gang that could have helped him identify role
models and/or goals in which to aspire. “For the
existential Bigger, salvation could come not from
God, Marxism, black folk culture, black music,
education, or the American Dream, only from
himself ” (Hogue 32). We all need a mentor and/
or protector to help us positively rebel and “Be
Bigger”—we should not try to do it all alone. In
breaking from the gang, he cuts all ties to any big
time criminal doing big time things for him to
possibly admire and emulate.
In doing this, Bigger sets himself back
further towards the same old lows before he ever
begins to move toward his new highs. He breaks
ties with his community (society) before he starts
to develop his individuality (identity). Although
less important than psychology, sociology is an
important aspect of “Being Bigger.” It is a measurable building block and frame of
reference towards establishing our own standards.
We cannot “Be Bigger” by cutting any and all ties
between ourselves and our society. In the hero,
there is too little balance between sociology and
psychology--at first he depends on sociology too
much and individuality too little. Once he makes
his transformation--the social ties (as building
blocks to establishing his own identity and purpose) are severed in his breakup with the gang.
Thus, he embraces too little sociology. In Know
Thyself, Naim Akbar contends:
Miseducation results when people see themselves as only a consequence of these social and
interper-sonal influences. One component of
being misedu-cated is the consequence of seeing
oneself as only an economic animal or the victim
of a certain socio-economic environment or even
as just the conse- quence of a set of habits and
childhood experiences (25-26).
Love of self is also important in “Being
Bigger.” His assault of Gus is an existential show
of his hatred of himself being projected onto his
actions towards his friend. However, it is also his
refusal to allow anyone to love him. Through this
phony “manhood,” Bigger secretly deems himself
unworthy of this love from Gus and the gang. He
cannot stand anybody loving him more than he
loves himself. The sad reality in the instance of
Bigger’s assault of Gus is that, at this point in his
personal development, Bigger is not a ‘true’ man.
Unfortunately, he is using phony equality with
Gus and the gang to mask his own inferiority. In
Know Thyself, Naim Akbar says,”To imply that
we are better than other human beings just because of certain qualities in our personal or tribal
selves is unrealistic and ultimately destructive to
ourselves and others” (27).
Jack, Gus and G.H. all connect deeply
with Bigger--perhaps deeper than they all know.
Note how well Gus senses Bigger’s fear in the
text. “I’ll help just like I always help. But I’ll be
Godamn if I’m taking orders from you, Bigger!
You just a scared coward! You calling me scared
so nobody’ll see how scared you is!” (Native Son
29). “This truth stings Bigger and the psychological tension that had been growing nearly erupts
in violence as Bigger lunges at Gus” (Elder 38).
“As for love and marriage, Bigger denies that he
loved even Bessie, saying ‘I don’t reckon I was
ever in love with nobody’” (Kennedy 278).2 This
hate, fear and anger destroys his kinship with his
gang—the only people that initially empathize
with him.
Unlike most readings of Native Son, it is
Bigger who is blinded by this hate, fear and anger
as much or more than white people and society.
What matters most is not whether everyone else
sees Bigger--it is how Bigger sees himself within
the world. Instead of seeing the world through
the eyes of the narrator and the blind white power
establishment, Bigger’s “new worldview” is one in
which he realizes that his own standards of perception, morality and ethics are the only ones that
matter. Before discovering this, he is just as blind
as white people and society are to his own potential for greatness. “Bigger psychologically defines
himself outside all of society’s stereotypes about
black men” (Hogue 34-35).
This trait, is a key step in “Being Bigger.”
In Know Thyself, Naim Akbar proclaims that:
One of the cautions to prevent ‘miseducation’ is
to be familiar with the personal self and to know
some of the qualities that are unique and peculiar
to us as individuals but we must understand those
qualities as only a part of a bigger (italics mine)
self . . .We must learn to recognize, appreciate and
be comfortable with who we are, regardless of the
demands that come from others” (27-8).
Bigger starts to do this once he develops his
“new worldview.” He cannot be the narrator of
the novel—but he controls his own destiny once