Native Son: A story of alienation and abrupt objectivism

This summer I had to write a couple of essays about various books I have read. This particular essay is about Native Son, a book by Richard Wright. I know it's not my usual but I hope you can find some commentary in it anyway.

To any teacher who thinks this is plagiarism, this is an original essay by Nathanial Brune.

Prompt:
Write an essay in which you analyze how the character’s experience
with exile is both alienating and enriching, and how this experience illuminates the meaning of
the work as a whole. To write an effective argument you will need to clearly name and
specifically identify the alienating and enriching aspects of the character’s exile and how they
contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole.

In Richard Wright’s book: Native Son, Bigger become a victim of abrupt alienation after an accidental murder. In Bigger’s experience, this relationship is that of a slave murdering their master. Having had this incident flung at him so suddenly, bigger did not have time to prepare, or realize the implications of such an act. This set of circumstances leads bigger to alienation from his peers. Bigger can no longer be a functional member of society after he had committed the crime. This alienation also leaves Bigger with a an objective view of the society. Because he had now seen the society he lived in through both perspectives, that of an outcast and that of a member, he is capable of dissecting the complexities of it’s nature. Bigger’s situation left him stranded, and with new view-points to discover and explore.

On the surface level, Bigger experienced societal exile. After having been discovered, or at least suspected, Bigger became a lower-class community member. This is interesting to explore because this is not the first experience Bigger had with the class struggle. Being an African-American, Bigger has had several first hand experiences in this area. Being treated as a second class citizen is nothing new to him. The difference becomes visible when one recognizes that Bigger has actually been alienated from his original home in the class system. He has migrated to a lower class. He is no longer able to converse with his own people, members of his own class. This is highlighted when Bigger is hiding and overhears a conversation between two people in the next room over. “Jack, yuh meant’ stan’ there ‘n’ say yuh’d give tha’ nigger up t’ the white folks? Damn right Ah would!” (Wright, 203) In another sense Bigger has become unable to relate to the common people. He has committed an act that emotionally sets him apart from the rest of society. Bigger after his act is no longer capable with reacting in a similar fashion to how others react. This is seen when Bigger’s thoughts about killing Bessie are revealed. “Never had he had the chance to live out the consequences of his actions; never had his will been so free as in this night and day of fear and murder and flight.” (197, Wright) Normal humans wouldn’t react in the fashion, with this rational. Bigger is a human who has seen different and life-changing events. These very same event’s server to alienate him emotionally, and societally.

Because of Bigger’s alienation he also gets to opportunity to see to world in a changed light. He sees the world for what it truly is. He is capable of this because Bigger now has nothing to lose. I will preface by saying that bigger’s opinions are not that of my own. In Bigger’s sudden realization, he comes to believe he was acting non-human. He believes that African Americans are truly in a different class from the White Man. He ultimately takes his confusion about his place in the world to his grave, but Bigger begins to question his place quite early into his crime. Littered throughout the book there are hints. Bigger begins to agree with reports that perhaps “[He] is not human! there is no place for him.” (311, Wright) In his final moments in the book Bigger realizes that not all white’s are the same either. Bigger comes to see Jan as an exceptional person. “The reality of Jan’s humanity came as a stab of remorse.” (277, Wright)

The title of Richard Wright’s work, Native Son, conveys the main message of the book. Bigger Thomas is a native son of America, he is the product of the culture in America. Societal pressure shaped him into the man he came to be. Bigger Thomases alienation serves as a platform to communicate to the reader the bigger issues preached throughout the book. Racism and other discrimination cannot stand in a free country. Racism is a tool used to produce toxic culture and ideologies. It can only lead to hatred and violence. Without Bigger Thomas’ experience this point would be illustrated less effectively and with less overall impact on the reader. Bigger’s experience is, in effect, a case study of popular belief at the time. Bigger’s exile shows how one man can be driven to commit atrocities for no reason other than cultural influences.

Bigger endured a troublesome time in his life. He made some very poor choices but many of them are at the very least somewhat rational. Bigger became imprisoned for the reader’s so learn the lessons he had learned. Richard Wright did an excellent job of communicating his ideology to the reader through trials of morality. Bigger’s story continues to influence people today, and will for the indefinite future.

Works Cited

Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York, Harper & Bros., 1940.