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Stereotypes In Richard Wright's Native Son

632 Words3 Pages

“Native Son”, by Richard Wright, is set during the 1930s, a time where all black people had to fight for their rights and were seen as inferior to white people. Bigger Thomas, the story’s protagonist, is a troubled young black man trying to make something better of his life, but his dreams are ripped away from him because of his dangerous and troublesome lifestyle. Bigger is consumed with fear over white people because racism has limited him of life changing opportunities, and has placed his family in a poor community with little to no aspiration for change. Bigger is ashamed of his family’s situation and dreads the control white people have over him. This fear makes him angry and violent, which causes Bigger to take actions that are accurate with the stereotypes established by a racist society. …show more content…

During the day, Bigger is hoping to land a job, as a chauffeur, with a wealthy white man. He goes to the Dalton’s house and gets the job as Mary’s, the disobedient daughter, chauffeur. He rapidly feels uncomfortable and is worried she’ll make him lose his job. His first task is to drive her to meet with her boyfriend, Jan Erlone. They drive around and try to be nice with him, but it makes Bigger feel ashamed that he is black. That night Bigger takes Mary, who is passed out drunk, up to her room and her blind mom is passing by, so he puts a pillow over her head in order to silence Mary. He suffocates her to death. Bigger cuts Mary into pieces and throws her remains in the furnace. Eventually, they find out it was him and he is sentenced to death, via the electric

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