The Theme Of Racism In Richard Wright's Native Son

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Bigger Thomas, a classic example of institutionalized racism, stars as the protagonist in this novel, Native Son. We are made part of his life and taken on a journey to witness his development as a character, or better defined as: an unraveling of his psyche. Consequently, Richard Wright successfully expresses the rage of the common, black-man throughout the progression of Bigger’s story. The divisions within the book (Fear, Flight, and Fate) help develop the internal turmoil that drives Bigger. Disillusioned by what the universe has dealt him, he turns to murder as his only option (Fear). Then, he begins to obsessively look for an outing (Flight), to discover there is none. Only as the novel reaches its end (Fate), does Bigger begin to experience …show more content…

Segregation marked their way of life; it was commonplace. Black people could not live in the same neighborhoods as the whites. Instead, they would be placed in a separate area called “The Black Belt”. Conditions were inhumane, and often led to its residents contracting diseases. In addition, whites would also organize groups with the purpose of preventing black people from moving into the same neighborhoods as them. This is the state of Thomas Bigger’s life when it is first introduced to us - rats, dirt, and confinement. The financial situation was so dire, that when he is offered a job working for the Daltons, Bigger can not afford to refuse it. As a result, he ends up chauffeur for the people who own his apartment complex, and who, to him, are the authors of his below-average life. Bigger is not a character to admire or look up to - the only time he shows some remotely praiseworthy characteristics are near the end. Bigger begins to realize that he can release his anger by communicating rather than exploding. Max, his lawyer, serves as a tool to help him come to terms with what he has done and express his feelings about the overall …show more content…

A direct product of the society which formed him. Bigger is an individual shaped and defined by the classic racism demonstrated by the characters in the novel. As opposed to the classic “black hero” demonstrated in other works, he represents all those stereotypes held against black men. He is undereducated, accustomed to servile labor, woefully bad at monetary management, and full of resentment towards white people. In addition, he is also increasingly violent - beginning with the apathetic attitude towards his own family and developing all the way until murder. These are some characteristics that can be seen all throughout the novel, from beginning to end. His lack of education is evident in his simplistic speech and inability to sometimes string together grammatically correct sentences. This can be inferred is the reason as to why he is “degraded” to what was considered a lowly job - a servant for the white people whom he resented so much. Furthermore, we have examples of this resentment throughout several conversations within the book, such as near the beginning he is discussing career options with Gus and exclaims, “they don’t let us do nothing”. Showing the reader how frustrated he is with his situation. Then, when he accidentally murders Mary, the excitement he feels at finally being “superior” is palpable. Through selections such as, “With eyes glazed, nerves tingling

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