Symbols: The Essential Element :: Literary Analysis, Native Son

Symbols the basis of all literary works. Without symbols books become boring and lifeless. Symbols assist the reader in discovering a deeper meaning. In Richard Wrights novel, Native Son, symbols are used to show stopping point, faith and living in a white run world.In the first book, readers are introduced to the rat. large is shown attempting to destroy the rat. When the rat is deceased, he appears as a flat black body with two yellow tusks (6). With this death, larges murder streak starts. In the gruesome death of the rat, the ghastly deaths of Mary Dalton and Bessie Mears are foreshadowed. Marys death- while not gruesome at first- then turns suddenly violent when Bigger sawed the blade into the flesh and sent the blade of the hatchet into the bone of the throat (92). Though Mary initially died by suffocation, her head being chopped dispatch is as disturbing as the death of the rat. However, Bessies death was terrifying from the start. Bessie was hit in the most atrocious man ner. Bessie is not only raped, but bludgeoned to death by Bigger lifting the brick again and again (237). Bessies appalling death is the worst of all the deaths. Bessie appears to have done nothing wrong yet she is murdered at the hands of Bigger out of fear. Wrights use of the rat as a symbol shows how death is a horrendous event in life.Wrights use of the cross helps readers recognize faith. After Bigger is arrested, he is soon visited by his mothers preacher, Reverend Hammond. The reverend visits Bigger in an attempt to convince him that he must have faith in God. After praying for Bigger, Reverend Hammond draws from his pocket a wooden cross with a train upon it (286). The Reverend then placed it around Biggers neck where it hangs next to the skin of Biggers chest (286). The cross presented to Bigger is Hammonds attempt at forcing Bigger to believe and hope for something better. The cross is once again seen when Bigger is leaving the Dalton home, yet this time it is in a detri mental light. As Bigger exits the Dalton home, he sees a looming burning cross (337). Bigger then questions if white hoi polloi wanted him to love Jesus too (337). It is not until people are yelling at him that this is a cross of hate, not love and faith. When Bigger returns to the van he grips the cross and snatches it from his throat (338).