Native Son

Detailed Summary & Analysis

Themes

All Themes Whiteness, Blackness, and Racism Capitalism and Communism Crime and Justice Anger and Charity Death, Life’s Purpose, and the Will to Live

Quotes

Characters

All Characters Bigger Thomas Buddy Thomas Mr. Dalton Mrs. Dalton Mary Dalton Jan Max Buckley Bessie The preacher Deputy coroner

Symbols

All Symbols The Furnace “Black Ape”

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Native Son

Richard Wright

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Introduction

Plot Summary

Detailed Summary
& Analysis

Book 1
Book 2
Book 3

Themes

All Themes
Whiteness, Blackness, and Racism
Capitalism and Communism
Crime and Justice
Anger and Charity
Death, Life’s Purpose, and the Will to Live

Quotes

Characters

All Characters
Bigger Thomas
Buddy Thomas
Mr. Dalton
Mrs. Dalton
Mary Dalton
Jan
Max
Buckley
Bessie
The preacher
Deputy coroner

Symbols

All Symbols
The Furnace
“Black Ape”

Theme Wheel

Native Son Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.

MLA

Schlegel, Chris. "Native Son." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 11 May 2014. Web. 13 Dec 2019.

Chicago

Schlegel, Chris. "Native Son." LitCharts LLC, May 11, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2019. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/native-son.

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