Term Paper on "Native Son -- Marxism and Existentialism"

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In essence, Wright suggests that in the persona of Bigger, White society creates its own 'monster' -- that of the Black man in search of White women, by forcing Bigger to live in constant fear and suspicion of being desirous of White women. Yet, society offers few avenues of employment for Black men, other than employment as servants in White homes. Later, the lawyer's defense of Bigger Thomas in Native Son suggests not only was Bigger not at fault, but the crime was virtually inevitable, given the nature of the societal pressures Bigger was forced to live by, essentially making his defense case on the grounds of criminal causation -- society, not the man caused the enactment of the crime. This class-based defense of Bigger's case, although it does not win Bigger freedom, was one that Wright himself found persuasive at the time, on a personal level.

However, later Wright was to break with the American Communist party, a break that perhaps can be seen in the machinations of the defense attorney himself, as the man's language in the courtroom and rhetorical strategies prove ineffectual in saving Bigger. But before his break occurred in 1944, as voiced in a public essay, in the 1930s Wright's project in Native Son was evidently to try to commit his highly personal art to political engagement, willingly blurring the line between "art" & "propaganda." (Railton, 2005) the needs of Black men like Thomas in the political here and now were thus explicitly contrasted between the spiritual and ineffectual comfort given by the priest before Bigger was about to die. The type of comfort given by Bigger's Marxist, radical defense attorney it might be argued, at least attempts to set his client free, unlike the priest who merely comforts him and prepares Bigger for death.

Thus, Wright's novel defines the Communist Party more positively against the ideology of Christianity as a faith. The Reverend Hammond gives Bigger a cross and tells him that the meaning of his life is to be found in the Biblical story of humanity's Fall and Jesus' Atonement. The priest makes no mention of the suffering of Bigger before Bigger Thomas even knew the woman he is alleged to have murdered, or of the fall of White men from grace, in their prejudiced attitudes. This, Wright implies, is a crucial failing of Christianity, as environed in America of his day. (Wright, 1940, p. 333)

In contrast, when the communist Jan forgives Bigger,… READ MORE