The Line Between Fiction and Truth in Native Son

Understanding the intricate relationship between fiction and reality in Richard Wright's Native Son is essential for grasping the profound societal impact of the novel. Wright's life experiences, particularly during the Great Depression and in the Chicago black ghetto, significantly influenced his writing. He was deeply affected by the oppressive conditions surrounding him, which he articulated as, "they keep us bottled up here like wild animals" (Wright 249). This sentiment is crucial for comprehending the motivations behind his main character, Bigger Thomas, and the brutal circumstances that lead him to commit murder.

The Struggles of Bigger Thomas

Bigger's character embodies the struggles faced by many African Americans during Wright's time. He is "thrown by an accidental murder into a position where he had sensed a possible order and meaning in his relations with the people about him; having accepted moral guilt and responsibility for that murder because it had made him feel free for the first time in his life" (Wright 274). This paradox illustrates how Bigger's act of violence becomes a means of liberation, akin to how literature served as an escape for Wright himself. Harold T. McCarthy notes that literature allowed Wright to transform into "a person wholly different from the being predicated in his environment" (99). Through Bigger, Wright channels his own frustrations and desires for freedom, leading to the tragic conclusion of murder.

Motivation Behind the Violence

The freedom Bigger experiences through his violent actions reflects a desperate attempt to rise above his oppressive circumstances. Robert Butler highlights that "Bigger was modeled in certain ways on five black men from [Wright's] childhood and adolescence in Mississippi who were rebellious lawbreakers whom he both admired and feared" (555). Although Wright himself was not inclined toward violence, he sought to express his discontent through literature, creating a character who ultimately resorts to murder. This complex interplay between fiction and reality underscores the emotional depth of Wright's narrative.

Historical Context and Real-Life Parallels

Wright's intention was not merely to craft a fictional narrative about a black man seeking freedom in a racially unjust world. Instead, he grounded Native Son in "public," historically verifiable events that provided the novel with an authority and resonance it otherwise would not have possessed (Butler 563). An example of this is found in the dialogue between Bessie and Bigger, where they reference the infamous Loeb and Leopold case:

• "You remember hearing people talk about Loeb and Leopold."
• "Oh!"
• "The ones who killed the boy and then tried to get money from the boy's family..." (Wright 136)

By alluding to this notorious case, Wright draws a parallel between Bigger and the wealthy white boys, Loeb and Leopold, suggesting that the issues of violence and moral decay transcend race and class. Butler elaborates that "just as Loeb and Leopold had committed what most people at the time believed was a horrible new crime, Bigger is presented by Wright as a new kind of literary figure whose story illustrates in a bold and lucid way the central problems of American history and modern culture" (Butler 559).

Comparative Legal Strategies

Examining the legal strategies employed in both cases further illuminates the societal implications of Native Son. Butler notes that both Max, Bigger's communist defense attorney, and Darrow, the lawyer for Loeb and Leopold, based their defenses on deterministic arguments. They posited that the crimes committed were products of unhealthy social environments that distorted their clients emotionally and stunted their human development (Butler 557). Max argues:

But to him it was not murder. If it was murder, then what was the motive... there was no motive as you and I understand motives within the scope of our laws today. The truth is, this boy did not kill... what Bigger Thomas did... was but a tiny aspect of what he had been doing all his life long! He was living, only as he knew how, and as we have forced him to live. (Wright 400)

This defense strategy resonates with Darrow's arguments, where he claimed his clients acted as "mentally diseased young men mechanically driven by misshapen social impulses" (Butler 558). The inclusion of real-life events enhances the narrative's impact, making it resonate more profoundly than a purely fictional case would.

The Shared Humanity in Violence

While the focus of Bigger's story may appear to center on the plight of the oppressed black man, a broader commentary emerges when comparing his situation to that of Loeb and Leopold. These boys, despite their vastly different backgrounds, share a commonality with Bigger in their experiences of alienation and dehumanization. Butler asserts that "Wright makes an important point about capitalism in America, namely that it corrupted and alienated all levels of society, regardless of race and class" (Butler 561). This assertion indicates that the roots of violence and despair are not confined to one race but permeate society as a whole.

Wright's Broader Message

Although one might initially perceive Wright's objective as a critique of racism, his insights extend beyond racial boundaries. He illustrates that "terrifying violence and anarchy... knew no racial or national limits but infected society on all levels" (Butler 562). Max's reflections on the nature of hatred further elucidate this point:

Bigger, the people who hate you feel just as you feel, only they're on the other side of the fence. You're black, but that's only part of it... But deep down in them they feel like you feel, Bigger, and in order to keep what they've got, they make themselves believe that men who work are not quite human... (Wright 428)

This dialogue emphasizes the shared struggles of humanity across racial divides, reinforcing the idea that Bigger's narrative speaks to a universal experience of oppression and violence.

Conclusion

Wright's integration of real-life events into Native Son allows him to tackle a myriad of social issues with a greater impact. As a Marxist, he believed that the American social environment was detrimental to everyone, but as a black man, he conveyed an even stronger message through Bigger Thomas. While Wright's narrative is rooted in the specific experiences of African Americans, it ultimately serves as a cautionary tale for all. The story of Bigger is a reflection of a society grappling with its own moral decay, and it invites readers to confront the harsh realities of their environment.

Works Cited

Butler, Robert. "The Loeb and Leopold Case: A Neglected Source for Richard Wright's Native Son." African American Review 39 (2006): 555-567.

McCarthy, Harold T. "Richard Wright: The Expatriate as Native Son." American Literature 44 (1972): 97-117.

Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005.