Sympathy in Wright's Native Son

A detailed Summary of Sympathy in Wright's Native Son

In Native Son, Richard Wright introduces Bigger Thomas, a liar and a thief. Wright evokes sympathy for this man despite the fact that he commits two murders. Through the reactions of others to his actions and through his own reactions to what he has done, the author creates compassion in the reader towards Bigger to help convey the desperate state of Black Americans in the 1930's.

The simplest method Wright uses to produce sympathy is the portrayal of the hatred and intolerance shown toward Thomas as a black criminal. This first occurs when Bigger is immediately suspected as being involved in Mary Dalton's disappearance. Mr. Britten suspects that Bigger is guilty and only ceases his attacks when Bigger casts enough suspicion on Jan to convince Mr. Dalton. Britten explains, "To me, a nigger's a nigger" (Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York: Harper and Row, 1940. 154). Because of Bigger's blackness, it is immediately assumed that he is responsible in some capacity. This assumption causes the reader to sympathize with Bigger. While only a kidnapping or possible murder are being investigated, once Bigger is fingered as the culprit, the newspapers say the incident is "possibly a sex crime" (228).

Desperation is the characteristic Wright uses throughout the novel to draw sympathy for Bigger. A killer with a calculated plan for evading punishment would be viewed more negatively than Bigger, a confused young man desperately seeking a means of escape. His first poor decision after Mary's death is to burn her in the Dalton furnace. The vile and outrageous course of action taken by Bigger impresses upon the reader the complete disarray of his thoughts. Readers observe the absence of careful thought as Bigger jumps out the Dalton's window, urinating on himself, and as he frantically rushes from building to building, searching for shelter. However, Wright also includes actions that seem irreproachable despite Bigger's state of mind. His brutal murder of Bessie, the only character willing to help him, angers the reader. It is at that point that Bigger seems most immoral, but Wright again shows Bigger's helplessness. Wright contrasts the "insistent and demanding" (219) desire that encourages Bigger to force intercourse with Bessie with the desperation that causes him to kill her. Even in the most immoral of acts, Wright finds a way to accentuate the difference between actions borne of depravity and those borne of desperation.. The ultimate desperation and hopeless nature of Bigger's future as the book closes and the death sentence is imposed leaves the reader

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Approximate Word count = 920
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English