The Native Son by Richard Wright is a novel that highlights the unfair discrimination and inequality of blacks in 1930’s Chicago. Bigger Thomas is a poor, uneducated, twenty-year-old black man that lives with his family in a cramped apartment on the South Side of the city. In this novel it is apparent that Bigger has no control of his life and cannot aspire to be anything special. Society on the South Side of Chicago was restricting and oppressive for blacks.
In this novel Richard Wright explores the psychological corruption of Bigger Thomas to give the reader a new perspective on the oppression of racism in society. Bigger’s psychological damage derives from the constant barrage of racist propaganda and discrimination. The frequent bombardment of racism elicited a great deal of fear and anger in Bigger. After accidentally killing Mary Dalton, Bigger doesn’t feel guilt, but rather exultation. In this novel Wright illustrates that the oppression of racism has inevitably pushed blacks into an unstable state of mind. During Bigger’s trial his lawyer Max tries to prevent the death penalty by claiming that these actions were a product of Bigger’s environment. Ultimately, this proclamation displays that Bigger’s crimes belonged to the fearful, hopeless existence that he has experienced in a racist society since birth. Max states that if America does not end the vicious system of racism that more people like Bigger will come into existence in the near future.
Although murder is undeniably unacceptable in any society, I can’t help but feel bad for Bigger Thomas. Ever since birth Bigger had experienced the oppression of racism in society. Bigger was not a true hero, however, he demonstrated the detrimental effects of the social conditions in which he was raised.
Well-crafted post here James! I see the defense of Bigger by his lawyer Max as Wright coming out and explicitly stating what he feels are the sources for issues in black communities. While the issues discussed by Max were abundantly clear throughout the book in forms of metaphors and other literary techniques, Wright still makes a point of leaving nothing up to debate as to how he feels.
In the same way that the judge ignored Max’s argument on why Bigger killed Mary, do you think white people who read this book immediately after its publication were horrified or did they see it as an exaggeration?
For that specific era, most if not all white people would consider this novel as an exaggeration. They could have gone so far as to ban the novel’s circulation. Whites would have generally seen this novel as a threat to their society, as it could potentially inspire blacks to act out violently. At the same time, however, the whites could view the novel as a lesson, showing them the permanent psychological damage they are doing to blacks through decades of racism and oppression.
I agree that Bigger was definitely not a hero in this story. I think its impossible to ever view him as a hero based on the brutality of his crimes. However, I did also feel bad for him as the cards were always stacked against him from birth. Bigger never had a chance to get out of the oppressive system he was born into.
I find this use of the word exultation to describe Bigger’s emotions after killing Mary very interesting. It truly does show how unstable black peoples mindsets are due to the constant oppression they are forced to be under.
I also agree that Bigger was not a hero, but that is not what Wright intended this character’s role to be in this story. Bigger’s role was to show that men like him could be reached before they committed horrible crimes out of fear. This is shown in Bigger’s conversations with his lawyer Max because it shows that Bigger starts to understand his role in life. He realizes that he could live a meaningful life and completely changes his outlook on white people because of the trust he finds in Max and Jan.