January Blog
Sophia LaMarca


As Bigger falls into his destiny of murdering a white woman as a black man, the psychology of Biggers murder is unfolded. First off, Biggers interactions with Mary and the murder of her can not simply be told as just a murder in this time and society. As Bigger is a black man, it is assumed by the public that he did not only just murder Mary but rape her. Biggers downfall did not occur due to his own wrongful decision, but a harsh mistake. After acting like a "white" with Mary and walker her into a forbidden place, such as her room, and being caught, he only had one choice but to end the situation. Being in a position of weakness in the room with Mary, Bigger came to the realization that he either would have to accept the current position of Ms. Dalton catching him in the act and throwing away his possible job, or somehow cover his tracks. With this, Bigger fell to Marys unplanned murder. As time went on throughout the novel, Biggers true destiny was revealed. As a black man, Bigger was said to be nothing but harm and danger in society. Bigger could have fell into a different pathway such as one small act, but due to his wrongful mistake, heavier issues arrived and more occurred due to his wrongs. He initially began off as being on the correct path and proving society wrong. Bigger begins to enjoy the feeling and thrill of his wrong doings. This is mainly because he has a sense of power for the first time in society. Bigger now has something over the white people and feels as though if he continues to do this wrong things, such as raping Bessie and killing her, he feels more power over others. This psychological aspect of Bigger creates him into a "bigger" criminal than he primarily was. His one mistake formed him into who he was destined to be. His first murder caused a chain reaction that created Bigger into a monster. White and blacks roles in society begin to unfold as Biggers murder is released. Bigger is belittled by whites and becomes nothing more to the world than just a black man. As Bigger is thrown down by the supreme of society and put into jail, his societal fate has been met. With the psychology of Bigger, it is seen that he has the mentality of a murderer. Bigger does not only enjoy the mentality, but rising above those who are said to be better than him. Bigger falls into his proposed part in society and seems to somehow enjoy it. The author uses these societal standards throughout the book to not only emphasis Biggers role in society but the social taboo between the two races. Bigger allows these standards to be put in motion. This also shows his fear of whites. Throughout the book he has a large fear of fear itself, and has the desire to kill the fear off whenever it is put in place, literally and figuratively. He uses this fear to fall into his societal role and become the man he was destined to be.