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Native Son Essay

 

            The author of Native Son, Richard Wright, portrays disparity between Whites and Blacks, and forces that Blacks could neither understand nor control. The word "freedom" was the most valuable word that Blacks desired to hear.
             Lack of freedom caused Bigger Thomas to have violence and intimidation. Bigger, a worker of Dalton's, wasn't used to being around Whites because of the fact that he's Black; moreover, when Mary Dalton was being nice to him, he became suspicious and didn't like the fact that White person was being gentle with him. For this made him discomfited and afraid, he had to face the inevitable situation: considered a murderer and a rapist. "He was not crying, but his lips were trembling and his chest was heaving. He wanted to lie down upon the floor and sleep off the horror of this thing." (91) In addition, he used his girlfriend, Bessie, to escape from being caught, nevertheless, when it didn't quite work out as he expected, he killed Bessie. Taking life of his own race girlfriend indicates that he felt so despondent and had abhorrence towards all the people, especially Whites. Surrounded by fear and violence, Bigger was perplexed and needed that one precious thing, freedom, as if a thirsty person seeks for water.
             Lack of emancipation also illustrates living in the world of despair. From the beginning of the story to the end, Bigger didn't have any expectations, or hopes to accomplish, which means that he lived his life simply out of satisfaction; thus, he attempted to rob Blum's, have sexual intercourse with Bessie, whom he didn't love, and murdered people. ""Did you ever hope for anything, Bigger?" "What for? I couldn't get it. I'm black," he mumbled." (328) He knew that Black people are worthless human beings on earth, and White people were indifferent. Furthermore, he knew that Whites weren't concerned when Blacks kill their own race, for they thought that by Blacks killing each other, they will extinct, and they don't have to think about Blacks to any further extent.


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