Richard Wright is an African American author whose literature typically concerns racial themes. His literature especially relates to the plight of African Americans who suffered discrimination and racism during the 19th to mid-20th century. Through his novel,
Native Son, Richard Wright is able to reveal the destructive nature of society as a whole. Wright suggests that one’s position in society can play a larger and more important role in a person’s decision making then we expect, giving us only partial power in our lives. These forced decisions along with society’s discriminatory viewpoints and ideology is what truly produces a criminal. Wright’s balance between the writing styles of hard narrative and penetrating analysis is what exposes the readers to this grim reality.
Wright’s use of narrative structure allows the readers to view the life of Bigger Thomas, a character who as been excluded from American society solely based on his skin color. The technique also allows readers to deeply connect with Bigger and grow an insight to what is happening in his life even though they may not personally understand it. Wright writes, “He had argued all of his pals but one into consenting to the robbery, and toward the lone man who held out he felt a hot hate and fear; he had transferred his fear of the whites to Gus” (pg.28). Wright uses the quote as a way to show the deep-rooted hatred of whites that Bigger possessed because of the fear and control white people had over him. Bigger thinks and acts irrationally because of this hatred and fear. Bigger is not able to live the life he wants or seek his true identity because the dominant white society would not allow it. Readers are able to get an insight into Bigger’s emotions and the prerequisites that leads him to the actions he commits later in the story. The author also writes, “The guarded feeling of freedom he had while listening to her was tangled with the hard fact that she was white and rich, a part of the world of people who told him what he could and could not do” (pg.66). Bigger struggles with an identity crisis and blames the white population because of this. Society and the media trap black Americans in a metaphorical box not letting them explore the possibilities the world has to offer. When Bigger meets Mary Dalton it is a natural instinct of his to want her to be at arm’s length despite her saying that she has a different viewpoint of black Americans than most white people do.
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Wright uses analysis to examine how a person’s exposure to mass culture including media and news sources can lead to preconceived notions of another race or ethnicity preventing a person to view someone of the opposite race with humanity and consideration as well as how this can affect a person who has been discriminated against because of this mass culture. “Now who on earth would think that he, a black timid Negro boy, would murder and burn a rich white girl and would sit and wait for his breakfast like this? Elation filled him” (pg. 102). Wright uses the quote as a way to analyze the effects of racial superiority and supremacy. Society has placed white people as the dominate race while simultaneously belittling the black race. Black people are told constantly that they are inferior and people like Bigger want to challenge this even though he does not go about the challenge the appropriate way. The white world seems to cause violent impulses and reactions. The author writes, “Down here in Dixie we keep Negroes firmly in their places and we make them know that if they so much as touch a white woman, good or bad, they cannot live” (pg.261). Wright uses the quote to show how distasteful people in society are about a people they do not understand. Black people are being discriminated against unjustifiably. When something bad happens, the entire black population is criticized and punished as if they are all criminals even though that is far from the truth. Jim Crow laws have allowed little to be known about the opposite race. This little familiarity and racial tension between black and white people creates a barrier between the two, not allowing for compassion and understanding. Although Bigger was American, he was never truly able to live an American lifestyle.
Throughout the novel, Wright cohesively combines the writing styles of narration and analysis to portray the injustice and appalling circumstances the black population has to face on a daily basis and how racial differences are far more deeply rooted than what may meet the eye. “I just worked hard every day as long as I can remember, till I was tired enough to drop; then I had to get drunk to forget it” (pg. 215). Wright uses the narration as a way to highlight the unhappy and sorrowful lives many black people were condemned to living similarly to Bessie in the story. Many African Americans could not afford not to work; their lives were an endless cycle of having to live in misery. The use of the narration appeals to the readers consciousness and evokes a strong will to change how society is. The author writes, “For the first time in his life a white man became a human being to him; the reality of Jan’s humanity came in a stab of remorse: he had killed what this man loved and hurt him” (pg.268). Wright uses the quote as a way to analyze the events that took place. Biggers deeply rooted hatred was not solved because of Jan’s desire to have an open-minded way of thinking. When a person is excluded and prevented from living the life they want to live it creates lasting effects that cannot be easily changed by one person. The author writes, “Listen, Bigger, if you didn’t do it, just tell me and I’ll fix ‘em. Ill get a gun and kill four of five of ‘em…” (pg275). Wright uses the quote so the readers can understand that Gus is willing to put his life on the line because he and Bigger share the same distress brought on by oppression. Like many African Americans Gus is tired of being excluded and mistreated by the white Americans. Through the quote Wright is able to show how this exclusion takes a toll on multiple people not just the main character. Bigger is not the only one who is willing to do something rash because of the hate and fear he carries. This criminal behavior and thoughts are the product of the environment and life they have been condemned to.
In conclusion, Richard Wright’s ability to employ the writing techniques of hard narrative and penetrating analysis and keeping a balance between the techniques allows him to express the devastating effects that society can have on a person. Environmental and social factors play a major part in who a person becomes and the actions they commit. Society must think of the larger picture and change its ways and ideology to end criminality and the misguided assumptions and mistreatment of other races and cultures.
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