The Unemancipated Soul: The Black Masculine Violence in Richard Wright’s Native Son

• Main Authors: Yun-tzu Hsu, 許雲慈
• Other Authors: Dr. E-Chou Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/22354893184859845863

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 外國文學所 === 98 === This thesis explores the Black masculine violence in Richard Wright’s Native Son. Chapter One examines how American slavery history affected the development of black males and how they survived under low economic status in the 1930s American society. How Bigger Thomas survived in a white society is the question. His violence becomes the only way for him to breathe. He puts on his mask and wavers between the two worlds. After he crosses the line into another world, he suddenly becomes a timid and weak chauffeur in Dalton’s house; however, he turns violent and fearless while living in black world. How much does “the invisible line” affect Bigger’s life? The major cause of Bigger’s double personality is to survive in the white world. All his sufferings result from the invisible pressure and endless racial discrimination. Chapter Two probes into the violence relationship between white and black people. Bigger’s violence is presented in Chapter One: Fear. Then he goes on the wrong track owing to the racial taboo, but his killing of Mary gives him a new conversion that he can challenge and conquer the fear of being a black male. The Black violence is mainly a physical one, but the White’s violence is mental and ideological, which means internalization. The white-dominated society gives a wrong idea that white race is superior to black. Wright especially presents Mr. Dalton’s hypocrisy, Britten’s deep-rooted hatred toward blacks, and Bigger’s being guilty of everything before he killed Mary. White invisible violence indeed affects blacks a lot. The “line” has severed the links between Whites and Blacks. Examining the relationship between the two races is a must.