Native Son: 13

"This boy is young, not only in years, but in his attitude toward life"(Wright 377).

As Max depicts the horrific life of Bigger Thomas, he strikes with in the court an emotional note. He is finding within them the ability not only to sympathize, but to see how the court, the city, and the people made Bigger what he is. While Buckley shows Bigger to be a ruthless, cold hearted killer, Max is showing how he never wanted or asked for this life, it was forced upon him. While Buckley tries to stir up anger, Max shows the court how to find the Bigger within themselves, with the hopelessness, and aggravation that ruled his life. When Max states that Bigger is young in his attitude toward life, he is not only speaking to Bigger's lack of social or worldly knowledge, he is also speaking to Bigger's raw, untamed emotions that he has neither been taught to handle or control.