Native Son
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In Native Son, there are many examples of excess that lead to the self-destruction of individuals. The first form of excess comes in the form of oppression against blacks by white who have an excess of power reinforced by social institutions (law enforcement, education, religion) designed to grant it to them. The second form of excess is the level of self-destruction that is engendered in the oppressed because of their inferior position in the face of excessive power in the hands of their oppressors. Thus, there is a boomerang effect created by excess. The whites who have an excess of power are able to oppress blacks until they have an excessive need for self-destruction because of their inferior position to whites—a position reinforced by excessive white power. Wright uses characterization and symbolism to underscore his theme of how American institutionalized oppression of blacks creates, through its excess, human tragedy for those oppressed. However, the novel is not an attempt to merit our sympathy or empathy for the condition of repressed blacks, on the contrary it is an illustration of how the nihilistic attitude (an “excess” of self-defeatism) of blacks like Bigger Thomas is the direct result of white repression of non-white cultures and identities. In other words, Bigger’s only option is death (an excessive reaction) because the society which has created him has left him nothing to care about that he may c
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cidentally kills her, but he tries to silence her because he knows no one will believe the story of a black man, particularly when it comes to the stereotypical notion perpetrated by whites that all black men love to rape and kill white women. Such excessive racism promotes excessive paranoia and fear on behalf of blacks which keeps them from being truthful when they know the truth will not be believed in light of excessive stereotypes and preformed perceptions. As such, Bigger is even more isolated and the misunderstanding surrounding him becomes even more excessive. This is why not even his lawyer understands his motivations or true nature. In a final excessive bid for identity formation, Bigger cries, “Max did not even know!” (Wright 49). This shows Bigger how excessive and pervasive are the misunderstanding that surround him in a racist society.
Bigger does have options. However, other than violence and self-destruction the only route he sees blacks around him adopt is one of escaping into some ideal or illusion. He feels the blacks around him excessively blind themselves to the true reality of their oppressed condition. He cannot understand his mother’s ability to fall back on religious beliefs because he sees it as
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2452
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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