Early on in Native Son, Bigger watches a pigeon “strutting to and fro with ruffled feathers, its fat neck bobbing with regal pride.” After watching the bird, Bigger says to his friend Gus, “Now, if only I could do that.” This scene can be compared to an idea from Beloved, in which Paul D has been dehumanized to the point that he feels like a rooster named Mister has more dignity than he does.