The Plight of Bigger Thomas

         If a person had never experienced the feeling of pity, then they could never have read about the sad tale of Bigger Thomas and his inevitable demise in Richard Wright's "Native Son." Undoubtedly, this novel is the most melancholy story I have ever read. Of course Tess Durbeyfield, Jane Eyre, and even Victor Frankenstien dealt with their own cases of sadness whether in rape, abuse, or death. But none of those emotional novels stand comparable to the horrible ordeals that Bigger Thomas encounters in "Native Son."
         This book's great tragedy is most likely attributable to the racism that most African Americans faced in 1920's Chicago. Because of this harsh discrimination and prejudice towards Bigger and his race, he is driven to violence as his only outlet to be free and to fight the chains that White America has intentionally clasped on him. Yet in my eyes it's not really Bigger's choice to do so. Yes, he killed both Mary Dalton and Bessie on purpose and of his own accord. But what we, the readers, must notice is that both murders were commited out of fear rather than want or desire. Bigger did not want to be a criminal, a rapist, or a murder. Still, his fear of society's misinterpretation and the scary presence of Mrs. Dalton led him to smother Mary and then to hide her in the furnace. Again, he was afraid that Bessie was going to give him up or slow him down so he proceeded to do the only thing he thought he could do, kill her. In essence, White Americans drove him to murder those girls due to the fear they inspired in the Black communities.
         When I read Native Son, I found it impossible to keep out of the shoes of my protaganist. Thus, as I heard, felt, and saw what Bigger did I consequently could see what drove him to do what he did and see the story through the eyes of a true victim.

                                                                           - Jacob S.

Social Class in Jane Eyre

When Rochester invites his guests to his estate forces the reader to consider social class the most in the novel Jane Eyre. Previously, class had been a concern of Jane's while Rochester seemed to be unperturbed by the concept. When he hosts families of his own class his guests much more conscientious of the difference in their and Jane's social class. Particularly his female guests are aware of the fact that they have a superior social status to Jane's and assume that she is less intelligent because of her station. However, this passage reveals their own ignorance to basic social standards, which are to be polite to others, as they discuss Jane's flaws while she is still in the room. Of course Rochester is still aware that he is the master and Jane is the servant, but when they have their discussions he usually treats her as his intellectual equal. He also takes her into his confidence by revealing the parentage of Adele and his relationship with her mother, as well as his worry over the presence of Mason. This whole section also reveals a flaw of Mr Rochester's as he invites his guests so Miss Ingram can excite the jealousy of Jane. Most contradictory is that Jane doesn't have a very strong reaction to this revelation, even though she is depicted as somewhat rebellious and outspoken in earlier chapters. This can be explained by the simultaneous revelation that Mr Rochester cares for her in return, but affection should not excuse such behavior.

-Jasmine M

The Invisible Man

"I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass. When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination—indeed, everything and anything except me."
- The Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison


On February 2, we wrote our own version of the opening, and I wanted to share it with you guys.


I am a sleepyhead. No, I am not tired like those who work eight hours everyday; nor am I one of your lazy friends. I am a student of diligence, of dedication and honesty, endurance and patience--and I might even be said hardworking. I am sleepy, understand, simply because my brain forces me to be so. Like the puppets manipulated by men, it is as though I have a wire attached to invisible, nimble hands of no one. When my brain functions it only tells me to close my eyes, ears, or mouth--indeed, everything and anything except nose.


Chloe K.

"Dusting"

Julia Alvarez's poem, "Dusting," reflects the desires that many children have to grow up and become their own person, rather than to follow in their parents' footsteps.  This poem tells the story of a mother, who cleans houses on a daily basis for a living, and her daughter, who watches her mother and hopes to grow up and make herself known to the world.  In the poem, the word "dusting" has dual meanings.  The word has a literal meaning when used to explain the activities of the mother; it informs the reader that she cleans for a living.  However, concerning the daughter, the word has a more figurative meaning, as it underscores her desire to create a new, exciting life for herself, and to "dust" away the habits of her family.  She informs the reader that she practices her signature in the dusty furniture everyday before her mother cleans it off.  This reflects her desire to become famous, unlike her mother, who remains "anonymous."