Fear

Fear. A word so small yet has one of the biggest effects in our lives. The way we go about our days is practically shaped by fear and the things we miss out on to avoid fear. We make decisions in our lives trying to dodge the feeling of fear. Whether it's asking for a specials someone's number or missing a huge opportunity, it happens to us all. In the novel Native Son by Richard Wright , the main character Bigger lives in constant fear. Biggers everyday life is heavily influenced by the fear that has been put on him by society. The expectations and requirements forced into his life has had a huge impact on him. Being a colored person in this time period, it wasn't rare to see a black man living life trying to avoid trouble. Not only was it an issue back in the day, people around the world today still deal with racial consciousness. Its aware to Bigger that he is disadvantaged because of the color of his skin. For this his ignorance leads him to despise the white race. The author states, “ We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we ain't. They do things and we can't.” (24). Even though he despises the white race, there is an underlying admiration for them. He admires the freedom, money and opportunities they have. He knew if he was in their shoes he wouldn't have to worry about a thing even if it was just for a day.                                                                               

Bigger is a character that isn't meant to be favored however but he is. The dialect and realism Wright is able to display throughout book one about Biggers life makes the reader admire and pity him. He's a miserable man who lives in a one room apartment with his mother sister and younger brother. They are constantly on him about being the man of the house and to be a better person. His poverty stricken life has caused him to commit crimes in order to feel some sort of relief. Wright makes it clear that he wasn't always a violent individual. However his environment and lifestyle that has caused him to act foolishly. Society affects his everyday life and move and this eventually gets the best of biggers emotions.  

Coming up with ideas to escape his poverty stricken life is where most of the suspense is built. The events taking place makes it difficult for the reader to put the book down. The language and imagery used makes the reader feel like they are there at the moment. Especially when Bigger was stuffing Mary's body into the furnace. You could really feel the anxiety and fear of someone accidentally walking in and catching him in the act. The trembling of his hands and his nervous movements creeps through the words and becomes a movie in the reader's mind. It keeps the reader wondering whats bound to happen next and what will happen to Bigger.