Bigger Thomas' Masculinity Challenged In Native Son

Native Son starts out with a rat in the apartment on Bigger and his family. Bigger kills the rat that attacked his leg and he comes to the understanding he would either kill himself or someone else (Wright, 14). This logic stays with Bigger throughout the novel. He knows if he wanders aimlessly in life that his dreams and ambitions will be killed. He, himself with no longer and exist because his thoughts and ideas will no longer be his own. Bigger puts up fences and defends him in anyway that he can, including violence. Throughout the novel Bigger’s defenses increase and he defends himself with increasing viol

Even though her murder was accidental he knows he could have killed her premeditatedly. After the horrific act, Bigger begins to feel he has power to retaliate.

Mrs. Thomas is the most intimidating female in Bigger’s life; she is his mother. She nags Bigger hoping to influence changes in his life. All she accomplishes to make Bigger more angry and hostile. Bigger dies not have much respect for his mother because he feels she blindly and passively accepts her living conditions, not just the place she calls home, but also her place in society and life. Mrs. Thomas insults her son while he is trying to protect the family from the rat. She says, “Sometimes you are the biggest fool I ever saw. Bigger, I sometimes wonder why I birthed you.” (Wright, 11). This just irritates Bigger and he end up becoming hostile towards his mother. She is constantly putting her son down and making Bigger feel less of a man.

Suffocating Mary to death is the first murder Bigger committed. The act itself was accidental, but what followed was not by any means. Bigger cut Mary up and put her in the wood stove, to burn her body, and he never though twice about it. He thought about getting caught by the police, but he never thought about the life he took. Bigger never recognized Mary as real and unique individual, therefore he felt no remorse (George, np). Mary brought attention to Bigger’s insecurities causing

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