Native Son Group

Question:

chelsiemiles12345
chelsiemiles...
Student
High School - 10th Grade

React to the preacher's attempts to bring Bigger to god. Why does he fail?

 

pleaseeee thanks!

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Posted by chelsiemiles12345 on Monday June 15, 2009 at 1:39 PM and tagged with bigger, characters, god, precher.

Answers:

  1. herappleness
    herappleness Teacher
    Graduate School

    eNotes Editor

    According to the story, the wooden cross that he offered Bigger to wear as a way to redeem himself to good suddenly reminded bigger of the burning crosses of the KKK, and the image freaked him out, for which he took off the cross.

    Now, the real reason for the lack of redemtion is not really failure on Rev. Hammond's part, but the fact that, as it is stated in the end, Bigger had really had enough. He lived in such an oppresion from family, society, crime, culture, finances...his life really was going nowhere. His ultimate death is seen introspectively but not from its religious value- but for the psychological value of his battles being nearly over now.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/native-son/

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    Posted by herappleness on Monday June 15, 2009 at 2:27 PM