The Characters of Native Son
The Characters of Native SonRichard Wright’s novel, Native Son, consists of various main and supporting characters to deliver an effective array of expression. Each character’s actions define their individual personalities and beliefs. The main character, Bigger Thomas, has personality traits spanning various aspects of human nature, including actions motivated by fear, quick temper, and a high degree of intelligence. Bigger, whom the novel revolves around, portrays various personality elements through his actions.
Many of his action suggest an overriding response to fear, which stems from his exposure to a harsh social climate in which a clear line between acceptable behavior for white’s and black’s exists. His swift anger and his destructive impulses that stem from that fear and become apparent in the opening scene when he fiercely attacks a huge rat. The same murderous impulse appears when his secret dread of the robbery drives him to commit a vicious assault on his friend Gus. Bigger commits both of the brutal murders not in rage or anger, but as a reaction to fear. His typical fear stems from being caught in the act of doing something socially unacceptable and being the subject of punishment. Although he later admits to Max that Mary Dalton’s behavior toward him made him hate her, it is not that hate which causes him to smother her to death, but a feeble attempt to evade the detection of her mother. The fear of being caught with a white woman overwhelmed his common sense and dictated his actions. When he attempted to murder Bessie, his motivation came from intense fear of the consequences of letting her live. Bigger realized that he could not take Bessie with him or leave her behind and concluded that killing her could provide her only “merciful” end.
The emotional forces that drive Bigger are transmitted by means other than his words. Besides reactions to fear, his actions demonstrate an extremely quick temper and destructive impulse as a basic part of his nature. Rage plays an important part in his basic nature, but does not directly motivate the murders he commits. Rage does not affect Bigger’s intelligence and quick thinking and it becomes evident during the interview with Briton. The detective makes Bigger so angry that the interrogation becomes a game to Bigger, a game of logic and wills, of playing the stupid negro, and telling the man exactly what he wants to hear. The game Bigger plays during the interrogation shows his great intelligence and ability to think quickly on his feet. Bigger also displayed his intelligence in the creation of the ransom note. Also, using the situation to his advantage, Bigger wrote a ransom note to extort Mary’s parents for money. To make the note even more convincing and to dissuade blame from himself, Bigger signs the note with the communist symbol of a hammer and sickle.
Although the book revolves around Bigger and his negative actions, as well as their results, he possesses few good qualities, which neutralize his horrendous actions, making him an anti-hero. He possesses the violent tendencies to commit rape, extortion of the dead girl’s parents, robbing, and killing innocent people. These traits do not portray a simple victim of circumstance, but a habitual criminal acting out against a society. While Bigger dominates the story, his appalling actions make him a man that the reader can not look upon as a hero. In fact, the author punishes the anti-hero character by condemning him to death for his crimes.
One of the two most sympathetic characterizations of white persons in the novel comes from the character of Jan Erlone, Mary Dalton’s friend. He exhibits an enthusiastic personality and represents an idealistic young organizer for the Communist party. Mary’s parents and their servant Peggy distrust his motives. Bigger initially expresses a distaste for “reds” when responding to Jan’s friendly advances during their first meeting. While receiving distrust from those around him, Jan retains a simple belief in the equality for all men, regardless of social class or race. Throughout Jan’s first meeting with Bigger, he regards him with the utmost respect. During the course of the night, Jan sits in the front of the car with Bigger, eats with him, drinks with him, and speaks to him as an equal. Those actions of equality portray more than a decent man; it shows that Jan’s character possesses a strong sense of morality and tolerance. Jan is also characterized by other heroic traits, forgiveness and understanding. As an interesting twist of fate, Jan gets Bigger an attorney, and demonstrates that he could forgive Bigger for implicating him for Mary’s “kidnapping.”
The second sympathetic white character, Boris A. Max, portrays the Communist lawyer whom Jan brings to help Bigger. Max’s legal knowledge and his mastery of tactics are constantly in evidence. By taking Bigger’s case, Max shows two aspects of his nature; charity and a need to defend the oppressed. By accepting the task of Bigger’s defense, he makes it painfully clear that his true intent originates from a desire to protect the image of the communist party. That passion does not adversely affect his skill and he diligently works to protect his client from injustice. The moment Bigger accepts Max’s offer to represent him, Max protects his client’s interests and insists upon his rights. Max constantly demonstrates his intelligence, in his pursuit of justice and a fair trial for his client Bigger Thomas.
The members of the Dalton family represent the naiveté of whites to the realities of social oppression. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton attempt to correct their wrongs by donating to various black charities. They create a boy’s club, donate Ping-Pong tables and various other impractical items. In doing so, they do not make any personal sacrifices and give only minimal personal involvement to the cause. They have not developed a genuine understanding of the economic and social conditions of the black people. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton are naive about their lack of impact on the social and economic situations of the blacks that they attempt to help. The author does not make them callous or bigoted. Their daughter, the wild twenty-one year old Mary Dalton, lacks the refinement of her parents. She wants to treat others as equals, but her actions make Bigger uncomfortable and he grows to resent her for her actions.
Bigger’s family and Bessie Mears represent, the “beaten” negros. They have all accepted that their lives will never have the possibility for improvement. They feel doomed to remain in the pits of the slums. A lost outlook on life represents Bessie’s most outstanding personality trait. Through her self-awareness, she repeats in multiple references that she exists as a “lost” soul. Bessie’s circumstances prevent her from going any farther in her life. She briefly escapes with the use of alcohol which Bigger provides her in exchange for “love.” An aura of death surrounds her even before Bigger murders her. Like Bessie, Bigger’s mother appears trapped on a one way street going nowhere.
Bigger, his family, and Bessie all feel the affects of separatism and oppression. Richard Wright believes in the immorality of oppression. He uses his book as a tool to vent his frustration, at the world that segregates negros, as well are personify various emotions and beliefs the human heart is capable of. His characters, themes, and conflicts probably originate from his own experience of separatism. By using such a wide range of characters, he gives the readers who are not black an insight into the horrifically desperate situations that many poor blacks experience.