Native Son - a Novel by Richard Wright

Who is the victim in a prejudiced civilization? The dominant group or the minority? "Native Son," a novel by Richard Wright, focuses on the effects of racism on the oppressors and the oppressed. It establishes that in an ethnically prejudiced society discrimination comes from everywhere, and most monumental occurrences only contribute to its decline. The story is set in Chicago in the 1930s. The protagonist of the narrative lives in a world of inferiority; in a society where he will never succeed or be able to live up its standards simply because he is black. The author exploits this theme of racism and allows the reader to identify with a way of life that they are unexposed to.

The protagonist and main character of the novel is Bigger Thomas. He is a twenty year old black man who lives in a cramped, rat- infested apartment with his family. From the beginning, we see his inadequacy through his home life and other actions. "A huge back rat squealed and leaped at Bigger's trouser- leg and snagged it in his teeth, hanging on" (page 5). The black people in the community were forced to live in impoverished neighborhoods, the South Side, with mediocre resources and goods, and little opportunity for education. Bigger had lived a life defined by fear and anger toward the whites who overpower him. He and his friends commit crimes, but only against other blacks; the group is too afraid to rob a white man. They succumb to a lower standard by stealing instead of working. When the group finally decides to try to rob a white man, it doesn't work. The plan falls through after Bigger starts a fight with one of the guys who comes late. "Bigger was afraid of robbing a white man and he knew that Gus was afraid, too... He hated Gus because he knew that Gus was afraid, as even he was; and he feared Gus because he felt that Gus would consent and then he would be compelled to go through with the robbery" (25). Bigger hates his race and wishes he could escape the oppression. He isn't proud of being black and sees it as an impediment and a burden. These views of his own race allow him to pilfer from them with no remorse. He and his friends clandestinely envy the freedom that white people experience. He longs to enjoy their privileges but doesn't know how to release himself of the racial boundaries: '"Them white boys sure can fly," Gus said. "Yeah," bigger said wistfully. "They get a chance to do everything."... "I could fly a plane if I had a chance," Bigger said. "If you wasn't black and if you had some money and if they'd let you go to aviation school, you could fly a plane," Gus said' (16-17). Racism has curtailed Bigger's ambitions in life and his perception of himself. He is ashamed of his family's penury and he hides his feelings. He has crafted a faÐ*ade of toughness to guard himself from the pressure he feels because of his family's social position and his inability to help them.

Bigger's mother wants him to take a job offer to help pay for a nicer apartment for the family. Across the street from Bigger's home, men are putting up campaign posters for the State Attorney. The words "If You Break the Law, You Can't Win!" are on the tops of all of the posters. These signs were deliberately put up in the poor neighborhoods because the white people of the town expect blacks to break the law. The posters are a form of a threat to the black communities, and a warning that the new State Attorney will have no sympathy. Bigger goes to see a movie with one of his friends in which blacks are portrayed as jungle savages; the white people are depicted as wealthy and sophisticated in contrast. "He saw images of smiling, dark-haired white girls lolling on the gleaming sands of a beach. The background was a stretch of sparkling water... Here are the daughters of the rich taking sunbaths in the sands of Florida! This little collection of debutantes represents over four billion dollars of America's wealth and over fifty of America's leading families... He looked at Trader Horn unfold and saw pictures of naked black men and women whirling in wild dances and heard rums beating and then gradually the African scene changed..." (31-33). Bigger takes the job that his mom tells him about. He is the Dalton family's chauffer, and mainly drives the daughter of the house, Mary, wherever she needs to go. One night he is instructed by her parents to drive her to school meeting. She instead tells him to take her to her boyfriend's house, Jan, and then out to eat. They all end up drunk and Mary can't make it to her room alone. Bigger carries her but doesn't want to awaken the rest of the family. Mary's blind mother comes into the dark room and tries to figure out what is happening. Bigger accidentally smothers Mary to death in an attempt to keep her quiet so he won't get in trouble or lose his job for not following the orders he was given. After he realizes that he has killed her, he puts her body in the furnace to hide what he has done. After much investigation, Mary's remains are found. "Reporters find Dalton girl's bones in furnace. Negro chauffer disappears. Five thousand police surround black belt. Authorities hint sex crime. Communist leader proves alibi. Girl's mother in collapse" (242- 3). Without any evidence investigators assume that Bigger had sexually assaulted Mary. The authorities