Native Son

The novel, Native Son, takes place in South Side of Chicago during the 1930s. Bigger Thomas resides in a one-room apartment with his mother and two younger siblings. They are living in the “Black Belt”, otherwise known as the ghetto that is predominately made up of underprivileged African Americans. With this, said living locality and circumstances were by far not tranquil or satisfying for a family of four in Chicago. Contributing to these difficulties, tenants, such as Bigger’s family, did not have much of a verdict as to where to live, especially since they could not afford much. At the time, African Americans had no other alternative, but to live on the South Side in non-white communities, paying twice as much rent as white families and for less capacity.

These limitations affect Bigger tremendously emotionally. He begins to create a resilient outer shell that no one can see through when in reality he feels humiliated and shameful for not being able to support his family. With this lack of self-righteousness and everlasting feelings of failure, he becomes less motivated to get a job and starts to grow a pessimistic perspective on the white civilization. Bigger feels as if he would receive no esteem and linger to live in poverty if he were to take on the job, thus not being able to provide for his family. During Bigger’s interview with Mrs. Dalton, he began to feel dignified. “The difference in his feelings toward Mrs. Dalton and his mother was that he felt that his mother wanted him to do the things she wanted him to do and he felt that Mrs. Dalton wanted him to do the things she felt that he should have wanted to do.” Mrs. Dalton made him feel honored for the work he does and help him want to do good things for himself and his family as opposed to doing things just to do them.

The people who are in charge of these just unjust rules, such as Mr. Dalton, portray more of a negative persona. Many Negroes believed Caucasians treated African Americans with disesteem. In Book One, Bigger savagely states, “You crook…You let whoever pays you off win!” After reading this sign that made Bigger state this accusation, Bigger concluded that the white workers had no yearning to let the Negroes succeed and make money as the Caucasians did. This made Bigger not appreciate or want to work under people like Mr. Dalton. Later on in the book, Bigger goes to a movie and begins to think otherwise. He gains a new perspective for Caucasians and the Daltons. There is a possibility he could accomplish the tasks required for his job, earn respect and make good money because of the help he received from the Daltons.