Bigger Thomas: From Naturalistic Victim To Existential Hero

Without question, Richard Wright' Native Son is the milestone of Black American Literature. In most people's eyes, Bigger Thomas is the victim of American racial system. However, with profound study, Bigger Thomas not only is a victim but he developed himself constantly from a victim to a hero. First, this novel is a typical Bildungsroman by analyzing the structure and typical images in every scenes. The protagonist experienced procedure of self-development, rather than a flat character of black American. Second, I further to study the motivation of the protagonist's development by analyzing the setting. He interacted with the outward environment and became mature. From initial instinctive rebel to the brutal situation, to transcending the control of society, he turned out to be not only a hero of black society, but an universally existential hero.