d by means other
             than his words. Besides reactions to fear, his actions demonstrate
             an extremely quick temper and destructive impulse as an integral
             part of his nature. Rage plays a key part in his basic nature,
             but does not directly motivate the murders he commits. Rage does
             not affect Bigger's intelligence and quick thinking and it becomes
             evident during the interview with Briton. The detective makes
             Bigger so angry that the interrogation becomes a game to Bigger,
             a game of logic and wills, of playing the stupid negro, and
             telling the man exactly what he wants to hear. The game Bigger
             plays during the interrogation shows his great intelligence and
             ability to think quickly on his feet. Bigger also displayed his
             intelligence in the creation of the ransom note. Using the
             situation to his advantage, Bigger wrote a ransom note to extort
             Mary's parents for money. To make the note even more convincing
             and to dissuade blame from himself, Bigger signs the note with the
             communist symbol of a hammer and sickle.
             Although the book revolves around Bigger he possesses few good
             qualities, which get his horrendous actions negate, making him an
             anti-hero. He possess the violent tendencies to commit rape,
             extortion of the dead girls parents, robbing, and killing innocent
             people. These traits do not portray a simple victim of
             circumstance, but a habitual criminal acting out against a
             society. While Bigger dominates the story, his appalling actions
             make him a man that the reader can not look upon as a hero. In
             fact the author punishes the anti-hero character by condemning him
             One of the two most sympathetic characterizations of white persons
             in the novel comes from the character of Jan Erlone, Mary Dalton's
             friend. He exhibits an enthusiastic personality and represents an
             idealistic young organizer for the Communist party. Mary's
             parents and their servant Peggy distrust his motives....