Native Son - The Metamorphosis of Bigger Thomas

In the turn of the century, the time of Bigger Thomas, the roles of black men and women in America were heavily restricted compared to the white population. Black people were also still treated unequally and dealt with as ignorant fools. Richard Wright's novel, Native Son, embraces this knowledge and follows the reaction of one angry man as he manages the delights of his exploits and the consequences of his deeds. Challenging pressures and stereotypes, Bigger believes he understands the world and that he is completely in control, unperturbed by anything or anyone. Although he is blind to society in essence, Bigger is deeply influenced by his oppression, exemplified by his actions, escape, and eventual demise.

From the beginning, Bigger is a visibly shaken young man, extremely fearful of the society in which he is forced to inhabit. While a cowardly lion at heart, he often bares his teeth, shows his claws, and occasionally growls to save face, all in an effort to prove to his friends and peers that he is not, in fact, scared of his life. This is plainly illustrated when his friend Gus says, "You see, Bigger, you the cause of all the trouble we ever have. Ain't I got a right to make up my mind? Naw; that ain't your way. You start cussing. You say I'm scared. It's you who's scared!" (Wright 28). Bigger's immediate defense is, as Gus predicted, to shout and threaten until he has satisfied himself for the time being that he truly is not afraid of anything. Bigger is, however, intensely terrified of life because he wholeheartedly believes that he has no destiny. He begins to resent himself for this belief and thrusts the blame to everyone else in the world but himself, allowing himself to have faith in the ...

... middle of paper ...

...ding of his crime and of his importance in life to his family, no matter what the whole of society believes. By grasping this idea, Bigger's life can end in the satisfaction that he does have a foreseeable destiny and that his death is justified. His individuality and his fate have been what Bigger and people in his position have been groping for their entire lives and knowing this, Bigger can in essence rest in peace, for his life is no longer incomplete or insignificant.

Works Cited

Collier-Thomas, John; et al. Chronology of the Civil Rights Movement. Chicago, IL: Henry Holt & Company, Inc., January 2000.

Neskahi, Arlie. "Anger Cycle Model." February 2003, 1998. http://www.rainbowwalker.com/anger/cycle.html

Wright, Richard. Native Son. 1940. New York, NY: First Perennial Classics, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, 1998.