Peripety - Native Son by Richard Wright

The turning point

Up to the turning point, everything has played out just the way Bigger has wanted. No one is suspecting him as the culprit during the investigation of the disappearance of Mary Dalton. He has moreover persuaded Bessie to act as his accomplice in his further, audacious bilking plan, as the Daltons are pleading for their beloved daughter to return safely and therefore are accepting the fabricated Communist ransom note. The ongoing event of Mary Dalton's unknown whereabouts has led to plenty of media coverage regarding the topic.

   And thus comes the point when society gains the upper hand - a journalist suddenly tries to empty the ash bin beneath the very same furnace that has incinerated the body of the missing subject. Bits of bones and remnants of Mary's jewelry reveal the true identity of the abductor and murderer of an innocent, white girl. As Bigger realizes that he has been exposed, he abruptly takes to flight and deserts the Dalton residence, in order to take shelter together with Bessie, whom he later murders violently because of fear of being apprehended.

   This is the point where the tables are turned due to a couple of reasons. Firstly, the situation and safety of the actual perpetrator of the crime - Bigger - turns from his advantage to his disadvantage. Secondly, the newspapers and the authorities go from reporting Communists as suspects to point out Bigger as the guilty one of this atrocious murder, which essentially results in the rest of the black society being even further bullied and blighted by the white authorities.

The ending

Bigger is eventually captured and put into jail after an extreme attempt of evading the manhunt. During Bigger's final stand, the masses of people and the press shouts out racial invectives and hence it is implied that the guilt is not solely Bigger's, but the whole "Negro" community's. Furthermore, the public comes across the premise that Bigger must have raped his victim before callously murdered her, even though they don't possess any proof of the calumny.

   During confinement, Bigger spends his days remaining silent, communicating only briefly with his folks and friends. Jan, still bewildered of his girlfriend's demise but understanding of Bigger's racial situations, visits Bigger in jail and forgives him. Jan additionally appoints him a defense counsel, the Communist representative Boris A. Max, to defend Bigger in court. Bigger and Max get along unusually well, and for the first time in his life, Bigger views a white person as an equal individual.

   Max exerts himself on Bigger's behalf and gives an effortful speech in the courtroom, hoping for the court to spare Bigger's life at least. He argues that the killings themselves of Mary and Bessie was committed by Bigger; however, the reasons, the intentions, the answers to the question "Why did Bigger Thomas kill?" were invoked in him by the racism and oppression from the public in the present time era. He accosts the Dalton family for being hypocritical, because they consider themselves to be philanthropic by economically supporting the black community while they are simultaneously encouraging the racial segregation of black and white people, by refusing to rent housings outside the designated Negro districts to black people. Max's speech in total is essentially a summary of all the narrated emotions and line of thoughts that Bigger has experienced during the whole book. Tragically, Max's efforts are in vain when Bigger is sentenced to death.

   During the last few pages of Native Son, before his death penalty is carried out, Bigger acknowledges  to Max that he accepts his fate, and confesses that he has realized he didn't want to kill but rather had to, and that would make his actions good. He finishes their conversation by asking Max to tell "Jan" hello, instead of "Mr Erlone", indicating that, though briefly before his execution, he finally sees even him as his equal.

The message

I believe the main purpose delivered in the book Native Son is to outline an image of the black people's sentiments toward a deleteriously racist society of 30's America. The manner that this image is conveyed is the narration of Bigger's thoughts and opinions towards different instances in the society, such as professions, family, specific city areas. It further claims that the present structure of racial inequality and injustice leads to people like Bigger being brought up and committing unprovoked and appalling crimes. By indicating that even these people have the capacity to change their state of mind, just like Bigger did during his very final moments in life, Native Son underscores the need of a revolt in the unjust society where its story takes place. This theory is supported by the fact that this book was written in 1940, and might therefore act as a tool to gain people's interest and engagement into more liberal or social political movements.

The title

In his speech, Max delivers his view of Bigger's actions and argues that they were predetermined by the society, who has embodied the consequences of racism and oppression in Bigger. Bigger is consequently a "Native Son"; his characteristics are formed by the race-oppressing American culture and society of the 30's, and he, as a black person, is born to be the killer he is about to become.