Notes of a Native Son
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Preface to the 1984 Edition Autobiographical Notes Everybody’s Protest Novel Many Thousands Gone Carmen Jones: The Dark is Light Enough The Harlem Ghetto Journey to Atlanta Notes of a Native Son Encounter on the Seine: Black Meets Brown A Question of Identity Equal in Paris Stranger in the Village
Themes
All Themes Inheritance, Tradition, and Belonging Language, Narrative, and Truth Progress vs. Stagnation Prejudice, Dishonesty, and Delusion Intimacy vs. Hatred
Quotes
Characters
All Characters James Baldwin David Baldwin Sr. (Baldwin’s Father) David Baldwin Jr. American Tourist
Symbols
All Symbols The Church Paris
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Notes of a Native Son

by

James Baldwin

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Preface to the 1984 Edition
  • Autobiographical Notes
  • Everybody’s Protest Novel
  • Many Thousands Gone
  • Carmen Jones: The Dark is Light Enough
  • The Harlem Ghetto
  • Journey to Atlanta
  • Notes of a Native Son
  • Encounter on the Seine: Black Meets Brown
  • A Question of Identity
  • Equal in Paris
  • Stranger in the Village
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Inheritance, Tradition, and Belonging Theme Icon
    Inheritance, Tradition, and Belonging
  • Language, Narrative, and Truth Theme Icon
    Language, Narrative, and Truth
  • Progress vs. Stagnation Theme Icon
    Progress vs. Stagnation
  • Prejudice, Dishonesty, and Delusion Theme Icon
    Prejudice, Dishonesty, and Delusion
  • Intimacy vs. Hatred Theme Icon
    Intimacy vs. Hatred
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • James Baldwin
  • David Baldwin Sr. (Baldwin’s Father)
  • David Baldwin Jr.
  • American Tourist
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Church Symbol Icon
    The Church
  • Paris Symbol Icon
    Paris
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Notes of a Native Son Study Guide

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MLA

Seresin, Indiana. "Notes of a Native Son." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 6 Jun 2017. Web. 21 May 2025.


Chicago

Seresin, Indiana. "Notes of a Native Son." LitCharts LLC, June 6, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/notes-of-a-native-son.

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