Who is the victim in a prejudiced civilization? The dominant group or the minority? "Native Son," a novel by Richard Wright, focuses on the effects of racism on the oppressors and the oppressed. It establishes that in an ethnically prejudiced society discrimination comes from everywhere, and most monumental occurrences only contribute to its decline. The story is set in Chicago in the 1930s. The protagonist of the narrative lives in a world of inferiority; in a society where he will never succeed or be able to live up its standards simply because he is black. The author exploits this theme of racism and allows the reader to identify with a way of life that they are unexposed to.
The protagonist and main character of the novel is Bigger Thomas. He is a twenty year old black man who lives in a cramped, rat- infested apartment with his family. From the beginning, we see his inadequacy through his home life and other actions. "A huge back rat squealed and leaped at Bigger's trouser-......
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Approximate Word Count: 1582
Approximate Pages: 7 (260 words per double-spaced page) |