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Nathan Paul's Reviews > Native Son
Native Son
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While I realize some of the things that Wright is trying to say in this book, I could not bring myself to enjoy it at all. One of the main reasons was because I simply detested the main character, Bigger Thomas. The reason I disliked him so much was not because he is amoral; no, there are characters in books I like who are quite evil. The reason I disliked him is because he did things that were completely pointless and he was also not a very deep or interesting character. This book also dragged on far too long (in my opinion), and never gave the reader much reason to sympathize with the main character. Main characters do not have to be "good guys", of course, but they should at least be interesting! There was nothing about Bigger that made me curious to know why he became the type of person he was. Of course, this book does have a good message (in some ways) about how racism can damage people both directly and indirectly. However, I think Wright should have created a more complex protagonist that the readers could have at least understood in some way.
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Finished Reading
January 30, 2010
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Val
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 29, 2014 08:35PM
I actually believe that Wright intentionally made Bigger less complex because he was supposed to be representative of a product of a system. The reason why Bigger does the things that he does is because the mental stress and social stigma of being a black man in America make him act the way that he does. In response to you calling him amoral and a bad person, Wright addresses that when Bigger's lawyer, Boris Max, makes the point that he isn't really amoral, he is fated to do what he does because of systemic racism in the United States.
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I actually believe that Wright intentionally made Bigger less complex because he was supposed to be representative of a product of a system. The reason why Bigger does the things that he does is because the mental stress and social stigma of being a black man in America make him act the way that he does. In response to you calling him amoral and a bad person, Wright addresses that when Bigger's lawyer, Boris Max, makes the point that he isn't really amoral, he is fated to do what he does because of systemic racism in the United States.
Regardless, Wright makes it extremely clear that Bigger's actions while terrible, are caused by the systemic moral degradation of American racism. If you think that's not true then your obviously have no business sharing your opinions on this work.
I completely disagree, Val, and I disagree with Wright's implication that society alone was responsible. If Boris Max were correct, isn't it odd that his client was the first and only one to commit such atrocious crimes, not just against the oppressive class, but on his very own girlfriend? Contrary to the above review, I found Bigger completely amoral and not particularly intelligent. We could debate this until the end of time, but it's fair to agree to disagree. I'm responding to your previous comment, that someone has "no business sharing [his/her] opinions on this work." Sounds kind of familiar, huh Jan?
couldn't agree more. I hated this book. It made me sick to my stomache
I want to add that Bigger seems to be simple minded but the character is actually very complex. He's reflective and although acts instinctively, he always seeks a kind of meaning in his and others' action. The character is intellectually more curious and more "woke" really than most commenters in this thread.
Have you read the "foreword"? Because I know it helped me follow allow this rather unsympathetic character. He was purposefully made simplistic and rather detestable, to evade the common tropes of the tender beast. Though Wright struggled himself with accomplishing such the feat, he saw it as a necessary in illustrating the realities in the U.S at the times.
What also made me follow along is the tantalizing prospect of redeem in him. You know, from reading the blurb and the "foreword", not to expect much of him, but you can't help it, for situations almost thrust him into that tender, sappy spot. You stick along, wanting to know, just how his personality will unfolds.
Also, like Jin said, he is paradoxically complex, while being simple at the same time. Many times while I reading, I couldn't fathom just how deep a thinker he was...only to scheme, devise, contemplate vile things.
What also made me follow along is the tantalizing prospect of redeem in him. You know, from reading the blurb and the "foreword", not to expect much of him, but you can't help it, for situations almost thrust him into that tender, sappy spot. You stick along, wanting to know, just how his personality will unfolds.
Also, like Jin said, he is paradoxically complex, while being simple at the same time. Many times while I reading, I couldn't fathom just how deep a thinker he was...only to scheme, devise, contemplate vile things.
