Native Son | Native Son

At a glance:

Author: Richard Wright
First Published: 1940
Type of Work: Novel
Type of Plot: Social realism
Time of Work: 1930’s
Setting: An American city
Principal Characters: Bigger Thomas, Mr. Dalton, Mrs. Dalton, Mary Dalton, Jan Erlone, Britten, Bessie Mears, Buckley, Boris A. Max
Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
Subjects: African Americans, Justice, Self-discovery, United States or Americans, Communism or communists, Politics, Racism, Murder or homicide, Midwest, Antiheroes, 1930’s, Poverty or poor people, Capital punishment, Trials, Law or legislation, Fear, Fate or fatalism
Locales: Chicago, IL

The Story:

Bigger Thomas lived in a one-room apartment with his brother, sister, and mother. Always penniless, haunted by a pathological hatred of white people, driven by an indescribable urge to make others cringe before him, Bigger had retreated into an imaginary world of fantasy.

Through the aid of a relief agency, he obtained employment as a chauffeur for a wealthy family. His first assignment was to drive Mary Dalton, his employer’s daughter, to the university. Mary, however, was on her way to meet Jan Erlone, her sweetheart. The three of them, Mary and...

Native Son | Native Son

At a glance:

The Story:

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