Blog #18-Native Son Reading Questions for Book 3-Fate

1) How might we characterize Bigger’s state of mind in this opening scene of Book Three?
In the opening scene of Book Three, when Bigger is in jail, we may characterize Bigger's state of mind as indifferent. He does not hate fear nor hatrid anymore. He isn't reactive to situations as well.

2) How does Bigger think the white world thinks about him during this pre-trial?
Bigger thinks the white world believe he should be put to death and should represent why the black community should be treated poorly.

3) How does the newspaper story describe Bigger?
The newspaper story describes Bigger as a "jungle beast," suggesting that he has devolved. It also suggests that Bigger lacks the common southerner charm.

4) What does the preacher tell Bigger, and why does this upset him?
The preacher tells Bigger that he should be faithful and brings up hope and love. These words upset Bigger because he feels that he has "murdered" his inner faith and he feels an extreme sense of guilt.

5) What does Jan tell Bigger in this scene and how does it affect Bigger’s thinking?
Jan tells Bigger that he is not angry and wants to help Bigger. He feels that there is no point for blacks whites to hate each other. This affects Bigger's thinking because he sees a white person as an individual instead of a portion of the white group of people.

6) On what grounds does Attorney Max challenge Mr. Dalton’s charity in the black community?
Attorney Max challenges Mr. Dalton by arguing that the white control over blacks is the underlying reason for Bigger's actions. He argues that charities will not suffice to improve life for blacks.

7) What does Bigger’s mother do that embarrasses Bigger?
Bigger's mother begs the Daltons to have mercy in the situation, which embarrasses Bigger because they have no control over the situation.

8) Why does Bigger confess to States Attorney, Buckley, for killing Mary and Bessie?
Bigger confesses to Attorney Buckley because he feels there is no other way to escape the situation. He essentially gives up on himself, his hope, and his life.

9) How does Bigger react to Jan’s testimony?
Bigger reacts to Jan's testimony by sympathizing with Jan.

10) How does Max challenge Dalton with regard to his real estate business?
Max challenges Dalton by stating that the black tenants live in poorer conditions and pay more money than the white tenants. He frames Dalton to admit that he doesn't rent black tenants to other neighborhoods besides the South Side.

Blog # 17 - Native Son reading questions 1

In the opening scene of the book, Bigger chases and kills a black rat in his family’s one-room apartment. What does this incident tell you about Bigger? (8-12)

This incident tells us about how Bigger has fears and how he reacts to fear. In this situation, Bigger is afraid of the rat, and he battles with his fear with acts of violence and defiance. Bigger tries to appear superior to the rat with such actions.

Why does Bigger hate his family? (13-14)

Bigger hates his family because they live in poverty and suffer through the days. He also doesn't feel like he can improve their conditions. He feels as if there is a pressure on him to improve their social conditions, but he can't which leads to him feeling miserable inside.

Why are Bigger and Gus so interested in the plane flying overhead? (19-23)

Bigger and Gus are so interested in the plane flying overhead because it represents what whites can do (fly planes) that blacks can't. They discuss how whites limit what blacks are able to do. When Bigger says that he would want to fly a plane, both Gus and Bigger recognize that because of their social standing, he cannot.

How do Bigger and Gus imitate white people? (19-23)

Bigger and Gus imitate being white people by pretending to be the president of the United States and JP Morgan. They talk, as these people, about how to keep blacks under control.

How does Wright describe Bigger and his environment (physically) in these scene with Gus?

Wright describes Bigger and his environment as inferior to the whites. Bigger has a deep hatrid for them because he feels as if his actions are trapped as result of the whites' superiority. He says that he can feel whites inside of him.

Why does Bigger get mad at Gus in the pool room? (26-30)

Bigger gets mad at Gus in the pool room because he is afraid to rob a white man. At the same time, Bigger is afraid as well.

What does Bigger learn from the movies he and G.H. see? (32-9)

Bigger learns that blacks are indeed inferior to whites in the movies he and G.H. see. This is because the movie denotes whites as rich and superior while blacks are portrayed as wild and poor.

Blog #16-"King of the Bingo Game"

“he felt vaguely that his whole life was determined by the bingo wheel”;“the unlucky cards and numbers of his days”“he felt that the man was making a fool of him”“as the wheel increased its speed it seemed to draw him more and more into its power, as though it held his fate; and with it came a deep need to submit, to whirl, to lose himself in its swirl of color”“This is God!”

The narrator of the story talks about the wheel in a way that "his whole life was determined by [it]" to show that the wheel symbolizes a force greater than the actual object itself, but a force that determined the fate of his life. Throughout the short story, the whole game of bingo seemed to symbolize the narrators life. This symbolism is reflected when he talks of "the unlucky cards and numbers," which seem to act as symbols of the narrator's fate. He personifies the events of his life when he says that "the wheel," or his life, "increased its speed [...] [and it lost] himself," suggesting that the intensity of his life increased and then it just completely made a turn for its worst making it even uncontrollable. At the end of the story, I think the narrator i on the verge of a breakdown/his life is destined to end for not winning the jackpot, or not winning that card.

Blog #15-What kind of hero?

I believe that Macbeth fits the definition of a tragic hero, or someone who "has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He possesses some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness" (Williams). Macbeth is considered to have the potential for greatness because in Act I of the play, he helped lead the Scottish people to victory against the Norweigens when he fights well in battle and defeats Norway. He also has become the Thane of Cawdor at the beginning of the novel, suggesting that he will have power and therefore potential for greatness. However, Macbeth is destined to fall because of his tragic flaw: ambition. When Macbeth murders Duncan, he actually dissociates his mind from the situation and personifies his ambition so he can blame it on that. His own, personal ambition is also the reason behind why he follows the witches prophecies when he kills Banquo, Macduff's wife and children, and attempts to kill Fleance as well. He is ultimately trapped because when his ambition acts, less and less people support him and do not want him to be king. In addition, Lady Macbeth's influence on Macbeth when she basically forces him into taking the throne away from Duncan can also add to his tragic flaw. Once Macbeth became king, being a tragic hero, he was headed for degeneration to becoming a violent person for he murdered even his dear friend Banquo. Furthermore, the prophecies added to Macbeth's tragic flaw since he was always urged to fulfill each prophecy and would do so no matter what the circumstance was. For example, he murdered the king who he considered a great leader, his good friend Duncan, and the wife and children of Macduff who did not do anything to hurt him. The combination of Mabeth's ambition, his wife's influence, and the prophecies add to Macbeth's tragic fall and why he does not fulfill his potential greatness.

Blog#13 - Ambitious Women like Lady Macbeth

Source: http://www.elizabethi.org/us/

Queen Elizabeth I of England can be considered ambitious or manipulative. Born September 7, 1533, Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn. She was a disappointment to her father, who wanted a male heir to his throne. When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne on November 17, 1558, there was a great triumph amongst England. She loved sports, music, dancing, and watching plays; she was responsible for creating an atmosphere that benefited playwrights despite the Puritans who wanted play houses closed. Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth I re-established the Protestant Church in England and declared herself the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. However, she was religiously tolerant for the most part and did not want to persecute people because of their religious beliefs. Queen Elizabeth is referred by some as the "Virgin Queen" because she never did marry. She, though, used her single status to her advantage. "In a genius of political wheeling and dealing, she managed to use her single state to benefit the country by using the bait of marriage to draw in enemies, or to frighten them by suggesting she would marry one of their foes" (www.elizabethI.org). Elizabeth I was seen as loyal and dedicated to her country and very smart. She is a reason why England went from an impoverished country with religious struggles to a prospering nation. She died in March 1603.

Queen Elizabeth I was seen as a political genius and a good listener. She was known to listen to her people and try her best to please them. She was a very determined woman who even imprisoned and executed her own cousin Mary Queen of Scots, since she was seen as a threat to England. However, the Puritans disliked Elizabeth because of the contradicting religious beliefs, and they wanted England to be deemed a Puritan nation. Queen Elizabeth I today is still seen as a determined woman, but many debate over whether she was manipulative because of her single status. In foreign affairs, she used her single status to an advantage by fooling enemies. She was a "flirt," in many senses since she would in a way "use" some male rulers/important people to gain information.

Blog #12-Research Reflection

1) Thesis: The research and use of embryonic stem cells is valid and ethical in the treatment of diabetes.

2) I am most likely going to organize my essay conceptually. I am going to talk about what stem cell research is, why it is beneficial and ethical, why others think it may not be beneficial and ethical, and how it can help improve or treat diabetes.

3) I chose this topic because science is very interesting to me. Stem cells are a relatively new issue that, if further researched, can improve/treat various diseases. Thus, the they can potentially save lives, which is rather fascinating to me.

Blog #11: To Kill A Mockingbird reflection

Harper Lee titles her novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" because a mockingbird, the bird of song, is a representation of innocence, and innocence is "killed" through the death of Tom Robinson. The idea of destroying innocence is also shown when evil is brought about to other characters such as Jem and Dill. The symbol of mockingbirds is developed throughout the novel as Jem and Scout mature and encounter with evil. In the beginning of the novel, Jem and Scout are seen as children who are innocent and vulnerable. This innocence is shown when Scout is identified as a tomboy who is intelligent thanks to her father. As the novel progresses, Scout will mature by listening to her Aunt Alexandra who advises her to be more lady-like. She will also witness
evil in the form of racial prejudice in Tom Robinson's trial. Tom Robinson also represents a mockingbird because he is innocent and was just trying to do good by aiding Mayella with household chores, though his verdict will be guilty. Scout will learn at a young age that there is both good and evil in the world and that evil can be controlled by good beings. Atticus is trying to teach Scout and Jem not to judge something/someone before you actually know the person/know more about the situation because not everything is the way it appears to be and that there is both good and evil in the world. This idea is represented when Scout is on Boo Radley's porch, seeing life from his perspective, and realizes that he is truly a good man. The lesson is also shown when both Jem and Scout observe the trial of Tom Robinson in the balcony, truly hoping for him to be innocent, and are urgent to see his verdict. When the verdict is found as guilty, Jem and Scout are devastated and notice the injustices in the world. Thus, both Jem and Scout learn the lesson.