Native Son Essay Example
English III AP
February 10, 2011
Native Son Essay
Sympathy is an important aspect of human nature. Without it, the entire human race would be overcome with tyrants;however, it is also a major downfall of society. Sometimes, people undeserving of the sympathy of others still attain it unjustly. This is the case of Bigger Thomas in Richard Wright's Native Son. Although some may argue that it was merely his response to the conditions in which he lived, Bigger does not deserve the sympathy those people give him because all colored people were oppressed, he had people supporting him, and he was clearly violent from the start and enjoyed the kill.
First, in the time period in which Bigger lived, all black people were living in the same oppressive conditions, but they did not all lash out in socially and morally unacceptable behavior like he did. For example, the city in which Bigger lived, Chicago, is huge. There were at least hundreds of others living in similar, if not worse, conditions to those in which Bigger and his family lived. What did they do? They toughed it out, dealt with it, worked hard, did what they could, and did it all without sawing a girl's head off and blaming it on a man that loved her. In addition, some actually overcame the obstacles set forth, such as the Dalton's previous chauffeur, Green, who went to night school. As a result, he acquired a government job. Why did Green go to night school? Mrs. Dalton gave him the opportunity and pushed him to reach his potential out of her concern for the less fortunate (Wright 56).
Moreover, Mrs. Dalton wanted to give Bigger the chance to further his education through night school, like Green. Bigger had people, like Mrs. Dalton, supporting him, which was a luxury many colored people probably did not possess. Mr. Dalton was “a supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,” (Wright 55). Young Miss Mary Dalton also wished to help Bigger, along with her friend, Jan. They were
February 10, 2011
Native Son Essay
Sympathy is an important aspect of human nature. Without it, the entire human race would be overcome with tyrants;however, it is also a major downfall of society. Sometimes, people undeserving of the sympathy of others still attain it unjustly. This is the case of Bigger Thomas in Richard Wright's Native Son. Although some may argue that it was merely his response to the conditions in which he lived, Bigger does not deserve the sympathy those people give him because all colored people were oppressed, he had people supporting him, and he was clearly violent from the start and enjoyed the kill.
First, in the time period in which Bigger lived, all black people were living in the same oppressive conditions, but they did not all lash out in socially and morally unacceptable behavior like he did. For example, the city in which Bigger lived, Chicago, is huge. There were at least hundreds of others living in similar, if not worse, conditions to those in which Bigger and his family lived. What did they do? They toughed it out, dealt with it, worked hard, did what they could, and did it all without sawing a girl's head off and blaming it on a man that loved her. In addition, some actually overcame the obstacles set forth, such as the Dalton's previous chauffeur, Green, who went to night school. As a result, he acquired a government job. Why did Green go to night school? Mrs. Dalton gave him the opportunity and pushed him to reach his potential out of her concern for the less fortunate (Wright 56).
Moreover, Mrs. Dalton wanted to give Bigger the chance to further his education through night school, like Green. Bigger had people, like Mrs. Dalton, supporting him, which was a luxury many colored people probably did not possess. Mr. Dalton was “a supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,” (Wright 55). Young Miss Mary Dalton also wished to help Bigger, along with her friend, Jan. They were