I think that society is vitally, but not completely responsible for bigger's actions. We know that Bigger is angry because of the way white people treat black people and we know that he is afraid to act normal around a white person. He is afraid to act normal around white people because he thinks that if he lets his guard down he will be punished, or even killed. This fear causes Bigger to act like he is "supposed" to around whites, like not looking them in the eye and calling them sir and mam because he knows that he will be treated in return like he is "supposed" to be treated. But Mary Dalton is different. Mary is not your typical white person during these times of extreme racism. She, unlike many other whites that Bigger knows how to act around, treats Bigger like he is one of them. Mary is opening up a new world to Bigger that he has never experienced before WITH A WHITE PERSON. She insinuates friendship towards Bigger and wants to get to know him personally to get a glimpse into the life of an African American. Bigger isn't used to this. That's why he is angry at her, because she is putting pressure on him to act as if racism didnt exist. He is afraid he will lose his job because he acted like a normal person. To make a long story short he takes out his frustrations by kissing her in a dark room where he won't be judged by his actions from other people and when Mrs. Dalton walks into the room, Bigger panics. He suffocates Mary because if word gets out that a black man kissed a white girl, he could get killed. Society is mostly responsible for this but he still should be held accountable for his actions, he did murder Mary even though it was out of fear caused by racism.