America and Discrimination
America is one of the countries where cases of discrimination have raised a lot of concern over the years. When the author writes about the story; Native Son, these issues are pervasive with the American Negros minority group being affected.
The Miserable Life of Bigger Thomas
The story on Bigger Thomas is a perfect reflection of a society that is filled with poverty and racism. The scene starts by screams where bigger is awakened by the shouts from her mother and sister. The overgrown rat that causes alarm is prowling around the room when Bigger comes, and before they strike it dead, it tears a gash in Bigger's pants. In this case, the author reflects on the miserable life experienced by the family and most importantly, Bigger who is the protagonist in the story. The society should work towards fighting poverty and racism.
Racism and Poverty
In the story, racism and poverty go hand in hand. The rat is a symbolic representation of poverty and the associated conditions. Recent research by the UN shows that poverty is closely linked to racism which in return generates harmful attitudes and practices. As a result, the racial and ethnic minority groups are subjected to harsh conditions where they cannot meet their primary needs. Lack of education, inadequate housing, healthcare among other facilities subjects' individuals to stress and lack of confidence in oneself to fight poverty. In the story, Bigger gets a new job, but it does not meet his dreams to become an aviator. He can pay for a small room for residents, but the income is not enough to sustain his family back at home. He becomes hopeless, and his future is buried. The writer reflects on the cruel denial of individuality which in return makes one hopeless and less visionary about the future.
The Symbolic Rat and Bigger's Life
The rat is also used symbolically to explain Bigger's life where he goes into the domestic sphere of the Dalton and gets killed the same way the rat gets into their household, and they kill it. Ma warns Bigger that if he lacks the confidence to smash the rat, it might end up cutting their veins. The warning implies on the broken relationships between the white and the black. If Bigger does not manage to kill the white, they might end up killing him. The case is an implication of the disasters that lie in cases of discrimination and hatred. Discrimination on ethnic grounds brings about low self-esteem and impacted social relationships.
Fear and its Effects
Similarly, the scene brings out the theme of fear and how it makes Bigger behave even in other life circumstances. The author explains that Bigger prefers not to think about his sense of fear. In this case, the fear ends up expressing itself against the people who offend him at different intervals. The primary reflected outcomes include violence and anger. When Gus reminds him of a situation that Bigger does not wish to recall, some form of hatred and violence occurs. The author addresses the failure of the black community to solve the issue of discrimination. The prevailing feeling of subjugation and inferiority should be cleared from people's minds to be able to fight poverty.
Conclusion
The scene of the rat in the Native son is used to reflect on the various aspects of life that people need to consider. The community should work towards fighting the fearful and racist society that leads to the hopeless existence of some individuals. The American culture should be changed to ensure a balanced lifestyle for all.
Work cited
Blair, Graeme. "Poverty and support for militant politics: Evidence from Pakistan." American Journal of Political Science 57.1 (2013): 30-48.
Chae, David H. "Discrimination, racial bias, and telomere length in African-American men." American journal of preventive medicine 46.2 (2014): 103-111.
Miller, Eugene E. Voice of a native son: The poetics of Richard Wright. University Press of Mississippi (2016): 34-73
