native son essay prompts

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Discussion Questions

Native Son was written in 1940, but the issue of racism in the United States is still a major topic of discussion today. What do you think contemporary readers can learn about racism from reading this novel? In what ways is the novel still relevant? What doesn’t age well?

Research the history of communism and the way it was viewed in the United States during the Great Depression. Knowing that Richard Wright was a communist at the time he wrote the novel, in what ways is Native Son supporting communist ideals?

Read Richard Wright’s essay, “How Bigger Was Born.” How does the essay inform the novel? What does it clarify? What questions do you still have?

Some critics, including James Baldwin, argued that Richard Wright had written Bigger Thomas as a racial stereotype . Do you agree? Why or why not? How do you think that hurt or helped the novel’s purpose?

If Richard Wright was trying to write an anti-racist novel, why do you think he chose to make his protagonist guilty of such brutal crimes? How would you read the book differently if Bigger were falsely accused?

The motif of blindness is repeated throughout the book to refer to different characters. Who do you think is (metaphorically) blind in the novel? Which characters do you think open their eyes? Which ones refuse? Give specific details from the text.

The central argument of the novel is that although people are responsible for their actions, they are also a product of their environment. In what ways do you think Bigger was and wasn’t responsible for his actions? Who else is to blame?

If you were to continue the narrative within the world of the novel after Bigger’s death, which character would you choose as the new protagonist? Why? What do you think might happen in the sequel?

Research the state of Civil Rights in the 1930s, particularly in Chicago. How does the historical information you found inform the novel? What do you think prompted Wright to write it in the first place?

Read one of the novellas in Richard Wright’s 1938 collection, Uncle Tom’s Children . How is it different from Native Son in subject matter, perspective , and tone? How do you think readers are meant to respond differently to the novella as opposed to the novel? Which do you think is more effective and why?

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — Native Son

Essays on Native Son

Prompt examples for "native son" essays, bigger thomas as a tragic hero.

Analyze the character of Bigger Thomas as a tragic hero, considering his circumstances, choices, and the inevitable tragic outcome in the novel.

Racial Injustice and Social Commentary

Discuss how "Native Son" serves as a powerful social commentary on racial injustice, discrimination, and systemic racism in 1930s America.

The Impact of Poverty and Urban Life

Examine the influence of poverty and urban life on the characters' actions and motivations, and how these factors contribute to the unfolding of the narrative.

Bigger's Evolution as a Character

Trace the evolution of Bigger Thomas as a character throughout the novel, considering his psychological journey and changing perspectives.

Fear as a Motivating Force

Analyze the role of fear as a motivating force in Bigger's actions and decisions, and how it impacts the other characters in the story.

Symbolism in "Native Son"

Discuss the use of symbolism in the novel, including symbols like the rat, the apartment, and the snow, and their significance to the narrative.

Psychological and Societal Pressures

Examine the psychological and societal pressures that Bigger faces as a young black man in a racially divided society, and how these pressures shape his actions.

The Role of the Media

Discuss the portrayal of the media in "Native Son" and how it influences public opinion, further exacerbating the racial tensions in the story.

Comparative Analysis with Other Literary Works

Compare and contrast "Native Son" with other literary works that explore themes of race, identity, and social justice, highlighting similarities and differences.

Author's Message and Impact

Examine the author's intended message in "Native Son" and its impact on the reader's understanding of racial issues and the human condition.

Identity Construction in "Native Son" and "Invisible Man"

Representation of african american women in the novel native son, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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The Fear and Its Effect on Characters in Native Son

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The Role of Mary Dalton in Native Son

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Analysis of Native Son Through a Postcolonial Psychoanalytic Lens

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March 1, 1940

Richard Wright

African American literature, Social protest novel

Bigger Thomas, Mary Dalton, Henry Dalton, Henry Dalton, Jan Erlone, Gus, Jack Harding, G.H., Mr. Boris Max, Bessie Mears, Peggy, Buddy Thomas, Mrs. Thomas, Vera Thomas, Buckley, Britten

Relevant topics

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by Richard Wright

Native son study guide.

Native Son 's publication history is one of its most revelatory aspects. After several novel-projects had failed, Wright sold Native Son to Harper Publishers, netting a $400 advance. Published in 1940, Native Son became a selection of the Book-of-the-Month club. Ironically, some of the most candid commentary on racism and communism was censored from the novel in its publication for the Book-of-the-Month club. Perhaps more ironic is the fact that the novel was featured as a detective story; Wright's discussions about race and poverty were largely considered to be incidental at best, if not distracting, or worse. It was not until 1991 that Native Son was printed in its original form and literary critics and professors alike agreed that the substantial additions to the novel significantly enhanced its political and literary weight.

Some of the most notable additions can be found in the courtroom scenes of Book Three. While the outcome of the trial is no different, much of Boris A. Max 's Communist philosophy was restored. Similarly, there is more graphic detail of the violence of the racist white mob, now including an enhanced portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan. Finally, the restored details of Bigger's psychology support the idea that the inmate's final contemplation is spiritually transforming.

The censorship of Native Son speaks to the political context displayed in the novel. The array of racist, anti-Communists like Britten , the private investigator, and Buckley, the state prosecutor, reminds one of the political problems that Wright suffered in the "red scares" of McCarthy-era America. Similarly, the story of Bigger's family?their migration and poverty?provides the context of the Great Depression; but more specifically, Native Son focuses on the experiences of African-Americans and how economic disadvantages are so closely related to and entwined with political subjugation. In the novel, Wright essentially reports his findings, that racist Chicago is little better than the South and northern blacks are just as impoverished as their southern counterparts.

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Native Son Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Native Son is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Is Bigger Thomas a character we are supposed to pity or sympathize with? How does the brutality of his acts affect your feelings toward him?

This question calls for your opinion. There is no right or wrong answer.

Thoughts about Jan

First.... Jan Erlone is a young man, a communist, and the Mary Dalton's boyfriend. He is idealistic and naïve, but his orthodoxy and reliance upon images and "symbols" get in the way of his well-meaning attempts to produce a real change. Jan's...

Cite incidences of fear

Fear is everywhere through the book. Native Son is a violent novel that includes a rape, two murders, fights, and a manhunt. There are also allusions to Bigger's thoughts of violence: "He felt suddenly that he wanted something in his hand,...

Study Guide for Native Son

Native Son study guide contains a biography of Richard Wright, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

About Native Son
Native Son Summary
Character List
Book One Summary and Analysis

Essays for Native Son

Native Son literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Native Son.

Evaluation of Native Son by Richard Wright
The Fall from Light to Darkness: Spiritual Impoverishment and the Deadening of the Soul in Richard Wright's Native Son
Richard Wright's Native Son: Fiction or Truth?
Native Fear: Richard Wright’s Native Son
In Black and White: Native Son