Native Son

## Discussion Questions: *Native Son* by Richard Wright 1. **Bigger Thomas's Identity & Society:** How does the environment in which Bigger Thomas grows up influence his self-identity? To what degree is his identity shaped by systemic racism, poverty, and fear, rather than his own choices? 2. **Fear and Violence:** Wright presents fear as the key emotion driving Bigger's actions. In what ways does fear serve as both a means of survival and a source of destruction throughout the novel? Do you think Bigger's violent actions are unavoidable given his situation? 3. **The "White Gaze":** How do the white characters in the novel — especially the Daltons — view Bigger, and how does their view contrast with his true self? What message does Wright convey about the risks of willful ignorance and liberal guilt? 4. **Boris Max's Defense:** In his courtroom address, Bigger's lawyer Max claims that American society is on trial. Do you find his argument persuasive? What are the strengths and weaknesses of using Bigger's case to symbolize systemic injustice? 5. **Humanity and Dehumanization:** Throughout the novel, Bigger grapples with his sense of humanity. Are there moments that indicate Bigger reaches a level of humanity or self-awareness? What does Wright suggest are the conditions required for human dignity? 6. **Complicity and Responsibility:** How does Wright allocate moral responsibility among the characters — Bigger, the Daltons, Jan, Max, and society as a whole? Is there any one character or institution that bears the most blame for the tragedy that occurs? 7. **Naturalism and Free Will:** *Native Son* is often seen as a naturalist novel, implying that environment shapes fate. Do you agree that Bigger lacks true freedom of choice, or does the novel allow for some agency and resistance? 8. **Relevance Today:** In what ways do the themes of *Native Son* — such as racial inequality, systemic oppression, and the criminalization of Black men — continue to resonate in modern society? What has changed, and what remains the same?

ap_lit · ap_lang · common_core_ela · ib_english

## Discussion Questions: *Native Son* by Richard Wright 1. **Bigger Thomas's Identity & Society** — How does the 1930s Chicago environment influence Bigger Thomas's sense of self? To what degree is his identity shaped by systemic racism and poverty instead of individual choice? 2. **Fear and Violence** — Wright suggests that fear drives Bigger's violent actions. Do you agree that fear, not hatred or malice, is his main motivator? What does this reveal about the society that shaped him? 3. **The "White Gaze"** — How do the white characters, especially the Daltons, view Bigger, and how does being seen through a racial lens impact his behavior and self-image? What critique is Wright making about liberal white philanthropy? 4. **Fate vs. Free Will** — Does Bigger truly exercise free will, or is he always constrained by his circumstances? Identify specific moments in the text where he appears to make real choices and assess whether those choices are genuinely free. 5. **Boris Max's Courtroom Speech** — Max argues that Bigger is a product of American society and that executing him won't resolve racial injustice. Do you find this argument convincing? Why or why not? How does Bigger react to Max's defense? 6. **Symbolism of Flight** — The theme of flight (airplanes, birds, escape) recurs throughout the novel. What does flight symbolize for Bigger, and why is it important that he can only watch others fly? 7. **Complicity and Guilt** — Wright holds all of American society accountable for Bigger's fate. Do you think collective guilt is a significant idea? Who, if anyone, should be morally responsible for Bigger's actions? 8. **Legacy and Relevance** — Published in 1940, *Native Son* was considered groundbreaking. In what ways does the novel still resonate with current issues of race, policing, poverty, and systemic inequality in America?

ap_lit · ap_lang · common_core_ela · ib_english

## Discussion Questions: *Native Son* by Richard Wright 1. **Bigger Thomas and Identity** — How does Bigger Thomas's understanding of his identity evolve throughout the novel? In what ways does his surroundings influence who he becomes, and how much personal agency does he really have? 2. **Fear and Violence** — Wright implies that Bigger's violent actions are rooted in a lifetime of fear and oppression. Do you believe fear is the fundamental cause of Bigger's behavior? What does this suggest about the link between systemic racism and individual actions? 3. **The "White Gaze"** — How do the white characters in the novel view Bigger, and how does being constantly seen through a racial lens impact his mindset and decisions? 4. **Max's Courtroom Speech** — Boris Max claims that society shares the blame for the crimes, not just Bigger. How convincing do you find his argument? Does the novel seem to support or challenge this perspective? 5. **Sympathy and Moral Complexity** — Wright intentionally crafts Bigger as a challenging character to empathize with. What might have motivated him to make this choice? How does this impact the reader's connection with the novel's social commentary? 6. **The American Dream** — In what ways does *Native Son* critique or overturn the conventional narrative of the American Dream? What does the novel imply about who is able to pursue that dream? 7. **Naturalism and Determinism** — *Native Son* is frequently categorized as a work of literary naturalism. How does Wright portray setting, circumstances, and social influences to indicate that Bigger's destiny is mostly predetermined? Are there moments in the novel where you think Bigger could have made a different choice?

ap_lit · ap_lang · common_core_ela · ib_english