Richard Wright: Native Son

Richard WrightNative Son

1908-1960 Born in Mississippi Mother was well educated and his father

was illiterate Wright rebelled against religious discipline Became a member of the Communist Party

in 1934 Began writing for the Communist Party and

later ventured to write his own novels

Uncle Tom’s Children (1938) Native Son (1940) Black Boy (Autobiography on his youth,

1945) The Outsiders (1953) Eight Men (1960) American Hunger (Autobiography on his

involvement in the Communist Party, 1977)

Bigger Thomas is a poor, uneducated, twenty-year-old black man in 1930s Chicago.

He has grown up under the climate of harsh racial prejudice in America.

In need of money, he takes a job with a white man named Mr. Dalton.

During his first 24 hours of employment Bigger murders Mr. Dalton’s daughter Mary.

As a result, Bigger goes on the run and encounters more problems.

Ultimately Bigger is sentenced to death in prison and comes to his own self-awareness, even if no one else understands him.

Fear Stereotyping Self-worth/Self-consciousness Shame Blindness Numbness Hopelessness Society Driven Escape

What is the basis for Bigger’s fear? Bigger has a large chip on his shoulder in

regard to race. How do you think this chip has contributed to his life as a criminal, which eventually leads to murder?

What do the Communist undertones represent in terms of theme?

How does Wright’s life parallel Bigger’s?

The Mississippi Writer's Page: Richard Wright

Native Son Lyrics