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

Symbols the root word 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 workoutd to fancy demolition, faith and living in a white run world.In the first book, readers are introduced to the rat. big 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 remainder, bigs murder streak starts. In the sorry death of the rat, the sickish deaths of bloody shame Dalton and Bessie Mears are foreshadowed. Marys death- while not gruesome at first- whence turns suddenly violent when larger sawed the blade into the pulp and sent the blade of the hatchet into the bone of the throat (92). Though Mary initially died by suffocation, her head being chopped off is as disturbing as the death of the rat. However, Bessies death was terrifying from the start. Bessie was murder in the mo st atrocious manner. 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 however she is murdered at the hands of Bigger out of fear. Wrights use of the rat as a symbol shows how death is a horrific event in life.Wrights use of the cross helps readers recognize faith. after Bigger is arrested, he is soon visited by his mothers preacher, grand Hammond. The reverend visits Bigger in an attempt to convince him that he moldiness have faith in God. After praying for Bigger, Reverend Hammond draws from his pocket a wooden cross with a chain upon it (286). The Reverend then displace 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 th is time it is in a negative light. As Bigger exits the Dalton home, he sees a looming burning cross (337). Bigger then questions if white raft wanted him to screw 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).