Native Son Essay

Native Son Essay
Native Son, written by Richard Wright, is set in Chicago in the 1930s, during poverty and when racism was very high. During Bigger Thomas’s twenty years of life, he did not have anyone close to him until he met Boris Max. Max made a huge difference in Bigger’s life by helping Bigger see the world in a different way. Max and Bigger had not known each other very long, but their relationship helped each other in different ways.
Bigger Thomas was a poor, twenty year old African American who thought everyone was blind to him. Until, he met Boris Max, his lawyer in a brutal crime Bigger committed, Max was the first person to ever treat Bigger like a human being. Bigger says to Max, “You asked me questions nobody ever asked me before. You knew that I was a murderer two times over, but you treated me like a man.” (Page 424) This made Bigger feel comfortable and he told his story about his life and the crime he committed for the first time. He felt the closest to Max than anyone else in his life because Max would listen and understand him.
The relationship between Max and Bigger helps Bigger realize that a white man and black man can be friends. If he would have realized this earlier on maybe things would of ended up different for Bigger. Max made Bigger realize how much he really wanted to live, but he also helps Bigger find himself before he is executed. Max tells Bigger, “Bigger, you’re going to die. And if you die, die free. You’re trying to believe in yourself. And every time you try to find a way to live, your own mind stands in the way.” (Page 427)
Max and Bigger’s relationship helps Max have better understanding of African Americans. He sees Bigger’s crime in a positive way to help the world stop racism. Although almost no one else sees it that way, he still fights for Bigger, even if his life is in jeopardy. Bigger tells Max, “They don’t even let you feel what you want to feel. They after you so hot and hard you can...