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Jealousy In Richard Wright's Native Son

1345 Words6 Pages

Throughout our lives we experience jealousy and envy, whether it’s for small or huge things we have all felt a want for what others have. Sometimes, we fight harder to get that thing and sometimes we just resign and force ourselves to be happy without it. In Richard Wright’s Native Son, Bigger is discriminated against and denied everything nearly everywhere he goes. All of his dreams and pursuits are blocked simply by the color of his skin, blocking his future and his happiness. Because of this Bigger reacts outwardly, fighting the only way he can against his environment. Bigger lives his life impulsively and uncontrollably as a way to strike back against the society and find small moments of happiness and freedom whenever he can. Bigger …show more content…

He had stolen Mary’s large bundle of money and was now using it to show off and purchase his friends cigarettes and alcohol. “‘Here, gimme another pack of cigarettes,’ he told the clerk. ‘This is for you, Jack. ‘Jesus you sure in clover, sure ‘nough.’ Jack said, glimpsing the thick rolls of bills… ‘Lemme have a dollar,’ Jack said. Bigger peeled off a dollar bill for each them… But he had to go, he could not stay here talking with them. He ordered three bottles of beer and picked up his suitcase.” Bigger again shows his indifference to responsibility as he blows his newfound riches on meaningless items to impress his friends. Instead of utilizing the money to run away or help his family he thinks in short term happiness, because that’s how he’s been taught to live all of his life. Bigger lives his whole life day to day because he realizes his dreams can never be accomplished and he has little to work towards. This is even more true after his murder of Mary, his life is even more short and at risk. Bigger realizes that he will soon get caught and he is spending the money recklessly in order to have some enjoyment and freedom from custom before he is caught or forced into constant

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Bigger hotly replies, blatantly shutting his mother down when she tries to bring his ignorance to his attention. Bigger himself even acknowledges the filth he lives in, but maintains his denial through his seeming lack of care, “he knew the moment he allowed what his life meant to enter fully into his consciousness, he would either kill himself or someone else” (14). Bigger seems to block anything unwanted from bothering him, which is a terrible form of denial as it just leads to the problems manifesting themselves in Biggers mind. Bigger’s suppression of the truth leads him to close off his mind and not even address the issue, which is a large reason why Bigger struggles with the issues he does later in the book. Richard Wright places hints as to who Bigger is behind the anger throughout the novel, and it shows that Bigger is in severe denial.

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