This study will compare Oroonoko in Aphra Behn's Oroonoko and Bigger Thomas in Richard Wright's Native Son, focusing on the authors' views and their conception of the characters in relation to racism. The study will argue that both authors have created courageous and defiant black men determined to resist racism with any means necessary, although Behn has also created a black man designed to show that blacks are and/or can be more civilized, more humane than the white people who claim to be the representatives of civilization and society.
Behn plays the role of narrator as well as character in her novel. The purpose of her work is to try to convince the reader that Oroonoko, the so-called "Royal Slave" is not the frightening and savage creature which Europeans fear he is, but is instead more civilized than the Europeans themselves. Behn, however, goes even further in trying to turn ideas about racism inside-out. The Christian Europeans, she suggests, in her depiction of the encounters between them and Oroonoko, are the true savages, and this situation is made clear by comparing them to the "Royal Slave," who is shown capable of being humane and civilized even when not treated the same by whites.
Bigger Thomas in Wright's novel stands in contrast to Oroonoko in terms of their responses to the world and particularly white society. Both characters meet white racism with defiance and violence, but Oroonoko meets it with civility and nobility as well, which suggests that Behn is saying that if any human being is oppressed enough, he will sooner or later fight back, but this does not mean that in his heart and soul he does not remain more humane than his oppressors.
There is an important point at which Oroonoko and Bigger meet. Both men represent what can be seen as an effort to maintain their sense of self, worth, respect and dignity in a world which would deny them all those values. Both try to do so with defiance and violenc...