~Jessica D.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Philosophical Son
This week we took a philosophy test to distinguish what kind of philosopher we match up to and I was able to relate it to Bigger Thomas from Native Son. He seems to me that he would be an Atheistic Essentialist from what I saw from the quiz. Bigger never quite mentions his religious beliefs but makes it clear that he questions the existence of God. In chapter two he almost challenges God to prove that he is there and asks of God to stop him from actions. He has also committed sins in the act of raping and murdering Mary and Bessy, so if he feared a higher being he wouldn't have done them.
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That philosophy quiz was completely wrong about me.
ReplyDeleteld be an atheist because in the society he lived in he was not loved by his neighbors or treated equally because his skin classified him as a second or third class citizen. Most of the white race that degraded him as a human, were probably Christian. If the Christian folks were unable to see him as an equal citizen, then I understand why he would be dissappointed in Christianity.
ReplyDelete-Cynthia Navarro
Bigger pissed me off for the simple fact that he denied and challenged God, but by his actions and words made it very clear that he knows God does exist. Confused much? Then again, Cynthia you do make a valid point.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Bigger would be an atheist existentialist because eventually he feels guilty for what he's done, exhibiting characteristics of that philosophy, that who he is depends entirely on him. He also doesn't seem very religious at all and questions God as you said. This was a good connection, relating the philosophies with Native Son. :)
ReplyDelete-Hillary D.
I totally agree with Brea; Bigger annoyed me on so many levels its ridiculous. He just never tried or learned anything until it was way to late.
ReplyDeleteOn those philosophy tests that we took, I thought they were incorrect and sort of silly. It claimed that I was higly Christian Existentialist but also an Atheist Existentialist to almost the same degree. I didn't agree at all.
-Erin P.
I perceive it as amazing that when Bigger threw his cross down on the ground, the guards had a strong reaction about this, though the burning cross that bigger saw and the guards most likely would have seen, the book tells of no readable reactions.
ReplyDeleteJosiah K.
Bigger made me angry because he did deny and challenge God like Brea said. He committed all of the sins such as rape, murder, and stealing. And the weird part was that he was proud of these wrong doings because it made him feel powerful. It wasn't really even until he got caught that he felt a sense of some guilt.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this philosophy suits him well because Bigger does indeed conform to an existentialist being; he is forced to live with the actions he has committed and at several points does challenge God. This signifies to me that he is focused only on his existence and does not rely on a higher being.
ReplyDeleteKelli H.