Native Son Conflict Essay

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Conflict in Native Son
Richard Wright’s novel “Native Son” illustrates the life of a poor, uneducated black man named Bigger, who lives in Chicago during the 1930's. In the novel, Wright illustrates the ways in which white racism forces blacks into a dangerous state of mind. Bigger’s mental breakdown results from the constant flood of racist propaganda and racial harassment he faces while growing up. Bigger’s psychological damage gives us a new perception of the brutal effect racism had on the black population in 1930s America. He conceives of “whiteness” as an overpowering and hostile force and he is too afraid to rob a white man. Many levels of conflict is arising throughout the novel. Throughout the “Native Son”, there are many deeper conflicts …show more content…

Other white characters in the novel are affected by racism in profound and more complex ways. The Daltons present themselves as philanthropists committed to the black American cause in an effort to avoid confronting their guilt as they have made a fortune out of exploiting blacks. Jan, Mary’s boyfriend, looks out at the city’s horizon and announces that “we will own everything one day and that eventually there will be no black or white.”(1.427) Mary and Jan characterize an even delicate form of racism, as they intentionally try to befriend blacks and treat them as equals, but ultimately fail to understand them as individuals. They were quite not aware of the possibility that he will react with suspicion and fear as Bigger has never experienced such friendly treatment from whites. Even though he feels the freedom with her, Bigger cannot overlook the fact that she is part of the world of people who tell him what he can and cannot do. He was in the constant fear of the consequences of being discovered with a drunk white woman. This fear is caused because of the barriers set up by society between white and black

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