Discussion Questions for Native Son by Richard Wright

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR NATIVE SON BY RICHARD WRIGHT

1. Is Bigger Thomas a character we are supposed to pity or sympathize with? How does the brutality of his acts a ﬀect y our f eelings t oward him?

2. What eﬀect does the author create with the opening scene? How does this enhance your knowledge of Big ger's lif e? Wha t e ﬀect, if an y, does the black r at add?

3. Was Mary's death an accident or murder? Does Bigger act "smart" in how he aempts to conceal it? Does he ha ve an y other r eal w ay he c ould ha ve g oen out of the situa on?

4. Is what Bigger does to Bessie worse than what he does to Mary? Do you think he will be tried for his crimes ag ainst Bessie?

5. Is Bigger's trial a fair one? How does racism aﬀect the judicial process in the book? What role does the media pla y in de termining "jus ce"?

6. What role does blindness play in the story? Is there anyone other than Mrs. Dalton that you would sa y is blind?

7. Much of the story is very monochromac - Wright describes characters and objects as black or white in man y scenes. Ho w does it a ﬀect y our r eading of the s tory?

8. Why does Max choose the line of defense that he does? What are his goals? How does he try to implic ate Mr . Dalt on as a c ontributor t o the crime?

9. Why does the pr eacher a empt t o bring Big ger closer t o God and wh y does he f ail?

10. Has Bigger changed at all by the end of the book? Is there anything to admire about him? Does the author intend for us to relate to Bigger as a human or has he made him an embodiment of social and polic al f orces?

11. Does the book seem dated in its depicon of racism? Have we moved beyond the rage and hoslity that exists between whites and blacks in the book? Could our culture sll produce a ﬁgure lik e Big ger Thomas?

Quesons from Gappers Block

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