fate the last chapter

BOOK THREE - Fate
Pages 274 – 310
Vocabulary
renunciation – rejection
inquest – judicial inquiry
indignant – angry
imperative – urgent
hoodwink – deceive

1. What does the following passage tell the reader about Bigger’s state of mind after he is arrested?
With a supreme act of will springing from the essence of his being, he turned away from his life and the long train of disastrous consequences that had flowed from it and looked wistfully upon the dark face of ancient waters upon which some spirit had breathed and created him, the dark face of the waters from which he had been first made in the image of a man with a man’s obscure need and urge; feeling that he wanted to sink back into those waters and rest eternally. (Pg. 274)
2. What does Bigger detect in the attitude of the crowd at the inquest that gives him the strength to pull himself out of his stupor?
3. List the different ways the newspaper article Bigger reads about his fainting spell at the inquest contributes to the negative stereotyping of black people. What solutions does the newspaper article propose to help prevent further crimes by black people?
4. What do you think the following passage is saying about Bigger’s attitude toward
religion and Reverend Hammond’s visit to him in jail?
The preacher’s face was black and sad and earnest and made him feel a sense of guilt
deeper than that which even his murder of Mary had made him feel. He had killed within himself the preacher’s haunting picture of life even before he had killed Mary: that had been his first murder. (Pg. 284)

Use the following passage from the story to answer the next two questions.
Jan had spoken a declaration of friendship that would make other white men hate him: a particle of white rock had detached itself from that looming mountain of white hate and had rolled down the slope, stopping at his feet. The word had become flesh. For the first time in his life a white man became a human being to him; and the reality of Jan’s humanity came in a stab of remorse: he had killed what this man loved and had hurt him. (Pg. 289)

5. What does the metaphor of the mountain of white hate suggest to the reader about the success or failure of Bigger’s life to change conditions for other black people? Do you think Wright is suggesting that violence is the only way to chip away at this mountain of white hate? Cite incidents from the story to support your answer.
6. In what way might this passage suggest to the reader a possible solution to the hostility between black and white people?
7. For what reasons does Max say he wants to be Bigger’s lawyer?
8. What does Bigger learn from the painful visit of his family and friends to his jail cell?
He had lived and acted on the assumption that he was alone, and now he saw that he had not been. What he had done made others suffer. No matter how much he would long for them to forget him, they would not be able to. (Pg. 298)
9. Why does Bigger decide to talk to Buckley?

Pages 311 – 362
Vocabulary
stolidly – impassively; showing little emotion
exorbitant – excessive; unfair
vindictiveness – vengefulness
apprehensive – uneasy
balmy – eccentric

1. What piece of evidence helps to prove that the bones in the furnace are Mary’s?
2. Why does Max object to the following question the coroner asks Jan?
“Had you at any time in the past left Miss Dalton alone in the company of Negroes?”
“No.” “You had never used Miss Dalton as bait before, had you?” (Pg. 319)
3. What is revealed during Max’s cross examination of Mr. Dalton about the business practices of whites and how they are designed to oppress and exploit the black race?
4. Why does the coroner bring Bessie’s body into the courtroom? What is racist about that action?
5. What evidence is there that Bigger is still an angry, rebellious young man?
6. Many critics disagree on the significance of the man who is placed in Bigger’s cell.
What do you think Wright is trying to say about the effectiveness of books by educated blacks to change racist attitudes?
7. Cite incidents from the story to support or refute the following statement: Wright
wants the reader to understand that all men are alike and that through getting to know each other there will be a “response of recognition, there would be union, identity; there would be a supporting oneness, a wholeness.” (Pg. 362)

Pages 311 – 362
Vocabulary
stolidly – impassively; showing little emotion
exorbitant – excessive; unfair
vindictiveness – vengefulness
apprehensive – uneasy
balmy – eccentric

1. What piece of evidence helps to prove that the bones in the furnace are Mary’s?
2. Why does Max object to the following question the coroner asks Jan?
“Had you at any time in the past left Miss Dalton alone in the company of Negroes?”
“No.” “You had never used Miss Dalton as bait before, had you?” (Pg. 319)
3. What is revealed during Max’s cross examination of Mr. Dalton about the business practices of whites and how they are designed to oppress and exploit the black race?
4. Why does the coroner bring Bessie’s body into the courtroom? What is racist about that action?
5. What evidence is there that Bigger is still an angry, rebellious young man?
6. Many critics disagree on the significance of the man who is placed in Bigger’s cell.
What do you think Wright is trying to say about the effectiveness of books by educated blacks to change racist attitudes?
7. Cite incidents from the story to support or refute the following statement: Wright
wants the reader to understand that all men are alike and that through getting to know each other there will be a “response of recognition, there would be union, identity; there would be a supporting oneness, a wholeness.” (Pg. 362)

Pages 363 – 405
Vocabulary
lauds – praises
cagy – crafty
presiding – holding authority
mitigation – freedom; relief
dastardly – maliciously
mawkish – sickening; excessive
philanthropy – love of humankind

1. List the three possible sentences available to the judge after Bigger enters a plea
of guilty.
2. In what ways does the description of the trial illustrate for the reader the racism and oppression present in the judicial system?
3. How does Max hope to convince the court to spare Bigger’s life?
4. What is Max trying to tell the court when he says that “fear and hate and guilt are the keynotes of this drama!”? (Pg. 386)

5. Cite incidents from the story to support or refute the following statement: Max does nothing to help save Bigger’s life. He uses the courtroom as a forum to make a speech about the inevitable consequences of oppression on society.
6. How does Max define Bigger’s level of ambition and hope to improve his life?
7. Why does Max argue that sending Bigger to jail would be like “conferring life upon him”? (Pg. 404)

Pages 406 - End of Book Three
Vocabulary
specious – sounding true, but really false; attractive
brooding – meditating
imputed – credited; related
imperiously – pressingly
averted – turned away

1. Briefly list three reasons Buckley thinks the judge must give Bigger the death penalty.
2. Why does Bigger want to see and talk to Max again after the sentencing?
3. At the end of the novel, Max and Bigger do not seem to be able to understand each other. They shake hands and Max leaves. How do you think Max feels about Bigger after this last conversation? Is he disappointed that he cannot make Bigger understand the overall oppression of the working class by the rich, or is he moved by Bigger’s struggle to find a meaning in his life?
4. When Bigger is saying his final words to Max, what evidence is there that Bigger is finally at peace with himself and his identity? What do you think that identity is from Bigger’s perspective?