Racial Protest in Wright's Native Son

Abstract

The present study on Richard Wright's Native Son tries to analyze the protest of a black hero in a white-dominated society. Bigger Thomas, as an individual metaphor of color, advocates such protest against racial segregation which is the cause of hostility and violence in the society. Bigger's protest takes a violent form. His feeling of self realization of his identity comes into existence giving him the glimpse of two folds sensations. Something he creates himself, something the racist society creates for him. He murders a white and a black girl. But he gets punishment only for the murder of a white girl. So Max, the lawyer of Bigger, appeals to the court to recognize how and why Bigger murders and also appeals to change the laws. He helps Bigger morally and also proves that the corrupt and devil society turns Bigger into inhuman. But Bigger rejects his status granted by whites and realize his self identity. He needs no more helps from others so he accept the death thinking if he is not allowed to live as a man, it is his right to die as a man. His act of killing is the act of his identity-creation because the vicious murder of Mary makes the whites taste the fruit of oppression and feel them how bitter is the fruit of oppression. Thus, the problem is: Who is responsible for the crime? This research justifies that the racist society which creates such a hostile situation of rebellion is more responsible. The belief of superior and inferior on the basis of color makes him rebellious. The compulsion of living with no economical, social and political equality makes Bigger to protest. His spirit wants to blot out all racial attitudes and their unbearable consequences. Protest becomes a means and a necessity for him. Bigger's racial protest is the consequence of racial practices of domination, discrimination and segregation.