WAEC Literature in English 2016 Theory — Question 6

Model answer

Max is a Communist colleague of Jan Erlone. The name Max brings to mind the philosopher and Communist Karl Marx. Boris Max works at the Labour Defenders Office as a lawyer. An elderly fellow of Jewish background, he is introduced to Bigger by Jan over the possibility of defending Bigger in court in his murder case. Max is the writer's persona in the novel because he voices out the mind of the writer as regards race relations. Max's attitude towards race relations contrasts with that of Buckley and every other white person portrayed in the novel. Max is not a racist. For this reason, he is able to relate freely with Bigger and defend him without demanding a dime. Max, unlike other whites, does not see Bigger from the stereotypical stand point. Rather, he treats Bigger as an individual. Max is free with white and with black. Max's attitude towards race relations is shown both in prison where he interviews Bigger and in the law court where he defends his case. Max takes time to hear about Bigger's predicaments, reasons with his murderous acts. He tries to understand why Bigger killed Mary. Max helps Bigger to understand the fact that blacks are hated by the whites. Hatred is also directed to the unionists too. He urges Bigger not to hate the whites in return. He also makes Bigger understand that even the black activists behave like the white sometimes. He educates Bigger on race relations and from their interaction, Bigger becomes a better person. At the court scene Max educates the whites. He lets the Daltons to understand that charging such exorbitant prices on house rent in Black Belt shows the shylock attitude of the Daltons. He also makes them to understand that Mary is a sacrificial lamb for the racism exhibited by the whites towards the blacks. Max makes the whites to understand that hatred will not stop and there will always be the likes of Bigger if racism is not curbed in the US or until the whites begin to see the blacks as individuals.