Native Son

4 Pages 959 Words

Richard Wright’s Native Son

Set in the 1930’s Native Son, by Richard Wright, is a powerful novel that has meaning
today. It is an unsparing reflection of the poverty and feelings of hopelessness of African
Americans. It gives a visualization of what it meant then and what it means today to be black in
America. Never has their been a book that so clearly accounted for the African American feelings
toward white people. The hate and fear that brewed inside of African Americans was
unbelievably strong, yet very appropriate. Native Son captures readers and gives and in-depth
view to the feelings of people at this time and their reactions to the conflict between people of
different backgrounds and different beliefs. The violence depicted in Native Son, although quite
grotesque, is necessary to deliver the full meaning that Richard Wright wishes to convey to his
readers. The main character Bigger Thomas, a black man, has been robbed of his dignity, his
pride, and his identity. He lashes out in fear. A fear that furthers his self-destruction while giving
him an identity separate than that of other black people. Three subparts to Native Son shows the
transformation of Bigger’s fear into something that gave him a sense of individuality. He
struggles to lose this fear and claim his sense of self.
Fate, part one of Native Son, tells the reader about Bigger Thomas. Despite the
loathsome qualities of Bigger, he represents the victimization of black people. Bigger struggles
with his fear on a daily basis. The anger expressed by Bigger is nothing but an outlet for his fear.
The first representation of how Bigger’s fear will play a role in his death comes into play during
the first few pages of the book. It is while killing a rat
The rat’s belly pulsed with fear. Bigger advanced a step and the rat emitted a long thin
song of defiance, its black beady eyes glittering, its tiny forefeet pawing the air...