was definitely right when he said we might have to put the book down if it got intense. I'm not even that far into it yet, and I've already reached some difficult parts to read. When I read the section at the end of Book 1 that Mr. Bruno warned us about, I thought I would be prepared. I was fine for most of it, until I really focused on what Bigger was thinking. The way Wright portrayed Bigger's thoughts made it easy to understand his emotions. I felt the panic Bigger felt, and then I began to think about Mary's family. Can you imagine if you woke up to find that your daughter had disappeared? Bigger thought they may not notice for a few days since she was supposed to be going Detroit, but I think that would make it worse when they finally realize she died (or realize she was murdered). Of course I went to bed right after I finished that section, so I was thinking about it until I fell asleep.
ReplyDeleteNo one has posted on this one since I did, but I'm going to post another comment because I have more to say.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I read the scene where Bigger murders Bessie, it didn't affect me nearly as much as it did today. I think I was kind of rushing through it because I thought it was gross. Today when Mr. Bruno read it out loud, I actually could picture it, and it kind of freaked me out. It was still gross, probably more than before, but it also affected me with pathos and ethos. Obviously rape then murder is bad, and it definitely freaked me out emotionally. I think it really helps when Mr. Bruno reads passages out loud in class, because when I'm sitting at home reading them, I miss things or get distracted.
I can definitely relate to your feelings Jenna! When I was at home reading the rape scene it affected me differently than it did when Mr.Bruno did. At home I did actually take my time and I read it carefully, but when Mr.B read it certain parts stroke me in different ways. There were parts that when I was reading to myself, parts that I didn't catch onto the first time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jenna. The intensity of the scene at the end of book one can be overwhelming. The way Wright describes the scene, revealing the thoughts of Bigger to the readers was disturbing. I kinda felt like I was a bystander just watching this murder happen and doing nothing to stop it. I felt helpless but I couldn't stop reading until the murder was over.
ReplyDeleteI'm really late on this, but I want to state my opinion of Native Son. I thought this was a great book to help us realize what our opression has done to people, in depth. We needed an in depth story of what opression did to one man so we could realize what opressing people could do to them and lead them towards. This story, even thought we weren't supposed to feel bad for Bigger, made me feel bad for him because his death was brought because people treated him wrong forever. He made one little mistake, and tried to make sure no one found out so he beat Bessie. Yes, he killed an innocent person on purpose, but he was scared!
ReplyDeleteNative Son wasn't that disturbing to me. I've seen worse things on the internet than reading about a guy beheading a girl and stuffing her into a furnace. The most disturbing was the scene in the movie theater. Although, I felt bad for Mary. I disliked her as a person, but it was unfortunate that she had to be brutally murdered. But as a whole, Native Sun wasn't that disturbing
ReplyDeleteI agree that the book was disturbing, but I also agree with Nick because for whatever reason, the only things I find to be unbearably disturbing are things that I witness with my own eyes. When I read things, I can picture what is going on, but it's just not as vivid for me. Now that doesn't go to say that Native Son didn't touch me in any way because it wasn't "gruesome" enough, no not at all. In fact, it touched me in such a way that makes me want to truly be a change agent in our society. Native Son, like most of the other novels we've read this year present some sort of controversial topic. Our class discussions on each of these topics began to make me realize that although the world can't be saved single-handedly, each helping hand definitely makes a difference, and I want to make sure that as I live life, that I am always a helping hand.
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