In history, many actions are often viewed as diabolical or horrible. Oftentimes, they are; communities, local and worldwide, will look on in horrified shock when they see deplorable actions, including the mortal sins of rape and murder. In Richard Wright’s Native Son, these two crimes are brought to the forefront, committed by 20-year-old black protagonist Bigger Thomas. By the end of Fear, Bigger has murdered the young white Mary Dalton, and halfway through Flight, Bigger has added another crime, the rape and murder of Bessie Thomas, his black girlfriend. The white world in the story is utterly shocked that something so abhorrent has occurred in their town, and they want nothing short of Bigger’s execution. Yet despite his actions, the readers
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Specifically, Bigger’s murder of his longtime girlfriend Bessie--acting similar to the way he crushed a rat in the beginning of the novel--showcases his immoral disregard for human life and his intrinsic desire for absolute power. Treating Bessie similarly to how he treated a rat (a rodent) in the beginning of the novel, he crushes Bessie’s skull--oozing brains all over an abandoned apartment--with a break, the same method in which he killed the rat. By raping and murdering Bessie, Bigger is exercising his dominance as a man--dominance being a quality that is consistently deprived of him because of his skin color. As a reaction to his low financial and social status, he finds power where he can, in the abuse of women, his sexual desire presenting an escape from his harsh and oppressive reality. Despite his brute actions--including rape and murder--the readers are still meant to sympathize with him because of his low financial status and racial tensions. In the Fate chapter of Native Son, Bigger’s lawyer Max reiterates what has been expressed in the first two parts through the story--that Bigger has been so thoroughly confined into certain social and economic constraints that his reaction and grasp for power is less abhorrent and is almost expected. He is a symbol of …show more content…
In no way does Wright excuse Bigger’s actions, which is personified by the lawyer Max; rather, Wright creates a situation where at the very least, Bigger’s actions have explanation and a driving force behind
Specifically, Bigger’s murder of his longtime girlfriend Bessie--acting similar to the way he crushed a rat in the beginning of the novel--showcases his immoral disregard for human life and his intrinsic desire for absolute power. Treating Bessie similarly to how he treated a rat (a rodent) in the beginning of the novel, he crushes Bessie’s skull--oozing brains all over an abandoned apartment--with a break, the same method in which he killed the rat. By raping and murdering Bessie, Bigger is exercising his dominance as a man--dominance being a quality that is consistently deprived of him because of his skin color. As a reaction to his low financial and social status, he finds power where he can, in the abuse of women, his sexual desire presenting an escape from his harsh and oppressive reality. Despite his brute actions--including rape and murder--the readers are still meant to sympathize with him because of his low financial status and racial tensions. In the Fate chapter of Native Son, Bigger’s lawyer Max reiterates what has been expressed in the first two parts through the story--that Bigger has been so thoroughly confined into certain social and economic constraints that his reaction and grasp for power is less abhorrent and is almost expected. He is a symbol of …show more content…
In no way does Wright excuse Bigger’s actions, which is personified by the lawyer Max; rather, Wright creates a situation where at the very least, Bigger’s actions have explanation and a driving force behind