Bigger Thomas" masculinity is often challenged in Native Son. The females he interacts with challenge it. None of the females in Native Son are independent; the females are of no real importance until they are in relation to males" figures of authority (Clause, np). The women are only in relation to the husbands, sons, fathers, brothers and boyfriends: without them they could not function alone in this novel. The sole purpose of the women in this novel is to further the story. They further the story by putting Bigger in new and more dangerous situations by questioning or threatening his male authority.
Native Son starts out with a rat in the apartment on Bigger and his family. Bigger kills the rat that attacked his leg and he comes to the understanding he would either kill himself or someone else (Wright, 14). This logic stays with Bigger throughout the novel. He knows if he wanders aimlessly in life that his dreams and ambitions will be killed. He, himself with no longer and exist because his thoughts and ideas will no longer be his own. Bigger puts up fences and defends him in anyway that he can, including violence. Throughout the novel Bigger's defenses increase and he defends himself with increasing violence and hostility. Bigger is always defensive about his self-image, especially his masculinity. Mary Dalton, Mrs. Thomas, Bessie Mears and Mrs. Dalton all have one sole purpose in the novel and that is to create a feeling of insecurity in Bigger Thomas" life.
Mrs. Thomas is the most intimidating female in Bigger's life; she is his mother. She nags Bigger hoping to influence changes in his life. All she accomplishes to make Bigger more angry and hostile. Bigger dies not have much respect for his mother because he feels she blindly and passively accepts her living conditions, not just the place she calls home, but also her place in society and life. Mrs. Thomas insults her son while he is trying to protect the family from the rat.