Saturday, March 8, 2014

In Native Son, how does Wright attract symapthy for Bigger?

Wright takes the social conditions faced by African-
Americans and internalizes them in the character of Bigger.  In some respects, Wright's
depiction is the logical extension of Langston Hughes' ideas in his poem, "Dream
Deferred."  As Hughes poses the problem, Wright seems to be positing an answer to it. 
The last line of the poem, "Or does it explode?" seems to be the poetic representation
of Bigger.  Wright is able to draw sympathy for Bigger because of the manner in which he
depicts the world in which Bigger lives.  Being the victim to constant manipulation from
Whites as well as being confronted with the lack of opportunity to do anything
productive, Wright suggests that Bigger has only crime as a realistic option.  Wright is
smart enough to be able to counter the "opportunity ideology" that would suggest hard
work and dedication can make life better for people of color.  Wright seems to be
arguing, through Bigger, that the continued inability or unwillingness of White society
to remedy the inner cities will be disastrous for both people of color and the cultural
majority.  Wright believes that "if society and government fail to address the
horrendous living conditions of black Americans, then society would be responsible for
the resulting violence."  In this light, sympathy is evoked for Bigger and while we
recognize that he is responsible for murder and acts of violence, something that Wright
does not excuse, we understand that there are sociological factors that have to be
examined in such a predicament.

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