Native Son pg. 363

4/14/09

"His face rested against the bars and he felt tears roll down his cheeks. His wet lips tasted salt"(363).

This quote is significant because it resembles how Bigger is more of a white man than the black man he was born. When he licks the tears off of his lips he tastes salt. I think the taste of salt sort of represents the white force, just like "snow" did earlier on in the novel. He sort of sees things the same way that white people would, i.e. He thinks of his peoples leaders as rich black men, and sort of similar to every other black person on the South side, with just a bit more money. I also thinks that this might foreshadow his future death perhaps in the sense that the salty tears will "drown him," the ideal white person will overcome and flood his life.

If he doesn't really care anymore and doesn't want anyone to worry about him, than why is he focused on changing peoples views of him as an individual?

Will Max and Bigger's plan of begging for mercy work?