Exploring Racial Tensions and Conflicts in 'Native Son'

Conflicts in Native Son

An interesting aspect of Native Son develops from the many levels of conflict occurring simultaneously in the book. On a superficial level personal conflicts arise, but deeper conflicts about race, social status, and political view points drive these superficial conflicts. When the book opens Bigger has an argument with his mother, and then his sister, about getting a job. Confrontations like these happen constantly throughout this novel, but neither Bigger nor the other characters grow from these conflicts. The characters act out in rage due to stress caused by social circumstances. Bigger's violent temper gets him into various conflicts with his gang, a man on the roof whom he attacks, and the fellow who owns the pool hall.

Although these actions demonstrate acts of rage, they do not portray the true motivation for Bigger's actions. The cause of Bigger personal conflicts stem his fear of repercussion for his actions as a black in a white dominated society. His fear of the consequences of being discovered with a drunk white woman, drive Bigger Thomas to smother Mary Dalton. This fear arose because of the non physical barriers, set up by society, between white and black people. This tension made Bigger angry while he was forced to secretly drive Jan and Mary around in the car and finally made him snap. Like Bigger, the entire city demonstrates conflicts based upon fear brought about by racial segregation. During the progress of the man hunt, blacks and whites go at each others throats. These various conflicts all stem from fear and racial hatred. Although Richard Wright portrays the segregation of the blacks, he does not omit the segregation of various social groups such as the communists. In contrast, Jan and Max's efforts to save Bigger stem from a struggle for equality. They too feel the constraints of oppression, but have a philosophy and social position with which to rebel.