Lessons Of Bigger’s Tragedy

Richard Wright discloses the social conflicts and darkness and protests against the oppression that whites impose upon the African Americans in his writings, making him one of the representatives of "protest novels" in American left literature during the 1930s to 1940s. As the most influential novel of Wright, Native Son has always been regarded as the classic of "protest novels". Wright’s reflection on the African-American culture, however, is seldom noticed.This thesis tries to analyze Wright’s examination of the African-American culture with close reading from the angle of culture by pointing out the inevitability of Bigger’s death. It is divided into six chapters.Chapter one is the general introduction. It firstly gives a brief introduction to Wright’s concern for the African Americans and culture and then moves to critical reviews both at home and abroad. The last part presents the originality and organization of this thesis. From chapter two on, is the main body of the thesis in which Wright gives an account of the positive sides of white culture:the unity within white group; the harmonious relations between family members and some of the white intellectuals are sympathetic to the African Americans, which provides a possibility for changing the reality. In contrast with white culture, chapter three discusses the flaws of the African-American culture. The fragile relations within the African-American group are revealed by disclosing the distorted relations between family members, friends and even lovers. Moreover, the loss of morality is clearly shown by Bigger and his gang’s robbing their kinsmen. When confronting the reality, they either seek solace by turning to violence like Bigger, or quest redemption by consulting religion like Mrs. Thomas, or benumb themselves by drowning in alcohol and sex like Bessie. Wright highlights the flaws of the African-American culture by this sharp contrast. Concerning the flaws of the African-American culture, he elucidates four reasons. The debilitating mentality of the African-American people themselves is the fundamental reason; meantime, the failed communication between the African Americans and whites makes the African Americans repel the essence of white culture; furthermore, the opportunity of self-correction is denied by the deprivation of higher education for them; lastly, with the influence of mass media, the majority of the African Americans abandon their great culture while adopting the mode of thoughts and behaviors like their white counterparts. Wright’s greatness lies not in his ability to present the social problem, but in offering solutions to it. Therefore, in chapter five it explores the solutions provided to solve social discrimination and segregation for which the joint efforts by both the African Americans and whites need to be undertaken. The last chapter is the conclusion to emphasize Wright’s examination of the African-American culture in Native Son rather than simply scourge American system.This thesis aims to enrich the study of Native Son and in some degree, bringing some enlightenment for the establishment of a harmonious international community.