Richard Wright

 Native Son

Richard Wright

About The Author

Living from 1908 to 1960, Richard Wright wrote controversial novels focusing on the plight of African Americans in an attempt to change race relations in the 20th century.  

About Native Son

In a novel about how racial segregation and social constructs prevent education and advancement in society can negatively affect the psychological development of African Americans, Richard Wright twists the social problems seen in the early 20th century to create an example that exploits the fears of white people.  Incapable of finding any other work and needing to feed his family, Bigger Thomas is forced to take a job as a driver for an upper class white family.  In an unfortunate turn of events, Bigger is forced to carry their intoxicated daughter to her room, and in fear of being discovered accidentally suffocates and murders her.  Playing on white Americans fear of the "savage" and "rapist" black man, Wright shows how racism and segregation leave Bigger Thomas no other choice than to become what it is whites fear the most and is a product of society.

Discussion Question 1

The disturbing quote, "The head hung limply on the newspapers, the curly black hair dragging about in blood. He whacked harder, but the head would not come off. . . . He saw a hatchet. Yes! That would do it. . . .", at the end of Book One goes in to gruesome detail about how Bigger is forced to decapitate Mary after smothering her in order to dispose of her body. What is Wright's purpose in making this passage so disturbing, and how does this effect Bigger's character as a whole? How has Wright used Bigger to show what racism can force a person to do?

Discussion Question 2

Florence Castle
Victim of Robert Nixon

The following quote is also from Book One, and describes Bigger's feelings in regards to his new job as Dalton's chauffeur; "Was what he had heard about rich white people really true? Was he going to work for people like you saw in the movies...? He looked at Trader Horn unfold and saw pictures of naked black men and women whirling in wild dances...". How does this quote and the rest of the scene in which Bigger is watching the movie, portray Bigger's relationship, or lack of relationship with white people?

Fact 1

Apparently, Wright based parts of Native Son on the arrest, trial and execution of Robert Nixon and his series of "brick bat murders" in both Los Angeles and Chicago.



A trailer for the 1986 film adaptation can be found here.  Another film adaptation starring Richard Wright can be viewed below.