Alienation

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Recommended: Problems with racism in literature

The novel Native Son by Richard Wright explores how alienation of the mind and body contributes to character development. Bigger Thomas is alienated both mentally and physically. He lives in the world where he is segregated from whites, and he is surrounded by “blind” people of all races. Being a second class citizen Bigger has developed a unique perspective of the world surrounding him. He feels that he was dead from birth, and he will have no opportunities in life to better himself. The alienation from the world mentally and physically has led Bigger to become primitive, fearful, and quick tempered.
Bigger has become primal because of the alienation he faces from society. The best example of this is found in book one when Bigger is in the movie theater. He and Jack are in a public place doing sexual acts. The narrator says, “They sat still for five minutes, slumped down in their seats. Finally, they straightened (30).” The fact that Bigger does this in public shows how uncivilized he is because of his alienation from whites. He feels that he can do whatever he wants because nothing can make them dislike him more. The resentment he faces has gotten him to a point of where he does not care anymore. He will do whatever he wants to. This alienation has more serious consequences when he has the ability inside of him to chop off Mary’s head. The book says “He got the hatchet, held the head at a slanting angle with his left hand and, after pausing in an attitude or prayer, sent the blade of the hatchet into the bone of the throat with all the strength of his body (92).” This gruesome scene is almost hard to even read. Committing this act reveals the primitive side of Bigger. No civilized person would have the ability to chop off a gi...

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...eads to him killing Mary and Bessie. He has no remorse because white society has none for him. He knows he was dead the minute he was born. Bigger realizes what the blind people surrounding him do not! He knows he can do nothing; he might as well go out fighting.
The alienation of Bigger Thomas leads to his character development. He is primitive, fearful, and quick tempered because of the isolation and racism he faces. He is created by the society that he lives in; the environment surrounding him leads to his downfall. Bigger knows that he was dead from the day he was born, the “blind” people around him are either too fearful or ignorant to see it. He knows that what he has accidentally done can never be justified to whites; he wants to die knowing he is equal to his counterparts.

Works Cited

Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York: Harper & Bros., 1940. Print.

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