Native Son Blog 2/3

4/10/09

"Mr. Dalton, do you think that the terrible conditions under which the Thomas family lived in one of your houses may in some way be related to the death of your daughter?"

"I don't know what you mean"(328).

This quote is important because is explains how clueless and how prejudice Mr. Dalton has been all along. He begins making excuses as to why he had built living quarters from the black away from the whites and certain parts of chicago. During this interrogation we learn that Mr. Dalton is just like most other whites who fooled people into believing that he was helping the blacks, when he was really discriminating against them. Also, he is so blind to the effect that what he created might have on himself and his family. Mary died arguably because Bigger lived in an unstable environment and because Mr. Dalton did not want the blacks to "move up" he has potentially caused his daughters death unconsciously (arguably).

Would Mr. Daltons confession change any white people opinions about him and the "white force?"

Is Max really trying to help Bigger or clear Jans name and make Bigger suffer?