Flight Discussion

I'm going to save my commentary until next week so here are my notes from "Flight." The discussions went well today but they were a little heavy on plot. I was surprised that the media didn't really get mentioned and it's so over-the-top in this section.

Upcoming: Trumbo essay due tomorrow and make sure you are doing your Native Son journals as you go rather than waiting until the end.

Flight Notes
Issue of power—what gives Bigger strength?
Bigger’s willingness to kill again?
Treatment of Bigger—think he’s unintelligent, called boy
Stereotypes of communism
Newspapers—256-57, 280-83
Dehumanizing—it 272
Society—fairness 288-89
Is Bigger insane?
How do physical surroundings reflect Bigger’s situation—snow, storm,
Bigger’s Dream p. 189
Class vs. Race—which is more of a hindrance?
Stereotypes: Bigger as ignorant, violent, poor home life, whites, women, men, communists
Contrasts: different settings—Bigger’s apartment vs. the Dalton’s home. In addition to the spacial issues you also have the contrasting animals. (Watch for a parallel rat scene at the end of “Flight”)
Media: how the media is portrayed and how does the media portrays various groups—whites, blacks, communists. Newspapers—256-57, 280-83
Issue of power—what gives Bigger strength? Bigger’s willingness to kill again?
Blindness—more than just literal. Aside from her blindness what else is unique about Mrs. Dalton.
One of the ways to really understand what Wright is trying to do is to look at this novel as satire. He inflates all the stereotypes in order to make it more obvious for social commentary. T
Questions:
Be honest, were you secretly hoping Bigger would escape?
Did Bigger subconsciously want to get caught? Is that why he never cleaned the furnace?
Several instances are made about the communists in a negative light. Where is this information coming from? Bigger is fairly uneducated, yet even he has a low opinion of them.
How are stereotypes being played on, embellished, corrupted? Does it seem strange that a black author would make such an unlikeable black protagonist? What would be the possible reasons behind this? Along with this, what is the purpose behind the graphic violence. Wright isn’t just disturbed so why is it such a main focus? Hint: What is your reaction to it?
Is Bigger justified? I am in no way trying to say brutal violence is acceptable but try to get inside Bigger’s head. Is he medically insane? If so, was he born crazy or was he created? (This might also tie in with the title). Is he smart?