Native Son by Richard Wright Essay Example for Free

Native Son by Richard Wright EssayRichard Wright was determined to make a profound statement. In his novel, Native Son, he endeavors to present the horror of Negro life in the United States (Wright xxxiii). By addressing such a significant topic, he sought to write a script that no one would weep over that would be so hard and deep that they would have to face it without the consolation of tears (xxvii). Native Son is a commentary on the poverty and helplessness experienced by blacks in America, and it illustrates the abhorrent ways that blacks were treated, describes their awful living conditions and calls assist to the half-hearted efforts offered by white sympathizers. Told from the spot of his character big Thomas, Wright crafts a story depicting the oppressive lives endured by Negroes and makes it so despicable that it grabs the attention of the commentator and forces him to reevaluate the state of society. There is more in this novel that would cause a reader to cry, but, to Wrights point, the topic is so significant that it resonates more deeply and elicits a deeper response.Bigger Thomas is the friend of the novel, but, to Wright, Bigger also exemplifies African Americans of the time. He is barely educated, struggling to find meaningful work and living in an overcrowded slum with his family just like many differents around him. Bigger is frustrated with his place in life and finds it difficult to run into why the opportunities that are available to whites are not available to him. During an rallying with his friend Gus, Bigger exclaims, Goddammit, look We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we aint. They do things and we cant. Its like living in imprison (23).Bigger and Gus have no outlet to express their individuality or emotions. Their feelings towards whites are ingrained in them. Bigger states, Whites live right down here in my stomachEvery time I think of em, I feel emIts like fireThats when I feel like something awfuls going to happen to meNaw it aint like something going to happen to me. ItsIts like I was going to do something I cant help (24). This statement summarizes how the everyday black man feels about his station in life and the opportunities available to him. Additionally, it foreshadows the heinous events that entrust unfold later in the novel.A turning point in Wrights story comes when Bigger is offered a job as a drive for the Dalton family. Mr. Dalton is a white real estate mogul that prides himself for being a member of the NAACP. He employs young black men in an attempt to rehabilitate them. On the surface, this is an ideal opportunity for Bigger because it provides room and board and pays well enough to allow him to take care of his mother and siblings, but Wright is looking to try how the trivial the actions taken by the white sympathizers do not actually address the challenges faced by the African American population.Bigger is not overwhelmed by th is opportunity or impressed that the last chauffeur had gone to night school. Moreover, this job ultimately places Bigger in a situation that he cannot control, and he accidentally smothers Daltons daughter, Mary. Bigger realizes, Though he had killed by accident, not once did he feel the need to tell himself that it had been an accident. He was black and he had been alone in a room where a white girl had been killed therefore he had killed her (101). This is the awful event that Bigger alluded to earlier in the story.putting to death Mary elicits feelings in Bigger that he had never experienced before. Bigger ack directlyledges, He was more alive than he could ever remember having been his mind and attention were pointed, focused toward a goal (141). Bigger embraced these feelings and continued with a scheme to make everyone believe that Mary had been kidnapped. With the assistance of his girlfriend Bessie, he plans to come off with $10,000 in ransom money. Wright uses Biggers emo tions and his heightened sense of awareness at this point in the novel to comment on society at the time. Wright is stating that the act of remove is one of the solitary(prenominal) ways for young African American men to express themselves, to exert any independence and to get out from under the burdensomeness of their daily life.When the authorities realize that Bigger is the killer he flees to avoid being captured, but he realizes that all his life he had been knowing that sort of or later something like this would come to him (207). Survival becomes paramount to Bigger, escaping the law is his only priority, and Bessie becomes a liability. While attempting to hide from the police, Bigger realizes that it will be easier to escape without traveling with Bessie. In a tense scene, Bigger first rapes Bessie, lets her fall to sleep and finally bludgeons her. His actions are methodical ashe lifted the brick once again and again, until in falling it struck a sodden mass that gave so ftly but stoutly to each landing blow. Soon he seemed to be big a wet wad of cotton, of some damp substance whose only life was the jarring of the bricks impact (222). Ultimately this second murder is unnecessary, as Bigger is soon apprehended.Bigger is arrested and indicted for the murder of Mary Dalton, and the character that Wright chooses to defend him is a white, Jewish attorney, named Boris Max. In the novel, Max takes the time to talk to Bigger and understand the actions in his life that have influenced him. For the first time in his life, Bigger has someone interested in his thoughts and feelings, which result in Bigger beginning decision hope. Max does his best to motivate Bigger to fight to save his own life. Max pleads, Listen Bigger, youre facing a sea of hate now thats no different than what youve faced all your life. And, because its that way, youve got to fight.If they can wipe you out, then they can wipe others out too (320). Throughout this contribution of the boo k Bigger undergoes a transformation. By explaining his actions and feelings to Max, he finally emerges from the shell he has created around himself. Max works hard to understand the issues in Biggers life that culminated in his actions and the violence he exerted against Mary and Bessie, and he uses this information to form his defense. Although the crimes that Bigger committed were horrific, the reader begins to sympathize with him as he describes more about himself and his feelings to Max as the story comes to a conclusion.Wrights goal with this novel was to evoke empathy for Bigger and to make a statement regarding the handling of blacks at the time. Wright uses Maxs closing statement to the judge to summarize all of the points he wants the reader to contemplate. Max combines everything that he learns about Bigger and weaves it unitedly with the plight of the blacks during the time and eloquently argues that Bigger should be sentenced to life in prison, rather than to execution. Max argues, This man is different, even though his crime differs from similar crimes only in degree. The complex forces of society have isolated here for us a symbol, a test symbol (354).Through Maxs monologue, the reader more clearly understands all of the factors thathave contributed to the creation of Bigger and others like him, and he pleads with the judge to understand that there are larger forces in play, other than the specific crime that Bigger committed. Unfortunately, despite Maxs valiant attempts, the sentence of the Court is that you, Bigger Thomas, shall die on or before midnight of Friday, present third, in a manner prescribed by the laws of this state (381). Initially, it would appear that with Biggers execution, Wright fails in his attempt to move people to reevaluate the racial injustice of the times, but the conclusion is actually Wrights acknowledgement that society was not quite ready to change.