《土生子》中别格白色梦的解析

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学校代码：10270学号:122200349上善岬汔大爹硕士学位论文《土生子》中别格白色梦的解析学院：外国i吾学院专业：英i吾语言女学研究方向：英美文学研究生姓名：吴亚汆指导教师：P敏完成日期2015年6月 本论文经答辩委员会全体委员审查，确认符合上海师范大学硕（博）士学位论文质量要求。答辩委员会签名:主席（工作单位、职称）：委员: 论文独创性声明本论文是我个人在导师指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研究成果。论文中除了特别加以标注和致谢的地方外，不包含其他人或机构已经发表或撰写过的研究成果。其他同志对本研究的启发和所做的贡献均已在论文中做了明确的声明并表示了谢意。作者签名：‘日期：州》上论文使用授权声明本人完全了解上海师范大学有关保留、使用学位论文的规定，即：学校有权保留送交论文的复印件，允许论文被查阅和借阅；学校可以公布论文的全部或部分内容，可以采用影印、缩印或其它手段保存论文。保密的论文在解密后遵守此规定。作者签名‘导师签名：产I日期：^/x-r-r TheInterpretationofBigger’sWhiteDreaminNativeSonWuYayongSupervisor:LuMinAThesisSubmittedtoForeignLanguageCollegeShanghaiNormalUniversityInPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsforTheDegreeofMasterofArtsinEnglishLanguageandLiteratureJune2015 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsAbstractAbstractAstheforerunnerofthesecondBlackRenaissanceinAmerica,WrightopensanewchapterintheAfrican-AmericanliteraturewithhisrepresentativeworkNativeSonwhichisregardedasthewatershedoftheNegroprotestliterature.DeemedasthemilestoneoftheblackAmericanliterature,NativeSonexposesracialdiscriminationintheAmericansocietythroughrecountingthestoryofBiggerThomas.Asanativesonofracism-riddensociety,Biggerservestoshedlightonthepredicamentblackpeoplearetrappedinandthedisillusionmentofthewhitedream.Biggerwholivesinthecruelandmercilesssocietyembraceswhitedream.Massmediaisdedicatedtodehumanizingblacksandshowingoffwhites’wonderfullife.Thewholeblackraceishauntedbytheunfairtreatmentinlaws.MassmediaandtheunjustlawserveasthehotbedofBigger’swhitedreamwhichmainlyincludesBigger’sdreamofself-realizationandassertinghismanhood.AccordingtoFreud,thedreamisthefulfillmentofwishcherishedbyhumanbeingswhoseallactivitiesaredrivenbysexualenergy,libido.Duringthecourseoflibido,thechildatthegenitalstagewillhavethetendencyofindifferenceandrivalrywithhisfatherunderthecompellingoftheOedipuscomplex.Bigger’smanhooddreamistheoutcomeofthepsychicdrive,hisOedipuscomplex.TheracialsocietydenyingallthepossibilitiesofblackstofulfilltheirdreamsshouldbeanswerableforBigger’sdreamdisillusionment.Besides,BiggerhimselfoughtnottopinthehopeonhavingsexualrelationshipwithMary,thewhitegirl,toliveouthisdreamofenteringintothewhiteworld.MaryisprovedtobethefalsemediumofBiggertofulfillhisdream.Besides,theblindactionspracticedbytwoconflictingracesfrustratetherealizationofBigger’swhitedream.Blacks’swhitedreamisdoomedtofailundertheinteractionofinternalandexternalfactors.KeyWords:NativeSon;whitedream;Freud;racialdiscrimination;massmediaI 上海师范大学硕士学位论文摘要摘要作为第二次黑人文艺复兴的先驱，赖特凭借着其代表作《土生子》开启了非裔美国文学新的篇章。该著作开创了黑人抗议小说的先河，被视为美国黑人文学的里程碑。《土生子》通过讲述主人公别格的故事揭露了美国社会的种族歧视。作为种族主义社会的土生子，别格的故事揭示了黑人梦想破灭后陷入的窘境。置身于冷酷无情的社会中，别格却心怀白色梦想。大众媒体一方面将黑人妖魔化另一方面炫耀白人灿烂多姿的生活。整个黑人种族遭受社会法律的不公平的对待。这些都是孕育别格白色梦想的温床。别格的白色梦想包括他的自我实现之梦和阳刚之梦。根据弗洛伊德，梦是人类心愿实现的一种形式。人类所有的行为都受到性欲即力比多的驱使。在恋母情结的心理因素驱使下，儿童在性征期会出现对父亲冷漠甚至对抗的倾向。别格的阳刚之梦正是他恋母情结这一心理驱动因产生的结果。种族社会剥夺了黑人实现梦想的一切可能，这导致了别格梦想的破灭。加之，别格自身也不该将步入白色世界的梦想希望寄托在与白人女性玛丽发生性关系这一途径上。事实证明，玛丽不能帮助别格实现梦想。此外，黑白两个对立的群体所采取的一系列盲目活动也促使别格白色之梦的幻灭。总之，在内外因的相互作用下，黑人的白色之梦注定失败。关键词：《土生子》；白色梦想；弗洛伊德；种族歧视；大众媒体II ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsContentsContentsAbstract.....................................................................................................摘要........................................................................................................IIChapterOneIntroduction.........................................................................11.1ABriefSurveyofRichardWright...............................................11.2TheStructureofNativeSon.........................................................41.3CriticismsonNativeSon.............................................................6ChapterTwoPsychoanalyticTheoryofFreud........................................142.1TheDevelopmentofLibido.......................................................142.2FreudianDreamInterpretation...................................................17ChapterThreeTheSocialHotbedofBigger’sWhiteDream..................193.1TheMassMedia........................................................................193.1.1WhitePeople’sLifeintheScreen....................................203.1.2NewspaperDescriptionofBigger....................................213.2TheUnjustLaw.........................................................................223.2.1TheBlackBelt.................................................................223.2.2Bigger’s“If”....................................................................24ChapterFourTheEmbodimentofBigger’sWhiteDream.....................264.1Bigger’sDreamofSelf-Realization...........................................264.1.1TheGame“PlayWhite”...................................................274.1.2FlyingthePlane...............................................................284.1.3FailureinSelf-Realization...............................................29III ContentsShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArts4.2Bigger’sManhoodDream.........................................................304.2.1Bigger’sMotherFixation.................................................314.2.2Bigger’sIndifferencetoHisDeadFather.........................324.2.3Bigger’sFeelingstoOtherWomen..................................34ChapterFiveTheDisillusionmentofBigger’sWhiteDream.................365.1TheFalseMediumtoDream-Fulfillment..................................365.1.1MaryasaWhiteDream...................................................375.1.2MiscegenationLaws........................................................385.2BlindActionsoftheWhitesandtheBlacks...............................405.2.1BlindActionsoftheWhites.............................................415.2.2BlindActionsoftheBlacks..............................................43ChapterSixConclusion.........................................................................46Bibliography..........................................................................................47攻读学位期间取得的研究成果............................................................52Acknowledgements.................................................................................52IV ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneChapterOneIntroductionRichardWrighthasbeenwidelyacclaimedasthefatherofblackAmericanthliterature,holdingaprominentpositioninAmericanliterarycircleofthe20century.AsanAfricanAmerican,Wrightledatoughanddifficultlife,whichlaysanelementaryfoundationforhiscompositionofNativeSon.Thisnovelisacclaimedasthemilestoneoftheblackliterature,includingthreepartsas“Fear”,“Flight”and“Fate”.Numerouscriticshaveaccomplishedprofoundandinnovativeexplorationsofit.1.1ABriefSurveyofRichardWrightHailedasoneofthemostpreeminentAmericanblackwriters,RichardWrightenjoysinternationalandconsiderablefameintheliteraryfieldallovertheworld.HisgreatnessliesnotonlyinthecontributionhehasmadeinrevivingtheblackliteraturebutalsoinforcingtheWhitecommunitytorealizethemiserablelifeoftheBlacksinAmerica.Therefore,hisfictionmostlycentersontheBlackissues.WiththepenetratinganalysisofthesituationtheBlacksweretrappedintoandtherealisticpresentationofracialdiscriminationinAmericanhistory,WrightwieldssuchapowerfulinfluenceontheBlackwritersafterWorldWarII,suchasRalphEllison,JamesBaldwin,andToniMorrisonandsoon.Consequently,heishonoredasthefatherofAmericanblackliterature.InordertounderstandtheprofoundmeaningofRichardWright’sworks,itisessentialtoreviewthewholelifeexperienceofhim.WrightwasbornonSeptember4,1908onaplantationoutsideNatchezinMississippi.NathanWright,hisfather,wasanilliterateslavewhoservedontheplantationasasharecropper.Hismother,EllaWilson,wasacountryschoolteacherinearlydays.In1914,theWrightsmovedfromNatcheztoMemphiswheretheylivedanextremelypoorlife.Whatwasworse,NathanWrightabandonedhisfamilyandleftWrightsuchabrokenfamily,whichmadeWright’slife1 ChapterOneShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsmuchharder.Tosupportthefamily,hismotherdidmenialjobstomakemoney.Unfortunately,shegotseriousillnessin1915andhadtoentrustRichardandhislittlebrotherinanorphanageforsixweeks.Afterwards,theymovedtoElaine,ArkansasinsearchoftheshelterwhichcanbeprovidedbyhisAuntMaggieandUncleHoskins.Runningasaloonsuccessfully,thecoupleledawell-offlife.Therefore,Wrightcanfinallysatisfyhisbasicneedsforfoodtosurvive.OutofjealousyoftheHoskins’successinbusiness,theWhitesmurderedhisUncleHoskinsin1917.Lateron,theWrightsmigratedtoWestHelenawhereWrightlivedwithhisgrandparentsfromearly1920tolate1925.HisgrandmotherwassuchafaithfulreligiousdisciplethatshealwaysimposedreligiousbeliefonWright,butitturnedoutthatWrightheldahostileattitudetowardsreligion.HewasenrolledintheSeventh-dayAdventistSchoolin1920.Inthefollowingyear,hetransferredtotheJimHillPublicSchoolinwhichheachievedgreatattainmentsinstudy.In1923,WrightattendedtheSmith-RobinsonPublicSchool,fromwhichhegraduatedasvaledictorianin1925.Inspiteoflivinginthetoughenvironment,Wrightcomfortedhimselfbyreadingabundantlyandwritingaswell.Inotherwords,itwashisfondnessforliteraturethatsavedhimfromindulginginthepsychologicaltraumacausedbybrutaldiscriminationagainsttheBlacksintheSouth.ThemiserablesituationoftheBlacksservedastheinspirationalsourcefortheliterarycreationofWright.Owingtotheformaleducationhereceived,herealizedhisdreamofbecomingapublishedwriter.In1924,hepublishedashortstory“TheVoodooofHell’sHalfAcre”inablacknewspapernamedSouthernRegister.HemadealivinginMemphisfrom1925to1927byworkingatanopticalcompany.Bymeansofworkingasanassistantinthelibrary,WrightcouldborrowH.L.Mencken’sABookofPrefacesandPrejudiceandwaspowerfullyawakenedbyMencken’sdescriptionsoftheSouth.Hesensedthepoweroflanguageandthefightingforceofwords.Attheageof19,hewenttoChicagowherehedidvariousjobstoearnbreadforhimself.Heonceworkedasadeliveryboy,dishwasher,postofficeworkerandinsuranceagent.HenceheobtainedtheopportunitytovisittheBlacks’homes,whichwidenedhishorizonandenrichedthewritingmaterialforhisliteratureworks.2 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneHehadnochoicebuttoliveonreliefin1931whentheGreatDepressionbrokeout.In1932,hedevelopedhismembershipintheJohnReedClubsponsoredbyCommuniststolaunchrevolution.Hewaselectedassecretarywhomainlytookchargeoforganizinglectureseriesanddeliveringaspeech.Oneyearlater,heworkedintheMichaelReeseHospitalasanorderly.AfterWrightlostthisjobatthehospital,hetookanotherjobasasupervisorintheSouthSideBoys’ClubinChicago.ThatworkexperiencecontributedtoshapingthecharacterofBiggerThomasinNativeSon.Inthesameyear,WrightjoinedtheCommunistparty,whichhelpedhimtodevelophisintellecttoalargeextent.In1937,WrightmovedtoNewYorkandtookupthepositionofHarlemeditorfortheDailyWorker.Theyear1937wasanimportantturningpointinWright’slifebecausehewonthefirstprizeinthecontestsponsoredbyStorymagazine.Withthebonus,itwasmucheasierforhimtopublishhisworks.Asaresult,hepublishedUncleTom’sChildreninthefollowingyearwhichlaidapreliminaryfoundationforhisliterarystatusinAmerica.WrightlodgedwiththeSawyersfrom1937to1938.HedevelopedaromanticrelationshipwithMarionSawyer,thedaughterofMr.Sawyer.However,afterdiscoveringthatshecaughtsyphilis,WrightescapedfrommarryingherthoughMrs.SawyerhadannouncedtheengagementonMay22,1938.In1939,hemanagedtowinaGuggenheimFellowship.Meanwhile,inJulyofthatyear,hemarriedDhimahRoseMeadmanwhowasadanceteacher.Theirshortmarriagecametoanendfortheirlackofcommonalityandmutualunderstanding.AfterhisdivorcefromDhimah,hemarriedEllenPoplaronMarch12,1941andtheygavebirthtotwochildren:JuliaandRachel.InJanuary1947,WrightcamebacktoManhattanbutfailedtoadapttothelifeinAmerica.Compelledbytheintenseracism,hereturnedtoPariswithhiswifeanddaughtersandbeganhispermanentexilesince1947.Eventually,hediedofaheartattackattheageof52onNovember28,1960.Acceptedasaprolificwriter,RichardWrighthadproducedmanyinfluentialandexcellentworkswhichspokeouttheinnervoiceoftheBlacksincludingNativeSon(1940),12MillionBlackVoices(1942),BlackBoy(1945),TheOutsider(1953),BlackPower(1954),SavageHoliday(1954),TheColorCurtain:AReportontheBandung3 ChapterOneShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsConferenceandPaganSpain(1956)andTheLongDream(1958),amongwhichBlackBoyisanautobiographicalwritingofWright.Inaddition,hisfirstnovelLawdTodaywaspublishedposthumouslyin1963.RegardedasthemasterpieceofRichardWright,NativeSonhasearnedhimgoodreputationintheliteraryfield.Inadditiontoallnovelsmentionedabove,healsowrotesomerevolutionarypoemsasfollows:“IHaveSeenBlackHands”(1934),“WeoftheStreets”(1937),“RedLeavesofRedBooks”(1935),“BetweentheWorldandMe”(1935)andsoon.1.2TheStructureofNativeSonItiswidelybelievedthatNativeSonisthewatershedoftheNegroprotestliterature,establishingRichardWrightasoneoftheheroicfoundersofthemodernblackliteratureintheUnitedStates.NativeSonisperceivedasthemilestoneintheAmericanblackliteratureandalsothesignificanttransitionfromthepreviousblackliteraturetothenewperiodliterature.ThenovelwaspublishedonMarch1,1940andimmediatelyarousedmuchattentionamongliterarycriticsathomeandabroad.AccordingtoCarylPhillips(2000),“itwasthefirstnovelbyablackauthortobechosenfortheBook-of-the-MonthClub.Withinthefirstthreeweeksthebookhadsoldasensationalquarterofamillioncopies;withinfivemonthsithadsoldhalfamillioncopies”(xii).Obviously,itgainedmuchpopularityinAmericaandthusitsauthorplayedtheroleofthespokesmanfortheBlacks.NativeSonrecountedthestorythatBiggerThomaslivingintheshabbyapartmentwithhisfamilyinthesouthofChicagokilledawhitewomanandwassentencedtodeathtragicallyintheend.Asamatteroffact,suchastorywasbasedontherealcasethataNegronamedRobertNixonwasexecutedforcommittingasexcrimeagainstawhitewoman.Actually,twopeoplegotinvolvedintothecase:RobertNixonandEarlHicks.However,asKenethKinnamon(1960)pointedout,“Nixonwaschosenforspecialattack,perhapsbecausehewasdarkerandostensiblylessremorsefulthanHicks”(68).Inthissense,Nixonwasthecharacterarchetypeoftheprotagonist,BiggerThomas.NativeSonconsistedofthreepartsonthewhole:Fear,FlightandFate.4 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneInBookOne,Wrightchieflystatedhowthemurdercasetookplace.Sharingarat-infested,narrowandhumbleroom,theThomasfamilyhadnoprivacybetweenthem.Biggerandhisbrotherhadtoturnaroundwhentheirmotherandsistergotdressed.Hecarriedoutaplantorobawhitemanwithhisfriends,whichwasdifferentfromtheirpreviousrobberiesforitsoffendingthedominatepeople,theWhitesthistime.Finally,nearlytornbyfear,BiggerbeatGusinaviolentmanner,blaminghimforruiningtheplan.ItwasobviousthatviolencewastheonlywayemployedbyBiggertodealwithhishatredandfear.Inordertopullhisfamilyoutofpoverty,BiggerdecidedtoacceptthejobandworkedasachauffeurforMr.Dalton,arichwhitemanwhohaddonatedmorethanfivemilliondollarsascharityfundtoimprovethelifeoftheNegroes.MaryDalton,agirlwithcommunismideology,wastheonlydaughteroftheDaltons.ShewaseagertoknowthelifeofNegroesandtriedtogetalongwellwithBigger,butBiggerfeltasenseofbeinghumiliatedandcouldnotputupwithhisexposureofdarknessbeforewhiteness.Oneday,BiggerhadtocarrythedrunkenMarybacktoherbedroomatmidnight.SuddenlyMrs.Daltonappearedatthedoorwearingwhiteclothesjustlikeawhiteghost.Drivenbytheinstinctivefear,BiggersmotheredMarytodeathwithapillow.Morebrutally,hedismemberedthebodyandthrewthemintothefurnacetocoverhiscrime.Onthewhole,BookTwodescribedhowBiggerendeavoredtotransferhismurdertoJanforescapingpunishmentbutfailedandwasarrestedandjailedatlast.Inthebeginning,BiggermanagedtomisleadthepolicetoaffirmJanasthemurderofMaryandthenbroughtabouttheimprisonmentofJan.InterrogatedbyhisgirlfriendBessie,BiggertoldherthetruthandpersuadedhertocarryouttheplanofblackmailingtheDaltons.Lateron,Bigger’scrimewasexposedwhenanewsmandiscoveredanearringandcharredbonesofMary.Fromthenon,BiggersteppedontherunawayroadwithBessieandwashauntedbyendlessterroranduneasiness.ForBigger,Bessiehadturnedouttobetheburdenhehadtoshakeoff.Besides,hewasafraidofbeingbetrayedbyBessie,soherapedBessieandthensmashedhertodeathwithabrickcruelly.Intheend,Biggerwascaughtbythepolicemanandputintoprison.BookThreemainlyrevealedBigger’sawarenessofthesocietyinwhichtheblack5 ChapterOneShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtspeopleweredeprivedofhumanrightsbytheWhitestotally.Fallingintodespair,Biggerneitherateanythingnorspokeaword.Jandidn’tblameBiggerintheleast.Instead,heassistedhiminfindingacommunistlawyer,Max,todefendBiggerinthecourt.ThoughMaxarguedthattheracialdiscriminationandrightsexploitationshouldberesponsibleforthecrimeofBigger,hecouldn’tsaveBiggerfromthelegalpunishmentsystemcontrolledbytheWhitefolks.Nevertheless,thestatementsgivenbyMaxwokeBiggerupandhefinallyachievedthepsychologicalgrowth.Confrontedwithdeath,Bigger“smiledafaint,wry,bittersmile”(Wright,454).Such“afaint,wry,bittersmile”indicatedthatBiggerwascaughtbythefeelingsofpain,despairandisolation.Hehadsensedthedarknessofracialsocietybuthewasincapableofchangingit.Therefore,themixedfeelingsarousedinhisheartwerethemirrorofBigger’shumanityrecoveryandpsychologicalgrowth.1.3CriticismsonNativeSonAsthefatheroftheAfricanAmericanliterature,WrighthasrevealedtheevilsofracismintheAmericansocietythroughhisexcellentworks.NativeSonisacaseofpoint.ItreshapesthedevelopmentrouteoftheAfricanAmericanfictionandgainstheacclaimsandattentionsallovertheworld.Fromitspublicationin1940tillpresent,NativeSonhasevokedthemostvigorouscriticaldebateamongvariouscritics.Someofthemappreciateitssocialsignificanceandliteraryartistry,whilesomepointoutthedrawbacksandfaultsinthisnovel.Thereviewofthisnovelwillbeproducedcontinuouslyastimegoeson.Asadistinguishedworkwithgreatliteraryvalue,NativeSonalsobearstremendoussocialsignificance.JustasKenethKinnamon(1969)stated,“Inthefictionofsocialprotest,ofwhichRichardWright’sNativeSon(1940)issurelyanoutstandingexample”(66).IntheeyesofKinnamon(1997),“RichardWright’sNativeSon,publishedon1March1940,isnowwidelyrecognizedastheculminatingworkofthesociallyconsciousfictionoftheGreatDepressionandasthemostimportantwatershedinthehistoryofAfricanAmericanliterature”(1).6 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneDavidBritt(1967)heldthesameviewpointasthem.Hewroteinthearticle“NativeSon:WatershedofNegroProtestLiterature”that“Wrightisthearchprotester,followedbyhisbandofangrynovelists”(5).Inaddition,NativeSonchangedthevisionpatternoftheWhitesandtheBlackssincethewhiteandblackcommunitiesbegantovieweachotherfromanewperspective.SincethepublicationofNativeSon,theAmericanculturewaschangedtoalargedegree.AnewelementwasaddedintotheAmericanconsciousness.“Itboldlypresentedanewblackherowhowasradicallydifferentfromanyofhispredecessorsinformalliterature”.(Butler1991:8)Moreover,NativeSonprovidedanexceedinglyrealisticpictureoftheplightoftheimpoverishedblackpeopleinAmericanSouthforthefirsttime.Wrightlivedinsuchadarkworld,andthuscouldacquirethemostgenuineandoriginalmaterialforhisnovel.Althoughslaveryhadbeenabolished,theBlacksstillsufferedfromdeprivationanddiscrimination.“NativeSonisjustascrucialtoanunderstandingofhumannatureinthemidstofdirecircumstance”(Saunders1987:34).Thisnovelexertedanenormousinfluenceonotherblackwritersandthuscreated“theWrightSchool”fiction.AsButler(1991)notedasfollows:“ThroughoutthefortiesandearlyfiftiesyoungerblackwritersregardedWright’sNativeSonasaparadigmandmoldedtheirownworkalongthethematicandformallinesestablishedbyWright’smasterwork”(10).ConcerningBookThree“Fate”inthenovel,criticsembracedbothcomplimentaryandderogatoryopinions.Forexample,Kearns(1971)summarizedtheliteraturereviewofJohnReillyas“Reillycontinuesthetraditionofpayinghomagetothe‘Fear’and‘Flight’sectionsofthenovelfortheirpowerandaccuracyofvision,whilecriticizingthe‘Fate’sectionforitsflat,abstract,andpropagandisticqualities”(147).However,forKearnshimself,onthepremiseofadmittingtheflawofthispart,heappreciateditsrhetoricalqualitiesandconsidereditas“logicalandnecessaryextensionsofWright’sthematicstrategy”(155).Siegel(1974)gaveouthisunderstandingofMaxthatMaxwasneitheraCommunistpartymembernorarevolutionist.MaxpleadedtothejudgetosympathizewithBiggerand“breakthroughthepatternofhatredandrepression”(519).HeconsideredthatMax’s7 ChapterOneShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsspeechbroughtthethemesandimagestogetherandthispartwascloselyrelatedtotheprevioustwopartsratherthandetachedfromthem.Nowadays,itiswidespreadlyacclaimedthattheprotagonistBiggeremergesasanewblackhero.HavingbeengivenprofoundimplicationsbyRichardWright,Biggerisacharacterwhoisworthyofstudying.Consequently,manycriticsattachmuchsignificanceonexploringthecharacter.Wright(1940)onceacclaimedinthearticle“How‘Bigger’wasborn”,aself-writtenintroductiontoNativeSonhelpingusunderstandthecharacterBiggermoreprofoundly,that“HewasanAmerican,becausehewasanativeson”(19).BiggerwasanAmericanindividualistwhotriedhisutmosttocreatehimselfandhisworld.WrightmoldedsuchacreativefigurewhowasexactlythemirrorreflectingthefailureoftheAmericanlife.AsfarasJamesA.Miller(1986)concerned,Biggerwasanarticulatecharacter.EventhoughBiggerwassullen,brusqueandresentfultowardwhites,healsotriedtospeakouthisownvoiceintheblackcommunityheinhabited.Milleroncewrotethat“Bigger’squestforvoiceandaudienceisessentiallyother-directed,definedbyhisneedtostrugglewithexternallydetermineddefinitionsoftheself”(503).Furthermore,Bigger’sarticulationwasdrivenby“hisfascinationwiththewhiteworld”(ibid:504).CharlesDeArman(1978)heldthat“Biggerholdswithinhimselfthetensionbetweenthe‘symbolicNegro,’andtheembodimentoftheeffectsofracism,andthedesiretoberecognizedasadiscretehumanentity”(61).Biggerwasattemptingtofree“hissocial,composite,representative,symbolicself”thatwasembodiedintheoppressedblackmanforcreatinganew“particular,individual,discreteself”(64).BiggerThomascouldbedeemedasacharacterwithsplitpersonalitysincehismindwashalvedintotwoparts:therationalpartandtheemotionalpart.AsWrightdescribedinNativeSon,“ThereweretwoBiggers:onewasdeterminedtogetrestandsleepatanycost;andtheothershrankfromimageschargedwithterror”(283).Meanwhile,thedualityofBiggerwasinterpretedbyButler(1986)as“onetrappedbyenvironmentdeterminantsandtheotheraspiringtoabetterlifeandamorefullyrealizedself”(10).Subjectedtothewhiteforce—racialoppression,Bigger’s8 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneselfhoodwasdividedandalienated.Therefore,“Bigger’sidentitysplitsintotwoconflictedselves,anassertiveoneamongblacksandasubmissiveoneinfrontofwhites”(Takeuchi2009:56).AsforthecrimecommittedbyBigger,Brivic(1974)proposedtwodistinctiveexplanationsbasedondifferentlevels:ontherationallevel,Bigger’scrimewasforcedbythemonstrousoutsidecircumstanceandthushewasavictimofthesociety;ontheemotionallevel,thecrimerevealedtherebelliousspiritofBiggerandhebecameahero(234-238).Baldwin(1973)putforwardtheopinionthatthetwomurderscontributedtohisgainingthesensethathislifewasinvolvedwiththelivesofothersandhebelongedtoapartofahumancommunity.Inthepast,hefelthimselfaloneandisolatedfromhiscommunityandevenfamilyinhisdeepinnerheart.Biggerhadexperiencedthegrowthroutewiththedevelopmentoftheplotfromsubmissiontoawakeningandthentopsychicintegrity(378-383).MoreandmorecriticsdevotedtheirattentiontoreassessmentofthecraftsmanshipofWright.Forinstance,JoyceAnnJoyce(1982)statedthat“Wrightsuccessfullydemandstheattentionofhisreadersandmanipulatestheirsympathiesthroughdevices”(112),amongwhichwerealliteration,rhythm,balancedandcompoundsentencepatternandtheubiquitoususeofthewords“black”and“white”.WrightcandisplayBigger’sthoughtvividlyand“delineatetheemotionaleffectsoftheenvironmentonBigger’spsyche”(115)withhisskillfulwritingtactics.R.B.V.Larsen(1972)praisedWrighthadmanagedtotellthestoryofBiggerinaconvincingwayfromamultidimensionalpointofview.Larsengeneralizedthefourvoiceswhichcomposedthenarrationofthenovelasfollows:“first,thethird-personnarrator;second,theinarticulatevoiceofBiggerhimself;third,thebiasedvoiceofstateprosecutorBuckley;fourth,thehighlyarticulateandhumanvoiceofthelawyerBorisMax”(105).Thefourvoicesfromwhichthenovel’scompellingattractionderivedwerethemostpersuasiveproofsofWright’smastery.Besides,SterlingA.Brown(1940)gavehighlypraiseofthenarrationofthisnovel.Hedeclaredthat“Thenarrationdriveofthisnovelfromthekillingoftherat,throughthetwomurders,theflight,tothecaptureonthetenementroofisamazing”(54).9 ChapterOneShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsWithsuchauniquenarrativeskill,WrightprobedintothepsychologicalconsciousnessofthegroupexcludedfromtheAmericancivilizationinadeeperway.ItcanbeeasilyobservedthatNativeSonfilledwithviolencewhichwasmainlyembodiedinBigger’sphysicalviolence.Additionally,thenumbingindifferenceoftheDaltonswasalsoadestructiveviolencerevealedinthisnovel.InButler’sview,Wright“usesviolenceextensivelybutasanecessaryandpowerfulreflectorofthedeepestrecessesofitscentralcharacter’sradicallydividednature”(Butler1986:10).SomecriticscarriedoutcomparativestudiesbetweenNativeSonandotherliteraryworks.Brivic(1974)pointedoutthatWright’sNativeSonandDostoevsky’sCrimeandPunishmentsharedmanysimilarities.Bothprotagonistscommittwomurdersand“thereissomejustificationforthefirstmurder”(232).Thesplitpersonalityappearsinbothnovels.Moreimportantsimilarityis“inbothcasestheauthorusesthesecondmurdertoshowhowfarwrongtheprotagonisthasgonemorallyinassertinghismanhoodthroughmurder”(232).SterlingA.Brown(1940)madeacomparisonbetweenNativeSonandDreiser’sAnAmericanTragedyaswell.Heheldthatthereweremanydifferencesbetweenthetwonovels,suchaswritingtechnique.AlthoughWrightwasstronglyinfluencedbynaturalism,headopteddifferentskillsfromDreiserwhowasseenastherepresentativewriterofnaturalism.Brownstatedthat“Dreiserpilesdetailupondetailtogainverisimilitude;butWright,seekingtruthtoarealitybeyondnaturalism,makesuseofthedevicesofthesymbolicnovel”(54).Wrightcompressedhistextualconnotationinsmallspaceandtime,whichdeprivedofverisimilitude.Withitsincreasingpopularity,NativeSonhasalsobeenstudiedbymoreandmorescholarsinChina,showingitsendlesspotentialitiesforfurtheranalysis.SomereviewerscenteroninterpretingBigger’spersonalitycharacteristics.LiNing(2005)putforwardacreativeunderstandingthatBigger’scharacterwasalienated.Thepsychologicaldistortiondrovehimtogetofftrack.Duetohisimpotencetocontrolhisownfate,Biggersufferedfromsocialisolationandself-estrangement.Theconflictbetweenthewhiteworldandhiscoloredskinmadehimestrangefromhis10 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneself(33-35).AccordingtoZhangShuhui(2009),Biggerwasalienatedbyhisfeelingofbeingisolatedfromthewhitesocietyandhisownrace.Shebelievedthat“Hispersonalityofpride,rebellion,hiskeendesiretobefree,hispursueofdignity,andidentity,playsagreatroleinthemidstoftheshapeofhisalienation”(17).WangXiaoning(2004)examinedthecharacterofBiggerasareserved,cynical,brutalandrebelliousheroin“OntheHero’sCharacteristicoftheNovel‘NativeSon’”.ShearrivedattheconclusionthattheformationofBigger’scharacterresultedfromharshenvironment,racialdiscrimination,andunequalsocietyandlawregulations(91-93).LiLihui(2003)alsomadeathoroughinquiryofBigger’scharacterizationinhismasterthesisnamed“OntheCharacterizationofBiggerThomasinNativeSon”.HeidentifiedBiggernotonlyasapathologicalmonsterbutalsoasahumanbeing.“BiggerThomasisahumanbeingwithdreamandlove,thushecannotescapefromfearandfateofhumanlife,especiallythefearandfateofNegroesintheAmericansociety”(24).ThereviewdifferencebetweenChenXiaohongandtheprevioustwocriticsliesinthatChen(2009)proposedthemasculinityoftheprotagonistwhodeniedthesubmissiveNegroimageofUncleTomintraditionalblackliterature.ShecameupwiththestatementthatBiggerpossessedhegemonicmasculinity,subordinatemasculinityandmarginalizedmasculinity.SomecriticswhohaveemployeddifferentcriticaltheoriesofliterarytointerpretNativeSonalsopresenttheircreativeviewpoints.HuTiesheng(1997)analyzedBigger’spsychologicalmotivationandsplitpersonalityproducedbysocialexistencewithFreudianpsychoanalysistheory.Compelledbyhisinstinctivedesire,Biggerchoosestoescapefromthewhitecommunitytoseekforself-protection.TouchedbythewordsofMaxandJan,Biggercomestorevivehisegoandaccomplishesthereturnofreasonfromirrationality.YangJianguo(2007)practicedanin-depthexplorationofthedestinyofBiggerfromtheangleofexistentialism.AccordingtoYang,exceptfortheexternalenvironment,Bigger’sfateissubjectedtohisinternaldevelopingurgeasanindividualsubject.YangWeidong(2012)probedintothepoweroperationmechanisminAmericansocietyin11 ChapterOneShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsNativeSonbyapplyingFoucault’sPanopticonandPowertheory.ThekeepingofAmericansociety,acarceralsociety,restswiththeperformanceofdisciplinarypower.Bigger’sdefianceagainstthesocialtabooisanoutcomeofthecarceralsociety.Oncewhenthesecurityofsocietyisdisturbed,theviolentpunishmentcomesintobeingnaturally.Therefore,Biggerisputontotheelectricchaireventually.WhenitcomestoAmericanracism,KuangYin(2007)expoundedclearlytheinstitutionalracismandindividualracismembeddedinNativeSonandanalyzeddeeplytheviciousdouble-edgedeffectofracismonthepsychologyofboththeWhitesandtheBlacks.What’smore,YangMin(2011)discussedelaboratelythenegativeinfluenceofracismontheoppressedblackpeople,aimingtodisclosetheevilofracism.Thefearofthewhiteworldbecameanindispensablepartofblackpeople’shumannature.Asshedeemed,thedeathofMaryshouldbeattributedtoracialoppressionandsegregation.Inaddition,somecriticshavedecodedthesymbolsinthisnovelfromtheangleofsymbolism.Inthearticle“SymbolicMeaningof‘Blind’inNativeSon”,TanYueyue(2005)acclaimedthat“blind”carryingmuchmeaningcanbereadasfourpoints:firstly,TheDaltonscan’trealizetherealreasonforblackpeople’slivinginanabyssofmisery.Secondly,MaryandJansubjectivelydesiretodevelopaharmoniousrelationshipwiththeBlackswithoutknowinghowtheyfeel.Thirdly,marginalizedbythewhiteforce,Biggerisblindtotheenvironmentaroundhimself,evenhisownfeeling.Lastly,Bigger’smotherwhoindulgesinreligionwholeheartedlycannotfindthewayoutforhertorturinglife.Theinterpretationsstatedaboveconcerningthesymbolicmeaningof“blind”areinagreementwithSuDonglian’sargumentsinhispaper“TheSymbolicMeaningsoftheVisioninNativeSon”(2005).LiYi(2007)“havebuiltupahighlymetaphoricalcodesystemdeconstructingthetraditionalWASP(WhiteAnglo-SaxonProtestant)modeandrevealingtheAfro-Americandualidentity—negronessaswellasAmericanbelongings”throughdecodingthenamesofMaryDalton,BiggerThomasandNativeSon(88).AfterinquiringintothesymbolisminthenovelsofRichardWright12 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterOneandRalphEllison,WangNuoandFeiFan(1993)thoughtthatthereweremanysimilarsymbolsintheirworks.Tobespecific,“Flight”symbolizedthehardpathNegroeshadtakenwhentheystrivedforcompleteemancipation.“White”colorservedasametaphorforthemerciless,powerfulwhitesocietywhichadvocatedracialsegregationpolicy.Tosumup,asanepoch-makingworkshininginthebrightskyofblackliterature,NativeSondeservestobeexploredanddiscussedwidelyandthoroughly.Fascinatedbytheprivilegesandsuperiorityofthewhiteworld,BiggerThomasharborsawhitedream,specificallytosay,hisdreamofself-realizationandassertingmanhood.Despitenumerouscriticshaveaccomplishedin-depthstudiesofBigger,fewoncehaveattemptedtoprobeintohiswhitedream.Therefore,thisthesiswillopenanewdoorontheinterpretationofNativeSonbymeansofapplyingpsychoanalytictheory.13 ChapterTwoShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterTwoPsychoanalyticTheoryofFreudAsarealisticnovel,NativeSonpicturesthepredicamentandtortureofblackpeopletruly,aimingatcriticizingtheAmericanracism.WrightdescribesthepsychologyofBiggerThomasthroughoutthenovel.ThenovelisfilledwiththeinnerstruggleofBigger.He,asthespokesmanofblackpeople,harborstheaspirationforrealizinghiswhitedreams.ApplyingFreudianpsychoanalysistheoryintostudyingBigger’swhitedreamcanbehelpfultoexplorethecollectivepsychologyoftheBlacks.SigmundFreudisnotonlyarenownedneurologistofAustriabutalsothefounderofpsychoanalysis.Freudproposedpsychoanalytictheorywhichwaspreviouslyatherapyintreatingmentally-disorderedpatientsbutnowadayshasbeenuniversallyemployedintoanalyzingthecharacterinliteraryworksbycriticsnowadays.Freud’sinterpretationofdreamsoccupiesthepivotalpositioninhispsychologicaltheory.ThusTheInterpretationofDreamsisseenashismostvaluablebook.Moreover,Freudcameupwithhistheoryoflibidodevelopment.Thetwopsychoanalytictheoriesplayagreatpartintoday’sliteratureinterpretation.Somecriticshavesummarizedthat:Thatmostoftheindividual’smentalprocessesareunconsciousisthusFreud’sfirstmajorpremise.Thesecondisthatallhumanbehaviorismotivatedultimatelybysexuality,andFreuddesignatestheprimepsychicforceaslibidoorsexualenergy.Histhirdmajorpremiseisthatbecauseofthepowerfulsocialtaboosattachedtocertainsexualimpulse,manyofourdesiresandmemoriesarerepressed(thatis,activelyexcludedfromconsciousawareness).(Guerin&Laboret.al,2004:128)2.1TheDevelopmentofLibidoFreuddeemedtheunconsciousasthesexualinstincts,namelylibido,believingitwastherealdrivingforceofallhumanactivities.InFreud’sopinion,libidohas14 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterTwothreefundamentaloutletslikeanundercurrent:firstly,itisreleasedthroughthenormalsexualactivity;secondly,theregressionorfixationofsexualdesireresultsinpsychopathy,suchasOedipuscomplexandElectracomplex;thethirdoneisdisplacementorsublimation.Thatistosay,libidoistransferredtothevaluablecreationscompatibletosocialmorality,amongwhichliterarywritingisacaseofpoint.AccordingtoFreud,theinfancypassesthroughaseriesofperiodsineroticdevelopment.AsPeters(1956)claimed,“Thechildissubjectedtoeroticsensationsandisoriginallyauto-eroticaimingatorgan-pleasurefromthedifferenterotogeniczones”(8).Freudindicatedthefollowingthreeones:theoral,theanal,andthegenital.Thepleasureatdifferentstagesofdevelopmentisacquiredfromdifferenterotogeniczones.Theerogenousmouth-zoneplaysthechiefroleintheoralstagecoveringthephrasefromthebirthdateto18months.Thepleasuremainlyconsistsinthegratificationofeatingneedsthroughsucking.AsFreud(2006)concluded,“Thesuckingatthemother’sbreastbecomesthetermsofdepartureforallofsexuallife,theunattainedidealoflatersexgratification,towhichtheimaginationoftenrevertsintimesofneed”(304).Themother’sbreast,thefirstobjectofthesexualimpulseintheoralstage,satisfiesthehungeroftheinfant.Inadditiontonutritionuptake,theinfancycanacquiresensationfromsuckingmother’sbreastaswell.Reasonablyspeaking,whetherthepersonalityofadultcandevelopinacivilizedwaydependsonthesituationofneedsgratificationinchildhood.Ifsuchgratificationisfrustrated,thepsychicdevelopmentperhapsisfixated.Theanusthstagespansfromthe15monthtotheageofthreeduringwhichtheanusbecomestheerogenouszone.Thechildexperiencesthepleasureintheprocessoftheexcretionofurineandfaeces.Aimingatcontainingsuchasatisfaction,theparentsmayestablishtheconnectionofexcretingwithindecentbehaviorinthechild’smind.Asaresult,hehastoexchangethepleasureforsocialdignity.Anothervitalexperienceintheanusstageistoilettraining.Iftheparentslaymuchemphasisonstricttoilettraining,thechildmayformacompulsiveandfastidiouspersonality,inspecific,caringaboutorderandneatnessexcessively.Onthecontrary,iftheparents15 ChapterTwoShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsdon’tinterferewiththetoilettraining,thechildislargelylikelytodevelopaself-indulgentpersonality.Thephallicstagerangingfromagefourtofivereachestheculminationoflibidodevelopment.ThegenitalisthecenterofinterestinthisphrasewhichisalsowidelyknownastheOedipusstage.Insimpleterms,theOedipuscomplexinvolvesthattheboylongsforsexualcontactwithhismotherandisrivalrywithhisfatherunconsciously.Itcanbesaidthatsuchpathologyoriginatesinthechoiceofthemotherashisfirstloveobjectinchild’soralstage.TheOedipuscomplex,atermborrowedfromtheclassicSophocleantragedy,recountsafamedGreekmythinwhichtheheroOedipusmurdershisfatherandfinallymarrieshismotherwithoutknowingit.FreudmadeadetailedelucidationofthecomplexinTheEgoandtheIdasfollows:…theboydealswithhisfatherbyidentifyinghimselfwithhim.Foratimethesetworelationshipsproceedsidebyside,untiltheboy’ssexualwishesinregardtohismotherbecomemoreintenseandhisfatherisperceivedasanobstacletothem;fromthis,theOedipuscomplexoriginates.Hisidentificationwithhisfatherthentakesonahostilecoloringandchangesintoawishtogetridofhiminordertotakehisplacewiththemother.Henceforwardhisrelationshiptohisfatherisambivalent…..Anambivalentattitudetohisfatherandanobject-relationofasolelyaffectionatekindtohismothermakeupthecontentofthesimplepositiveOedipuscomplexinaboy.(Freud1989:640)Morespecifically,theboywillfeelirritatedduringthepresenceofhisfather,whilehemaybecomecontentedwiththeabsenceofhisfathersincehecanownhismotheralltohimself.Thehatredaccumulatedintheboy’sinnerheartforthefatherresultsintheaggressionanddeathwishofhisfather.Unconsciously,hewillidentifyhimselfwithhisfatherpossessingstrictauthorityandactastheroleofhisfatherinfrontofhismother.16 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterTwo2.2FreudianDreamInterpretationThedream,anindispensablepartofhumanlife,carriestwodenotations:theillusionmadebyhumaninsleepingstate;theinnereagernessforsomethingwhichcan’tbereachedeasily.Freudbroughtarevolutionarychangeintherecognitionofhumanmindtopeoplethroughhisdreamtheory.EmployingthePsycho-Analysismethod,Freudstudiedallthemanifoldproblemsconcerningdreamsandalsogavepersuasiveevidencesforhisconclusions.Freud(1997)contendedthatthedream“isaperfectlyvalidpsychicphenomenon,actuallyawish-fulfillment”(34).Thatistosay,thedreamismeaningfulratherthanabsurd,inotherwords,representsthefulfillmentofwish.Thedreamprocessinvolvingthepsychicprocesshasnotonlyinvisiblepsychologicalrootsbutalsothemanifestcontent.Freudcategorizedthedreamthoughtsintotwokinds:latentcontentandmanifestcontent.IntheeyesofJones(1910),“Thelatentcontent,ordreamthought,isalogicalandintegralpartofthesubject’smentallife…Thismanifestcontentistoberegardedasanallegoricalexpressionoftheunderlyingdreamthoughts,orlatentcontent”(285).Thedreamisnotmerelytheexpressionofone’smentalprocess“butadistortedanddisguisedexpressionofhighlysignificantpsychicalprocesses”(286).Theprocessofdream-workreferstotheaccomplishmentofdisguising,experiencingthetransformationfromlatentcontentintomanifestcontent.AccordingtoFreud,themechanismsofdream-workcouldbeclassifiedintofourkinds:ThefirstthingistermedasCondensation.Freudregardedthepracticeofcomparingdreamthoughtstothemanifestcontentastheworkofcondensation.Freudheld,“thedegreeofcondensationis—strictlyspeaking—indeterminable”(Freud1997:171).Thesecondone,Displacement,meansthatthedifferenceofpsychicalemotionsinthelatentcontentandthemanifestcontentappearsinmostdreams.Whatdisplacementyieldsisadistortedanddisguiseddreaminwhich“thedreamcontentnolongerhasanylikenesstothenucleusofthedream-thoughts”(ibid:193).ThethirdmechanismisSymbolism.Freudclaimedthatthedreammayemploysymbolstopresentitslatentandconcealthoughtswhichwereperhapsconnectedwithpainfulor17 ChapterTwoShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtssexualthings.Inaddition,thedreamerhasthewiderangeofchoiceofsymbols,buthetendstochoosethesymbolrelatedtohisdream-thoughtmaterials.Thefourthonegettinginvolvedindream-makingistermedasSecondaryElaboration,whichdiffersfromthepreviousthreeonesasitembracesmoreconsciousmentalactivities.Thedreamperceivedwithconsciousnessisinfactremodeledandthenisinaccordancetothementalprocessesundercensorship.InJones’(1910)mind,“ThissecondaryelaborationiscloselyalliedtotheprocessIhavedescribedasrationalism”(297).Thiskindofmechanismissomewhattheagencyofcensorship,whichperformsitsprocessbymeansofreasonandintellect.Tosumup,accordingtoFreud,dreamsareinessencethefulfillmentofdisguisedunconsciouswishes.Mostofthemarelargelyonthebasisofchildishexperienceandformedbytheoperationofwish-motiveduringwhichitcancompletetheworkofcondensation,displacement,symbolismandsecondaryelaboration.Concerning“thedream”inthispaper,itsuperficiallyreferstothedreamBiggermakesduringhissleeping.Symbolicallyspeaking,thedreamalludestoBiggertheblack’swishforachievingforself-realizationandassertinghismanhood.Bigger’swhitedreamisthedisguisedwish-fulfillmentofconnectinghimselfwiththewhiteworld.18 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterThreeChapterThreeTheSocialHotbedofBigger’sWhiteDreamBigger’swhitedreamisfundamentallyrootedintheunjustifiablesocialsystemsinAmerica.Generally,themassmediaandtheunjustlawarethesocialhotbedswhichbreedBigger’swhitedream,playingalargepartincontributingtotheriseofhisdreams.3.1TheMassMediaIntheracism-riddensociety,themassculturetransmittedbymovies,magazinesandnewspapersservedasthechiefcornerstoneofreinforcingandspreadingracism.TracingbacktheearlyhistoryofAmerica,peopleweredefinitelyshockedbytheprevailingracism.Americansocietywitnessedthethrampantracismintheearly20century.AccordingtoJosephF.Healey(1995),thetermracismrefersto“anyideologyassertingtheinferiorityofagroupbasedonracial,physical,orculturaltraitsoronanycombinationofthesetraits”(29).Asanideology,racismdominatedthemainstreamsocietyinAmericanculture,exertingapowerfulinfluenceuponthemindofpeopleandresultinginthedouble-edgedharmtotheWhitesandtheBlacks.TheBlacksstruggledatthepainfulabyssandsufferedfromseverepsychologicaltrauma.ThemostapparentphenomenoninAmericansocietywasthattheworldseemstobegroupedintotwoconflictingparts:thewhiteworldandtheblackworldinDixie,theAmericanSouth.Thewhitecommunityoccupiedthedominantposition,whereastheblackcommunityheldthesubordinatedstatus.Apartfromresidentialsegregation,educationlimitation,rightdisfranchisement,theWhitesmadeattemptstobuilduptheideologyofracialsuperioritytointernalizetheinferiorityintheBlacks’consciousness.Peopleweredeeplyimbuedwiththeracialideologypropagandizedthroughthemassmedia.Themassmediadisseminatingwhitesupremacyattemptedatembeddingtheideaofslaveryintoblacks’minds.Inmostcases,blackswereusuallydemonized19 ChapterThreeShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsanddehumanized,suchasbeingcalledasanape,whichprovedthattheyhadbeendowngradedasthewildanimal.ThemassmediaofracialsocietytrieditsutmosttoinsulttheBlacksandbroadcastthedogmaofblack’sinferioritysoastomaintaintheWhites’superiorstatus.Inotherwords,themassmediawasprimarilydominatedbywhite-supremacistpropositionswhichclaimedthattheBlacksdifferedfromtheWhitesinintellect,physicalqualityandtemperament.Ontheonehand,theWhitesintendedtomakeuseofmassmediatojustifytheoppressionanddiscriminationofblackpeople.Ontheotherhand,massmediaprovokedblacks’depresseddesireforwhitenesssinceithadstrengthenedtheirsenseofdeficiencyinpowerandplace.3.1.1WhitePeople’sLifeintheScreenInBookone“Fear”,intwomoviesnamedasTheGayWomanandTraderHorn,theWhiteswereshapedasthesuperiorgroupwhowereintelligent,culturedandcivilizedpeople,whereastheBlacksweredepictedasthegoofy,savage,andbarbaricgroup.Whitepeopleleadsuchacheerfullifewithsomanywaysofentertainment.DuringwatchingthefilmTheGayWoman,BiggerandJackwereheldbyadelightingscenewhichdepictedthemerryandcolorfullifeoftheWhitesasfollows:“Theylaughed.TheplayranonandBiggersawanightclubfloorthrongedwithwhirlingcouplesandheardaswingbandplayingmusic.Therichyoungwomanwasdancingandlaughingwithherlover”(Wright2000:61).Thatsplendidlifewasimpossibleforablackwoman,justlikeadaydreamcan’tbefulfilledforever.Afterwatchingthetwomovies,Biggerwascaughtinthelongingforbeinginvitedtoexperiencewhatthatsortoflifewouldbelike.Drivenbyhisdeepeagerness,BiggerconfidedtoJackthat“I’dliketobeinvitedtoaplacelikethatjusttofindoutwhatitfeelslike”(ibid:61).WhatBiggeradmiredwasnotsomuchglamorouslifeaswealth.Thereasonwasprobablythathenevertastedthehappinessofbeingwell-offduetohisinheritedpoverty.Biggerdreamedofbecomingamillionaireandcouldspendmoneyfreelyoneverythinghewanted.20 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterThreeHislongingfortheextravagantlifestylepoppedupintohisheadbyTraderHornhesawinthescreen.TheluxuriouslifeofwhitepeoplereflectedinmoviesinspiredBiggertomaketheassuringstatementasfollows:“Ibettheirmattressesisstuffedwithpaperdollars”(ibid:62).Forthisreason,BiggerwasfascinatedbyawonderfuloutlookofhisfutureinworkingfortheDalton.Hecherishedtheexpectationofgettingsomemoneyfromhisnewjobandlearningsomeskillsofmakingmoneyfromwhitepeople.Undertheinfluenceofmassmedia,Biggerdreamedtostepintothewhiteworldandachievethegoaloflivingaglamorouslife.Suchacharmingworldrepresented“aworldofpleasureandpossibilityfromwhichhehasbeenexcludedandwhichhehasseenonlyinmovies”(Butler1986:13).ExcludedfromthemainstreamAmericansociety,theBlacksweretheoutsiderswhoweredeprivedofbasichumanrightsandhadnochancetosucceedandacquirehappiness.Theywererejectedbythewhitecommunityandthusimpossibletoattainwealthandfamethroughworkinghard.ThereasonwhyBiggersparednoefforttojoininwhitecommunitywasthatonlywhenhewasawhitemembercouldheacquirethewhitewealthandpower.3.1.2NewspaperDescriptionofBiggerthInthe20centuryofAmerica,themasskeptupwiththelatestnewsandsocialissuesmainlybyreadingnewspaper.NewspaperwasvitaltoplanttheideologythattheBlacksweresubordinatedtowhitepeopleintothethinkingofboththeWhitesandBlacks.Inthatsense,newspaperwasdeemedasasortofpoliticalmeanstoguardwhites’politicalsovereignty.Hence,newspapercouldwieldemotionalinfluenceonthepeopleevengaveorientationtotheirstands.Afterbeingputintoprison,Biggerwasisolatedfromtheoutsidesociety.Hehardlyknewthepopularsentimentsarousedbyhiskilling,henceheaskedforanewspaperfromapolicemantoknowhissituation.Thenewspaperwasfilledwiththereportlike“Helooksexactlylikeanape”(Wright2000:309).Biggerreadtheaccountabouthiminanewspaper:“Heisaboutfivefeet,nineinchestallandhis21 ChapterThreeShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsskinisexceedinglyblack.Hislowerjawprotrudesobnoxiously,remindingoneofajunglebeast”(ibid:309).Itcouldn’tbedeniedthatthesenewspapermenweretheinitiatorswhohidbehindwhitewallandattackedtheBlacksbymeansofwords.BiggerThomashadbeenclearlyawareoftheirterribleness.WhentheygatheredtogetherintheDalton’shome,Biggerthoughtthat“TheywerenotrichanddistantlikeMrDalton,andtheywereharderthanBritten,butinamoreimpersonalway,awaythatmaybewasmoredangerousthanBritten’s”(ibid:229).Theyservedasthedrivingforceintheprocessofdemonizingblackpeople.Withnodoubt,theWhitesexcludedblackpeoplefrommoderncivilizationanddeemedthemasthelowestspecies.Intheirminds,blackpeopleseemedtobeutterlyuntouchedbymoderncivilizationduetotheirlackofgentlenessandgenialityinbehaviormanner.ThenewspaperTribunethatBiggerreadinthejailhighlightedthatBiggerlookedlikeabeast,writinglikethis:“Heactedlikeanearliermissinglinkinthehumanspecies.Heseemedoutofplaceinawhiteman’scivilization”(ibid:310).3.2TheUnjustLawBecauseoftheimplementationofJimCrowLaws,theBlacksweredeprivedofhumanrightsandsocialstatusandconsequentlyturnedintothediscarded.Theyweredeprivedofchanceandpossibilitytoleadanormallifebecauseanydecentjobswerenotavailabletothem.Beingincapableofimprovingtheirsocialstatus,Biggerandhisracecouldnotbutcompromisewiththewhitepowerandsubordinatedthemselvestothewhitegroup.AbandonedbyAmericansociety,theBlackswerecaughtintotheabyssofpainandmisery.TheygotaccustomedtotheirpoorlivingconditionandunendurableoppressioneventheinfringementoftheirsocialandpoliticalrightscausedbytheWhites.3.2.1TheBlackBeltBlackpeoplewerecompelledto“liveinthemostdilapidated,run-downslumarea”ofChicago(Pang2007:162).Theirbuildingsremainedunrepairedformany22 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterThreeyearsandthuswerenearlyonthevergeoffallingdown.Thegarbageinblack’sresidentialcommunitiescouldn’tbedisposedintime.Asaresult,thedisgustingsmellpermeatedallthestreets,whichgotintensifiedbyovercrowdinginslums.Worstofall,blackpeoplehadtopayexorbitantrentsfortheshabbyhousewithpoorlivingfacility.TheBlackswereseparatedfromthewhitecommunityandonlycanmovearoundwithintherangeof“blackbelt”.Bigger’slifebeingenclosedintothesegregatedghettoledtohislittlecontactwiththewhiteworld.Inmetaphoricalsense,thecolorlinecanbeperceivedasthefencewhichcutofftherelationshiplinkbetweentheWhitesandtheBlacks.Bigger’sentrapmentintothe“blackbelt”offeredhimnoaccesstoleadingwhitepeople’sglamorouslife.Biggerharboredthestrongimpulsetocrossoverthefenceandintegrateintothewhiteworld.Inthebeginning,WrightpresentedthereaderthesceneoftheThomaslivinginacrowded,rat-infestedandshabbyapartment.Tobesure,thelivingsituationoftheThomaswasnothingmorethantheepitomeoftheblackdistrict.Accordingtothedescriptionthat“Thetwoboyskepttheirfacesavertedwhiletheirmotherandsisterputonenoughclothestokeepthemfromfeelingashamed;andthemotherandsisterdidthesamewhiletheboysdressed”(Wright2000:34),itwasevidentthattheThomaslivedinaterribleandawkwardsituationandthelifeofthemwasextremelytoughandunbearable.Fortheirpart,therewasnohumandignityandindividualprivacy,letalonefreedom,whichwerealsotrueofotherblackfamilies.Onhiswaytoflee,Biggerwitnessedthescenewithwhichhewasextremelyacquainted.“Hesawaroominwhichweretwosmallironbedswithsheetsdirtyandcrumpled.Inonebedsatthreenakedblackchildrenlookingacrosstheroomtotheotherbedonwhichlayamanandwoman,bothnakedandblackinthesunlight”(ibid:277).SegregatedintotheBlackBelt,thesmallcornerofChicago,blackswereconfrontedwiththeproblemofhousingshortage.Inordertofindavacanthousetohidein,Biggerwalkedtwoblocksbutdidn’tfindanybuildingwitha“ForRent”sign.Herememberedthat“hismotherhadoncemadehimtrampthestreetsfortwo23 ChapterThreeShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtswholemonthslookingforaplacetolive”(ibid:279).SuchconfinedspacedeniedpersonalprivacyoftheBlacksentirely.Withoutbeingprovidedwithroomstoprotecttheirhumandignity,theBlackshadtoaccepttheawfulresidentialenvironmentandliveinhumiliationandshame.What’sworse,inspiteofthepoorlivingcondition,theBlackshadtopay“twiceasmuchrentaswhitesforthesamekindofflats”(ibid:279).However,duetoracialdiscrimination,theyfounditdifficulttoobtainanydecentjobstoaffordsuchahighrentandthusgotpoorerandpoorer.Inadditiontoexorbitantrent,houseswhichcanbeavailabletoblackswereunderthethreatofcollapse.ThebuildingBigger’sfamilyeverinhabitedcollapsedtwodaysaftertheyweredrivenoutofitbythepolice.3.2.2Bigger’s“If”TheBlacksweredeprivedofrightstopossessequaleducationandjobopportunity.Theslimchancerefusedthefulfillmentofblacks’whitedreamsandindividualvalue.Duetotheirskincolor,theyweren’tallowedtoenrollintechnicalschooltolearnprofessionalskills.InconversationwithGus,BiggerexpressedhisdesiretobeanaviatoronceonlytoreceivetherespondencefromGusthat“Ifyouwasn’tblackandifyouhadsomemoneyandifthey’dletyougotothataviationschool,youcouldflyaplane”(Wright2000:47).Thekeyword“if”revealedtheimpossibilityofrealizingwhattheydreamedofinAmericansocietygovernedbyracism.Infaceofsuchacruelreality,theyonlysatisfiedthemselveswiththefalsefantasyandunrealillusion.Blackswereforcedtobeengagedinhumble,menialandlaboriousjobs.ThewhitemajoritymadeuseoftheirpoliticalpowertomakelawstolimitthehumanrightsandfreedomoftheBlacks.Incertaincircumstances,thepolitical,educationalorprofessionalopportunitieswereonlyavailabletothewhitepeople.TheBlacksweredrivenawayfromanypromisingprofessionsandcouldn’tgetinvolvedinsocialcompetitionasanormalsocialman.Itwasunlikelyforblackstoenjoythesameequalityandjusticeaswhitepeopledo.ByvirtueofNativeSon,Wrightlaunchedharshandbittercriticismon24 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterThreeAmericanjudicialsystem.Attheverybeginning,BiggerandfriendsplannedtocarryouttherobberyofBlum’sDelicatessenwhichwasthetoughestact.Thereasonwasthat“Theyfeltthatitwasmucheasierandsafertorobtheirownpeople,fortheyknewthatwhitepolicemenneverreallysearcheddiligentlyforNegroeswhocommittedcrimesagainstotherNegroes”(Wright2000:44).Thepunishmentwouldbemuchharsheroncethewhites’rightsandinterestswereviolated.ThelawslaiddownundertheprincipleofracialprejudicebytheWhitesaimedatdealingwithblacks’law-breakingissuesalone.EventhoughBiggercommittedtwomurdercrimes,hemainlyassumedlegalresponsibilityforkillingMary.TheoppositeattentionpaidtothedeathofMaryandBessieoriginatedfromtheircontrastingskincolor.BessiesimplyactedastheproofofaffirmingtheguiltofBigger.Throughouttheinterrogation,thedeathofBessiewasnotmentionedonce.“TheywereusinghishavingkilledBessietokillhimforhishavingkilledMary,tocasthiminalightthatwouldsanctionanyactiontakentodestroyhim”(ibid:360).ThetimethatthewhitecourtspentontryingBigger’scriminalcasespannednomorethanonemonth.Bigger’sinterrogationwasstartedinmid-Februarybutmetthecourt’sfinaldeathpenaltyinearlyMarch.SuchahastyjudgementfrequentlyhappenedtotheBlacks.Evidentlytosee,theWhitestooktheleastconsiderationofthelifeandlawjusticeofblackpeopleinlawsystem.AsforBigger,hewassimplyatoolutilizedbywhite-privilegedjudicialsystemtoshowwhites’legalpowerinsanctioningblacks.25 ChapterFourShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFourTheEmbodimentofBigger’sWhiteDreamBiggerhasrealizedthattheWhitesneverallowhimtoachievehisself-realizationsincethesocietyshroudedbyracismneveroffershimtheopportunitytoyellouthisinnervoice.InBigger’sdeepheart,hewantstostepintothewonderfulandluxuriouswhitesocietyinfusedwithauthorityandprivilegewhichareallfrustratedbytheenvironmentandcan’tbeavailableforhim.4.1Bigger’sDreamofSelf-RealizationInAmericanracialsociety,thewhitecolorandblackcolorareattachedmuchsocialmeaning.Thatistosay,“Whiteness”and“blackness”arewhatdistinguishbetweensuperiorityandinferiority,wealthandpoverty,normalityandabnormality.Forthatreason,forblacksinAmerica,“whiteness”isundoubtedlythefinalaimthey’restrivingfor.“Whiteness”firstindicatesthevisibilityofthewhiteskin,blondehairandblueeyes,butsymbolizesmoney,power,highstatus,freedom,senseofsecurityandallotherprivilegesintheAmericanworld.Similarly,“whiteness”hasalwaysbeenconnectedwithpurity,piety,safety,goodnessandbeautyinwesterncountries,whereas“blackness”islinkedtotheideologyofpenalty,weakness,defectsandpoverty.ForblackslikeBigger,beingblackisthemostseriouscrimetheyhaveevercommitted,sotheywishtheycanwhitenthemselvesandbeacquittedfromsuchaninheritedcrime.Theblackpeoplewhoareyearningforthelifeofwhitepeoplewanttobewhite,whichistheonlymethodforthemtoescapefromtheirmiseries.Biggerisnoexception.Toacertainextent,Biggercanberegardedastherepresentationofthecollectivethoughtofblackpeoplewhodesirefor“whiteness”.Furthermore,histragedyreflectstheconsequenceresultedfromhisunfulfilleddreamforsupremacy.ForBigger,“whiteness”canfillhimwiththesenseofwholenesshelacks,butwhichisadesireremainingunattainableforhim.“Whiteness”thusisthethingthatproducespsychologicalmatters—thewilltomastery,andtotality.26 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFour4.1.1TheGame“PlayWhite”Hisfantasyofenteringawhiteworldcanbeapparentlyshowninthegame“playwhite”.Resortingtoplayingtheroleasthemilitaryleader,businessexecutiveandeventhepresident,BiggerandGusamusethemselveswiththeunrealisticassumptionforbeingwhiteleaders.Theymakeanattempttoassumethemselvesaswhitemalesastheybelievewhichcanactasthedrivingforceforthemtoseparatethemfromtheirimpotence.Inthisgame,Biggerpretendstobeapresidentandimitatesthespeechtoneofaheadofficer:“‘well,yousee,theniggersisrisingsandalloverthecountry,’Biggersaid,strugglingtokeepbackhislaughter.‘We’vegottodosomethingwiththeseblackfolks…’”(Wright2000:49).Bypracticingthegame“playingwhite”,Biggerattemptstoexperiencetheenjoymentoffakewhiteauthorityandsupremacyincopingwithblackaffairs.Downgradedasthesecond-classcitizenship,Biggerneverceasestodreamofplacinghimselfinthesocialpositionwherehecanexercisethepowerofcontrollingothers.DisplayingthewhitemaleauthoritysuggeststhatBiggerembracesdesperatehungerforwhitepowerwhichinvolvesauthority,domination,wealthownershipandcontrol.Biggerstrivesforgraspingwhitepowerwhichistheonlykeytosubverttheracialsubordination.Withthegoalofrealizinghisself-value,Biggerisinsearchofaspaceinwhichhecangethishumanityidentifiedandlifemeaningcreated.InBigger’smind,thewhitepowercanprovidehimwiththe“room”inwhichhecanmovefreelyandcutofftheimpersonaldiscriminationfromwhitecommunity.Inthesocietyruledbytheoppressivedominantculture,Biggerbeingsubjectedtoeconomicdisenfranchisement,racialprejudiceandpoliticaldominationhaspreventedhimfromgivingfullplaytohispotentialasanormalhumanbeing.Bigger’swishingforself-assertionhasdeeplyembeddedintohisinnerheart.Thoughregardedasthesubhumanbeing,BiggerisunwillingtoabidebysocialdecorumenactedbywhitesandsearchestheoutletforbreakingawayfromthefixedmarginalizationfromwhiteAmerica.27 ChapterFourShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArts4.1.2FlyingthePlaneAstheunderprivilegedgroup,theBlacksarealienatedfromthewhiteworld.Bethatasitmay,Biggerharborstheburningyearningforwhitenessbecauseofhiskeenfascinationwithalltheprivilegesinwhiteworld.Bigger’sdreamofhuntingforadecentjobisdefeatedbyjobdiscriminationagainstblacks.Hisvocationalambitionisneverabletobefulfilled.Heisn’tentitledtoparticipateincompetingforjobsthathedesiresforandisqualifiedfor.Heisfascinatedbyflyingtheplanebutwhichisimpossibleforhimtorealizeitbecauseofhisblackcolor.GustoldBiggerthat“Themwhiteboyssurecanfly”(Wright2000:46).Clearly,thedreamofbeingawhitemansurelyhaskeptlingeringinBigger’smind.Hisfascinationwithwhitenessisapparentlyrevealedthroughdeliveringhismonologue:“IcouldflyoneofthemthingsifIhadachance”(ibid:46).Theword“if”implieshowstrongBigger’swilltobeamemberofwhitecommunityis.Hefeelsextremedissatisfiedwiththeimpossibilityforablacktoflyaplanebuthasnostrengthtoaltertheunjusttreatmentonthelabormarket.Furthermore,professionaltechniqueschoolsguidedbyracialsegregationsetprohibitiononadmittingcoloredboys.DuringhisconversationwithMaxinprison,Biggerclaimslikethis:Iwantedtobeanaviatoronce.Buttheywouldn’tletmegototheschoolwhereIwassuppose’tolearnit.Theybuiltabigschoolandthendrewalinearounditandsaidthatnobodycouldgotoitbutthosewholivedwithintheline.Thatkeptallthecoloredboysout(Wright2000:383).ForthisreasonthatBiggerisunlikelytoliveouthisflyingdream,Biggerharborstheresentmenttowardwhitesfortheyaregivengoodchancestodoeverythingthattheylike.Thedoorofdignifiedandwell-paidjobsremainsopentowhitesforever.Flyingisconnectedwiththefreedomwhichcan’tbeattainedbyblacks.Therefore,Biggercravesforfreedomandprivilegewhichprovokeshisdreamofflying.Asakindofexclusiveprivilegeenjoyedbywhitepeople,flyingtheplaneservesassymbolizationofthewhitepowerandsuperiority.ThecausesforBigger’sdreamofflyingcanbeascribedtothefollowingaspects:tobeginwith,Biggertakesthe28 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFouraviationasthefulfillmentoffreedom,powerandrights;secondly,hecanidentifyhimselfasacivilizedmanwhocangraspthescientificskill,whichcanprovethattheblackpeopleareasintelligentastheWhites.Thirdly,imprisonedintotheblackbelts,BiggerwishestocrossoverthelineimpedingtheconnectionbetweentheWhitesandtheBlacks.Flyingcanenablehimtoenjoythepleasureoffreedomwhichisimpossibleforthemanwithblackcolor.Lastly,Biggerintendstodemonstratehismasculinityasamalethroughcontrollingthedemandingandcomplicatedmachine.Theaviatorisrequiredtobehealthyandstrongandhasthecapabilitytoovercomethepsychicalandpsychologicalchallenge.Inaword,Bigger’sdreamofflyingisthetruthfulreflectionofallhisfascinationwiththewhiteness.4.1.3FailureinSelf-RealizationThesocietydominatedbywhitesblockadesthejourneyofBigger’sself-realization.WhateverBiggerwishestodohasbeenlimitedandevendeniedbywhitesociety.JustasBiggerhimselfdiscloses,“WhyshouldIwanttodoanything?I’ain’tgotachance.Idon’tknownothing.I’mjustblackandtheymakethelaw”(Wright2000:382).Asaconsequence,Biggerinevitablymakeuseofothermediumstoachievehissetgoal.WhatBiggerhuntsforinparalyzedAmericansocietyisshakingoffhisbondageandgainingthefeelingthathislifebearscertainsignificanceaswhitesdo.Biggergoesthroughfrustrationanddenialinallwalksofthejob.Heusedtoimaginejoiningthearmyandbecomingasoldierfightingforhisnationandrace,whichrevealedthelongingforexemplifyinghismanhood.Eventhoughhemanagestojointhearmy,Biggerisconfrontedwiththecounterproductivesituationashesays:“it’saJimCrowarmy.Alltheywantablackmanforistodigditches.Andinthenavy,allIcandoiswashdishesandscrubfloors”(ibid:383).Biggerisstillunabletorealizehismasculinityinspiteofbeingprovidedwiththefalseopportunity.Moreover,Biggerembracestheeagernessfortheambitiousjoboccupationasabusinessman.Biggerwouldliketoimprovehissocialfame,moveupinsocietyandshakeoffpovertythroughrunningbusinesssuccessfully.Itcanbeconcludedthatnomatter29 ChapterFourShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtswhatBiggerdreamsof,hecan’tescapefromthefateoffailure.AsPangHaonong(2007)held,“Bigger’sultimategoalinhislifeisthesearchforanidentitydeniedtohimbybothhissocialmilieuandhisfamilysituation”(113).TheforemostdestinationBiggerisdevotedtoapproachingistoprovehispowerandability.Onceofferedthechance,heissuretobeaqualifiedandcompetentsocialmanwhocanworkonallkindsofoccupations.WhenquestionedbyMaxhowcouldhebehappy,Biggerpresentshisanswer:“Iwantedtodothings.ButeverythingIwantedtodoIcouldn’t.Iwantedtodowhatthewhiteboysinschooldid.Someof’emwenttocollege.Someof’emwenttothearmy.ButIcouldn’tgo”(ibid:384).BiggerfindsthattheWhiteswillnotgrantwhattheBlacksshouldbegranted.WhetherBiggerishappydependsuponifheisentitledwithequalrightsaswhites.Inhispursuitofself-realization,Biggerattemptstoseekaworldwherehecanacquirehismaleidentityandexhibithisself-worthincontributingtofreeinghisracefrommiseryandsufferingasamemberofblackcommunity.Cherishingwhitedreamisquitenaturalandreasonableforablackmanwhocomesfromtheunderclass.ThereasonwhyBiggerseeksforself-realizationisthathedesirestohavehislifeinvolvedinother’sliferatherthanisolatedfromthecommunity.Putoutsidethemainstreamsocietybecauseofhisskincolorsincehewasborn,Biggerwantstogobackintohumanworldandbecomeapartofit.Hisdreamofself-realizationcanbeinterpretedashisquestforsuperiority.4.2Bigger’sManhoodDreamDeprivedofmaleidentitybywhites,blackssubmitthemselvestowhitesdocilelywithoutanymaledignity.Blackscannotfindthepossibilityofassertingtheirmanhoodinthepresenceofwhites.Helongsforlivingdignifiedlyandrespectablyaswhitepeopledo.NotbeingtakenforahumanbeingparticipatinginAmericansociety,Biggerisdeniedofthedignityasamaleandcan’tfindtheoutlettoasserthismanhood.Manhoodiscloselyrelevanttoauthority,power,propertyandsupremacy.Duetotheoppressionimposedbywhites,theblackmalesaretrappedintothelossofmanhood.30 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFourHowever,Bigger,asarebelliousblackmale,trieshisutmosttoasserthismanhood“inthemidstofperpetualracialassaultandterror”(Ellis2006:189).Bigger’sendeavortoidentifyhismanhoodhassomethingtodowithhismothertoalargeextent.Moresuitablytosay,Biggersorelyhopestomaintainhismanhoodinfrontofhismother,whichcanbeascribedtohisOedipuscomplex.4.2.1Bigger’sMotherFixationAccordingtoFreud,libido,theinstinctualsexdrive,experiencesthreestagesofdevelopment,namelytheoral,theanalandthegenital.Thechildinthegenitalstagehastheevidenttendencytoselectthemotherastheobjectoflove.Freudidentifiedsuckingatthebreastasthefirstformofinfantileeroticgratification.Mother’sbreastisthefirstobjecttomeettheoralpleasureimpulseofachildinthephallicstage,whichleadstohisidenticalselectionofmotherasthefirstloveobject.InviewofSophocles’OedipustheKingnotbeingcriticizedbyaudiencesbutgainingpopularityamongthem,FreudconcludedthatOedipuscomplexpersistsineveryoneunconsciouslyandisanaturalpartofhumanpsychologicalgrowth.DiscoveringtheversionofOedipustragedyenactedineveryfamily,“inhisownself-analysis,Freudcontinuouslyfoundthisrecurringpattern—ofattractiontoandlovefortheparentoftheoppositesex,andjealousyandhatred,evenadeathwish,towardstheparentofthesamesex—thatheeventuallynamedtheOedipuscomplex”(Thurschwell2009:44).TheprotagonistinNativeSon,BiggerThomasvividlyreflectstheOedipuscomplexwhichFreudconsidersineveryhuman’sunconsciousness.Mrs.Thomas,asthemostvitalwomaninhislife,occupiesthecorepositioninBigger’sheartandwieldsacrucialinfluenceonthegrowthofBigger.Biggertriestokeepmasculinityinfrontofhismother.HisfatherwaskilledinariotbywhitesinMississippiwhenBiggerwasachild.Astheeldestson,Biggertakestheresponsibilityforsupportingthewholefamilywhichisineffectthedutyofhisfather.Heplaysthemaleroleofbreadwinnerand“musthavefeltobligatedtoreplacehisdeadfather”(Takeuchi2009:57).Inhisimpoverishedfamily,Bigger31 ChapterFourShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsactuallyactsastheroleofhisfatherandbecomesthespiritualpillarofMrs.Thomasthroughprovidingherwithmaterialsatisfactionandemotionaldependence.Discontentedwiththeterriblelivingcondition,shecomplainestoBigger“Wewouldn’thavetoliveinthisgarbagedumpifyouhadanymanhoodinyou”(Wright2000:38).Inhermind,thedefinitionof“manhood”meanstheabilitytoearnthebreadandsupportthefamily.Inordertoasserthismanhood,BiggerpromisestotakethejoboftheDaltonwiththehopeofimprovingtheireconomiccondition.Biggerfeelshimselfobligedtosharetheburdenofsupportingthefamilywithhismother.WhenMrs.Thomascomplainstearfullyaboutthepainandwearinessshebears,Biggeriscapturedbyasenseofhatred.“Hehatedhisfamilybecauseheknewthattheyweresufferingandthathewaspowerlesstohelpthem”(ibid:40).Insomesense,Biggerhateshimselfratherthanhisfamilyforhisimpotencetobringhappinesstohismother.Asarealman,Biggerisobligedtoalleviatethesufferingandevencreateahappylifeforthewomanheloves.4.2.2Bigger’sIndifferencetoHisDeadFatherConversely,Biggercherishesnoaffectionforhisfather,whichcanbeobviouslymanifestedintheconversationwithJan:‘Where’syourfather?’‘Dead.’‘Howlongagowasthat?’‘HegotkilledinariotwhenIwasakidintheSouth.’Therewassilence.TherumwashelpingBigger.‘Andwhatwasdoneaboutit?’Janasked.‘Nothing,asfarasIknow.’‘Howdoyoufeelaboutit?’‘Idon’tknow.’(Wright2000:106)ItseemsthatBiggerhasnoreactiontothedeathofhisfather.Asstatedabove,whenBiggerwasachild,hisfatherwasmurdered.AccordingtoFreud,thephallicstagecoveringfromagesofthreetosixistheOedipusphrase.Thechildinthatstageis32 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFourinclinedtodeveloptheOedipuscomplexembodiedinthepsychologythathewouldliketopossessthemotherhimselfandbepleasedwiththeabsenceofthefather.WhathasdiscussedpreciouslyisexactlytrueofBiggerwhoislikelytobeinthephallicstage.UnderthegovernanceoftheOedipuscomplex,Biggermayfeelsatisfiedwithhisfather’sdeathbecausehewillnevercompeteforhismother’sloveandcouldtaketheplaceofhisfather.Heharborstherivalrousandaggressivefeelingstowardhisfatherinthatperiod.Toacertainextent,whitepeoplewhokillhisfatheractashisagentandtheirmurderactionrelieveshisdesiretowipeouthisfather.InthefollowingcourseoftheThomas’life,Biggercompletelyreplaceshisfatherandenjoysthedominantsupremacyinhisfamily.Astimepassedby,theresentmentforhisfatherbecomesmoreandmoreintense,thereasonisthathisfathershiftstheheavylifeburdentohisshoulderandabandons“Biggertothemercyofanoppressivewhitesocietyandtotheemasculatingcriticismofhismother”(Takeuchi2009:58).Thefamily’spredicamentisasortoftheoutcomecausedbyhisfather.Thus,thememoryofhisfatherneveroccursinthemindofBigger.ItisimpossibleanddifficultforBiggertolovehisfather,whetherthefatherisaliveornot.Biggerisseeminglycold-bloodedandviolentwithoutanytenderemotion,butherevealsthethoughtful,sensitive,caringfeelingforhismother.Duringhisimprisonment,hismothercomesovertoseehimwhichgivesrisetoBigger’sguiltforcausingthesufferingofhismother.ThesobbingofhismotherwakesuptheconscienceandhumanityofBigger,whichclearlyprovesthesignificantstatushismotherholdsinBigger’sheart.Seeinghismothercrybrokenheartedly,Biggerfeelshelplessandtriestocomfortherwithwords.However,theunbearablehurtforhismother’stearsmakeitdifficultforhimtofindwordstostopthetearsofhismother.Hejustdeliversafewwordslike“Thereain’tnothing,Ma.ButI’mallright”(Wright2000:328).WhenGusasksBiggerwhathecandoforBigger,Biggeronlymakesarequestfortakinghismotherbackhome.ThoughBiggerisinprison,heisstillconcernedaboutthesafetyofMrs.Thomas,themostimportantwomaninhislife.Biggerentrustshismothertohisbestfriendsandpleadsthemtolookafterhis33 ChapterFourShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsmotherinplaceofhim.Justasamanpossessingmanhooddoes,hetransfershisbelovedwomantohisbuddyforcaringduringhisabsence.Foreasinghersadness,Biggerfinallymakesacompromisetopray.Inthepast,Biggerrejectsreligiousextremelywhichcanbeevidentlyshowninhisaccusation:“Thewhitefolkslikeforustobereligious,thentheycandowhattheywanttowithus”(ibid:389).Notsurprisingly,heiswillingtochangehisattitudetowardreligionforhismother.4.2.3Bigger’sFeelingstoOtherWomenAsFreudconsidered,theunconsciousnessisthedrivingforceofallhumanbehavior,controllingeveryhumanconsciousaction.Thechildwhohassexualconsciouswillgeneratethedesireforthemotherwhichisusuallyunconscious.AsforBigger,hismother,ashislover,isabsolutelynotallowedtobehumiliatedandinsultedbyothersinfrontofhim.Inconsequence,Biggerisexasperatedbyhismother’skneelingbeforeMrs.Dalton.“Biggerwasparalyzedwithshame;hefeltviolated.‘Ma!’heshouted,moreinshamethananger”(Wright2000:331).Biggerhasstoodupwiththeoverwhelmingoppressionfromwhites,thusleadingtohisextremehatredforthem.Atthesightofhisbelovedwoman’syieldingtohisenemy,heismoreshamefulthanangry.Hefeelsshamefulforhimselfduetohispowerlessnesstoprotecthisloverandhelpherovercomethestrong.AccordingtoFreud,theexternalworldbeingrepletewithstimuliishostiletothedevelopingego,hence“theegoalsohastodefenditselfagainstdangerfrominstinctualwisheswhosesatisfactionwouldbringaboutdisasterinthefaceofthephysicalorsocialenvironment.Todealwithsuchdangerstheegoemployscertainmechanismsortechniquesofdefence”(Peters1956:6).Freudputforwardeightmechanisms,amongwhich,projectionwillbeputintousewhentheego’sdevelopmentdeviatesfromtheexternalworld.Specifically,projectionreferstothat“theoffensiveimpulseisthusprojectedorperceivedinanotherthingorpersoninsteadofbeingthoughtofasinthethreatenedindividual”(ibid:7).Thougheverychild’spsychologyhasthetendencyofdevelopingOedipuscomplex,hewillwardoffitanddistracthisimpulsestowardanotherfemaleashegraduallygrowsup.The34 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFoursocialtabooandmoralcoderepressinghisdesireforhismotherpromptshimtoprojecthisdesireintheoppositesex,suchashissisterorgirlfriend.Thatistosay,thesuperego,theinternalvoice,playsanindispensablepartinstoppinghimfromdoingwhatheshouldn’tdoandarousinghisguiltandregretfordoingthethingheoughtnotto,forinstance,marryinghismother.AsfarasBiggerisconcerned,itisimpossibleforBiggerwholivesinthesocietydominatedbystrictmoralrulestotakeawhitegirlashisgirlfriend.Infaceofthewhitesupremacy,BiggerhasnocouragetotranscendthetraditionalbottomlineandthusprojectshissexualdesireforhismotherinBessie.ForBigger,Bessieissimplythesubstitutionforhismother,moreover,atooltoreleasehisrepressedsexualimpulsetowardhismother.Heknowsitverywellthathisloveforhismotherisnotacceptableinsociety.Theblacks,hiscompatriots,havesufferedfromendlesshumiliationanddiscriminationimposedbythewhites.Asthememberofthem,Biggerneverpermitshimselftoofferwhitesanyexcusefordegradingordespisinghiscommunity.Onceheexemplifieshisdesireandloveforhismotherclearlywhichinfactviolatelegalethicsandmoralrestraint,heislikelytobringaboutthemockeryfromwhitesandcontributestotheformationofideologythatblacksareuncivilized,savageandprimitiveanimals.ThoughBiggerhasn’trevealedhispsychictendencyoftheOedipuscomplexever,heneverstopscommittinghimselftopursuingmanhooddreamforhismotherbecausethatcouldbringthehappyandpromisinglifeforhisfamily.35 ChapterFiveShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFiveTheDisillusionmentofBigger’sWhiteDreamSituatedthesocietydominatedbysupremacyandoppression,thewhitedreamturnsintoanunrealisticdreamforBigger,whichistrueofotherblacks.Alloftheirwhitedreamsareconditionedbytheoverwhelmingforceofracism.Blacksagainandagainexhibittheiraspirationsforwonderfulandcharminglifeexclusivelypossessedbywhitesforever.Unfortunately,theyfinditimpossibletoliveoutthefancyofwhiteness.Therealizationoftheirwhitedreamscan’tavoidthedestinedfailure.Insomecases,thewhitedreamcoststhelifeofablackdreamer.BiggerThomasisthebestexemplificationdemonstratingthecatastrophicoutcomeproducedbycherishingimpracticalwhitedream.ThedisillusionmentofBigger’sdreaminsomedegreerevealsthedilemmaintowhichblacksaretrapped:ontheonehand,blacksarefrustratedbytheirincapabilityofchangingtheblackidentity.Ontheotherhand,blacksarestilldrivenbythefascinationwithgoingafterintegrationwithwhitepeople.Theblackbodyfightingforthewhitesoulshowsblacks’helplessanddesperatepredicamentintheirquestingforthewhitedream.5.1TheFalseMediumtoDream-FulfillmentMakinglovetoawhitewomanisthesuggestionofintegratingintotheAmericanmainstreamsociety.Developingsexualrelationshipwithwhitewomenhasgrownintoasortofapproachtoobtainingpowerandprivilegeforblackpeople.Additionally,italsosymbolizestheacquirementofhumanrightsandequality.Owingtohisbeingexpelledfarawayfromthewhiteworld,BiggergeneratestheimpulsetotranscendtheboundarybetweentheWhitesandtheBlacks.Inanattempttocrossovertheracialfence,BiggertakesMaryasthestepping-stonetowardshisdestinationwhichreferstojoiningthefantasticwhiteworld.Drivenbysuchapowerfuldesireforwhiteforce,BiggerattemptstoconnecthimselfwiththewhiteworldthroughhavingsexwithawhitewomanbeforehemeetsMary.36 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFive5.1.1MaryasaWhiteDreamMary,astheonlyinheritressoftheDalton,representshisfather’spowerandthusisconsideredasthesymbolofwhitepowerandsocialstatuswhichisinaccessibleforBigger.BiggerisdeeplytouchedbyJack’swords:“Ah,man,themrichwhitewomen’llgotobedwithanybody,fromapoodleonup.Shucks,theyevenhavetheirchauffeurs.Say,ifyourunintoanythingonthatnewjobthat’stoomuchforyouhandle,letmeknow…”(Wright2000:61).ThestorythataNegrochauffeurmarriesarichwhitegirlfillshimwithexpectationforpromisingfutureandencourageshimtotakethejobasachauffeurintheDaltons.Heanticipatesthatsometremendouschangesmaytakeplaceinhislifeafterheacceptsthejob.AllhisimaginationsofworkintheDaltonsarousedbythemovieareunexpectedlyinaccordancetothereality.“MaybeMrDaltonwasamillionaire.Maybehehadadaughterwhowasahotkindofgirl”(ibid:64).JustasBiggerexpects,Mr.Dalton,awealthyAmericanwhite,onlyhasadaughterwhocaninherithisentirepropertyandsocialposition.SinceMaryisthemanifestationofMr.Dalton’swhitepower,Biggerhasthelatentpossibilitytorealizehiswhitedream.BiggerbelievesthatMaryisabletocreateanewlifedifferentfromhiscurrentmiserablelifeforhim.BiggertakesMaryfortheembodimentofthesocialsystemoppressinghisrace.Bigger’sdesireforMaryisnotsomuchthesexualdesirefortheoppositesexasthepsychologicaldesirefortheeconomicandsocialstatusrepresentedbyher.ThefactorspromptingBiggertocherishthethoughtofachievinghiswhitedreamthroughMaryaregeneratedbyMaryherselfaswell.Marywhoissuchanattractive,romanticandvigorouswhitegirlevokesBigger’saffectionforherunconsciously.Toputitinafurtherway,bothofthemsharemanysimilaritieswhichlinkthedestinyofthemtogether.Butler(1986)observedthat“Bothcharactersarealienatedfromtheirenvironmentandareperceivedasaberrantbymanyofthepeoplewhoareclosesttothem”(12).Bigger’smotherviewsBiggerasacrazyperson,frequentlyexasperatedbyhishangingoutwithhisfriends.Nevertheless,Maryinfavorofcommunismisseenasawildgirlwhocompletelyviolatesthebehavior37 ChapterFiveShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtspatternoffairladyfromtheupperclass.Theypossessthespiritofrebellionwithoutanyregardfortheouterrestriction.MaryasksBiggerwhetherhebelongstoaunionatthefirstsightofhim.Theword“union”carriesdeepermeaningthanitisdefined.Ontheliterallevel,unionreferstoapoliticalgroupwhichadvocatestheideologyofcommunism.TheeagernessfortransgressingraciallinerisestotheconsciousnessofBiggerstimulatedbyMary’swords.ThroughthesexualunionbetweenhimandMary,hewantstorealizetheunionofwhiteandblackrace,therichandthepoor.However,Bigger’swhitedreamprojectedontoMaryfinallygowiththewind,whichcanbemanifestedinBigger’sdream.SincehedecapitatedMary,thepictureofmurderingMaryhasappearedinhisdream.InBigger’sdream,hestandsonastreetcornerhandingapackageandhearstheringingofthechurchbell.Whenheunpackshispackage,hefindshimselfwetwiththebleedingbloodfromhisdeadhead.InthelightofFreudiandreaminterpretation,dream,asawish-fulfiller,formsundertheoperationofsymbolismmechanism.ThemanifestcontentofthedreamhauntingBiggerishismemoryofdismemberingMary,whereasthelatentcontentishissenseofguiltandhisfearofdeathsentence.BiggerhasrealizedthathiskillingofMaryisasevereattackonthewhiteworld.Hisdreamsymbolizeshisdestructionoftheimpotentselfaswellastheweaknessofhim.Compelledbytheterroranduneasiness,BiggerthrowshisheadatwhitepeopleinhisdreamwhichimpliesthatBiggersurrenderstothewhitepowerandhiswhitedreamdisillusionedfinally.5.1.2MiscegenationLawsTheinterracialsexualrelationshipcouldneverbeacceptedbytheWhites.ManyLawsintermsofmiscegenationformulatedbytheWhitesweredesignedtoforbidthemarriageandsexualinteractionbetweentheWhitesandtheBlacks.Theracistbannedblackpeoplefromcontactingwithwhitewoman.Whataccountedforthatlegalregulationwaswhites’propositionthatthecontainmentofblackbloodcanblackenapersonandthenhewouldbedegradedastheinferiority.Theprohibitionofinterracialcombinationhinderedtheestablishmentofconnectionbetweenthetwocommunities.Theywereestrangedfromeachotherandsufferedthedistortioninhumannatureof38 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFivepursuingsexualsatisfaction.Asaresult,sexualcorrelationwasthesocialno-noinAmericanracialsocietywhichcouldbeviolatedundernocircumstances.Otherwise,theBlackshadtobeimprisonedandthenlynched.Asfarasmiscegenationlawsconcerned,theyonlyplayedtheirlegalfunctioninthecaseofblack’soffendingthelegislationbutwereinvisibleofwhites’violation.Inotherwords,whiteswouldundertakenolegalconsequenceinrapingblackwomen,whereasblacksweretreatedwithharshpunishmentiftheyhadsexualintercoursewithwhitewomennomatterwhethertheywereorderedbywhitewomanornot.Morebrutally,blacks’sexualitywithwhitewomenwasutilizedbywhitestoimposemuchmorecrueloppressionandexploitationonthemasanexcuse.Bigger’smurderofMaryofferedwhitesthejustificationfordiscriminatingblacksandplacedhisraceintomoreembarrassedsituation.AsWrightdescribedinNativeSon,“severalNegromenwerebeateninvariousNorthandWestSideneighborhoods”(Wright2000:275).Exceptfortheirsufferingfromphysicalabuse,what’sworse,thepossibilityofhuntingjobforblacksbecameslimmerandslimmer.“ItwasreportedthatseveralhundredNegroemployeesthroughoutthecityhadbeendismissedfromjobs”(ibid:275).Nevertheless,theWhitescanmeettheirsexualneedswithblackwomen’sbodywhenevertheywouldliketo.Ironically,theywerepleasedwiththepridesprangfromthesexualitydomination.Sincetheimplementationofslavery,blackwomenhadbeensubjectedtosexualassaultfromwhitemen.Apartfromtheindustriouslabor,blackwomenhadtosacrificetheirpurityforsurvivinginwhiteworld.Blackwomenhadbeenregardedbywhitemenasthelawfulandexclusivepreyswhichwerecompletelygovernedbythem.Theforemostcauseofwhites’puttingabanoninterracialmarriagewasthattheystrivedtosafeguardtheirwhiteracepurityandnobleness.Whiteswereashamedofmixingwithblacksbecausetheysituatedatthebottomofspecieschain.WhiteracistbelievedthatracepuritycanbeconducivetomaintainingthedominantpositionofthemwhocanpromotetheadvancementofAmericancivilization.Theracialmixturecandecaythenationforstrippingofitsdominantculture’scivilizingrole.Thenationwillfallintodisorderwiththeblendofsubordinatecommunityanddominant39 ChapterFiveShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtscommunity.Basedontheunacceptanceofracialequalityandcross-breedinginracism-riddensociety,blackswillneverhavethecouragetostaywithwhitewomenaloneespeciallyatnightbecausewhichmeansthattheywillbesentencedtodeath.Inlightofwhites’miscegenationlaw,Bigger’swhitedreamisdoomedtofailforhisattemptatresortingtoMary.IntheeyesofBigger,hecouldtakeadvantageofhismanhoodtoattractMaryandthengainthewealth,opportunityandsocialrightsforwhichhethirstseagerly.WhatBiggerhasneverrealizedisthatthedisillusionmentofhiswhitedreamstemsfromthemostseriousmistakehecommits,namelyhisappealingtodevelopingthesexualrelationshipwithMaryforfulfillinghiswhitedream.ThesymbolizationofMarydeterminestheimpossibilityofBigger’sachievingwhitegoal.Toputitinadetailedway,thesexualdesireofBiggerforwhiteMaryhassurpassedtheracialboundaryandtouchedtheforbiddenpsychiczoneofwhites.Noneofwhitewomencanbereachedforblacksunderthepropagandaofwhitesuperiorityideology.AssumingthatBiggerusesBessietofulfillhiswhitedream,hewillbelikelytoliveoutthedreamofassertinghismanhoodandcreatehisnewlifeinwhichheenjoystheabsolutesupremacybutnotlivesawhite-controlledlife.Bessieservingasthespokesmanofhumblenessispowerlesstodrawwhite’sconcernoverwhethershehasbeenutilizedasthemeanstorealizetheinnerlongingofblackmen.IncontrasttoblackBessie,whitesareintolerableofwhiteMary’sbeingcontributingtoachievingblack’sdreamofbeingwhite.ThedenialofBigger’swhitedreamoughttobeattributedtomorethefalsechoiceofmediumtodream-fulfillmentthanthedehumanizedAmericanracialsocietysystem.5.2BlindActionsoftheWhitesandtheBlacksTheAmericansocietyconstitutedofwhitegroupandblackgrouphadbeendistortedanddeformedbyblindactionscarriedoutbybothgroups.Therefore,itcannotensureitssocialsystemtooperatenormally.Whitesandblacks’blindactionsprohibitedtheunityofwhiteandblackraceandpromptedtheisolationofthetwoopposingcommunities.Thewholesocietywastrappedintothestateofchaosand40 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFivenumbness.TheWhitesignoredthehumanityanddiresituationoftheBlacksandtheBlackssubmittedtotheWhitesblindly.InNativeSon,theword“blind”superficiallyisreflectedinMrs.Daltonduetoherfailingtosee.Figuratively,WrighttakesitasametaphortoalludetotheparalyzedracialsocietyinwhichtheWhitescanneitherseethegenuinecauseforblacks’miserableandtragiclifenoridentifytheBlacksasrealhumanbeingsandtheBlacksareblindtotheirownsufferingandindulgeinnumbness.TheinvisiblesenseoftheBlacksistheoutcomeoftheirnonhumanstatusintheAmericansocietyinwhichtheyaretorturedbyexploitationandoppressionfromtheWhitesseverely.5.2.1BlindActionsoftheWhitesTheDaltonsareblindbecausetheycan’trecognizetherealreasonforblacks’miserablesituationinspiteoftheirdevotiontohelpingblacksonthesurface.Inspecific,Mr.DaltonchargestheThomasfamilyasmuchaseightdollarsperweekforonecrowdedroombutareunwillingtorentotherhousesinnon-blackarea.AlthoughhehasdonatedmillionstohelpNegroesineducationandlivingfacility,Mr.DaltonneveremploysanyNegrohehashelpedtoeducate.Inessence,thedonationMr.DaltoncontributestoblackcharitycomesfromtheBlacks.TheDaltonssubjectivelysympathizewiththeBlacks,nevertheless,neverstepintoblackschool,norblackghetto.AsMaxrespondstoMr.Dalton,“theprofitsyoutakefromtheThomasfamilyinrents,yougivebacktothemtoeasethepainoftheirgougedlivesandtosalvetheacheofyourownconscience”(Wright2000:357).TheDaltonsonlyseekforconsciencecomfortanddeceptivesalvationthroughhelpingtheNegroes.Theinternalizedblackstereotyperegardingthemasclumsyandobedienthasrootedintothemindofwhitesdeeply.TheDaltonsandthewhitepolicehaveneverimaginedthatBigger,ablackboywithonlyeight-gradededucationcouldworkoutthatcomplicatedransomplan.TheyareunabletoseeBiggerasahumanbeingbutasubhumanbeing.Thoughclaimingthemselvesasblacks’friends,MaryandJanareincapableofknowingthefeelingandthoughtsofblacks.TheywarmlyinviteBiggertodinewiththembutnotrealizewhichmayarousehisshameandhumiliationinfrontofblacks.41 ChapterFiveShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsAttemptingtoregardBiggerequally,MaryhardlyrealizesthathertreatmentwillputBiggerintoconfusionandastonishment.BothMaryandJantakeBigger’sacceptanceoftheirhypocriticalfriendshipforgrantedwithoutgivingthoughttoBigger’spersonalfeelingandthoughts.FailingtodeemBiggerasanindividual,theymerelytakehimastherepresentationofthepoliticalclasstheyconcern.TheyblindlytrytogainBigger’strustbecauseofhisskincolorforabidingbytheircommunismcause,notrecognizingBiggerasarealhumanbeing.AsPang(2007)stated,“MaryandJanuseBiggertofillarolethattheyaredefiningforhim:theysimplychangetherolefromblackservanttoblackproletarian”(126).TheirgoodintentiononlyleadstothebareexposureofBigger’sblacknesswhathecan’tstandupwith.Biggerfeelshimselfnaked,intensifyinghisresentmentagainstwhitepeople,likeMary.MarytellsBiggerthat“I’velongwantedtogointothosehousesandjustseehowyourpeoplelive...NeverinmylifehaveIbeeninsideaNegrohome.Yettheymustlivelikewelive”(Wright2000:101).AsfarasMaryisconcerned,sheneveracquirestheknowledgeofthetortureandfrustrationofblackpeopleinthepast.Notseeingsocialtaboostandinginthemiddleofwhitesandblacks,MaryandJanwidenthegulfbetweentwoworldsinsteadofeasingracialcontradiction.Havingobservedtheirblindness,Biggerconsidersthat“Janwasblind,Maryhadbeenblind.MrDaltonwasblind.AndMrsDaltonwasblind;yes,blindinmorewaysthanone”(ibid:137).BorisA.Max,Bigger’slawyerwhoendeavorstodefendBiggeragainstthewhitecourtisalsoblindtoBigger.Asacommunistlawyer,MaxfeelsobligedtosaveBiggerbecauseBiggercomesfromtheoppressedclass,notperceivingBiggerasaherowhoisinsearchofself-valuethroughviolentact.InMax’seyes,Biggeristhevictimofracialdiscriminationandclassexploitation.Consequently,hedevoteshimselftoarousingthesympathyoftheWhitesbystatingtheplightofBiggerincourt,butfailingtoseethecrueltyandmercilessofthedominantclass,theWhites.Intheend,MaxisdisappointedwithBigger’ssuccumbingtothedestiny.Actually,whatBiggeracceptsisthelifegivenbytheracialsocietynotthecrimepunishment.ThewayMaxseesBigger’slifeisdistinctfromBiggerhimselfsinceBiggerholdsthathehascreatedhisself-valueandachievedhisself-realizationthroughkillingawhite42 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFivefemale.Sucharebelliousactsymbolizeshisstrivingforracialequalityandsocialinjustice.BiggerconfidestoMaxlikethat:“‘WhatIkilledformust’vebeengood!’…Itmusthavebeengood!Whenamankills,it’sforsomething…”(Wright2000:453).Sacrificingasamartyrforthecauseofexterminatingracialprejudice,Biggerisproudofhimselfandconfrontedwiththeimpendingdeathwithasenseofbelonging.Nevertheless,hecan’texpresshisinnerfeelingtowardMaxexactlybutonlysays:“I’mallright.Forreal,Iam”(ibid:454).5.2.2BlindActionsoftheBlacksInBigger’seyes,blackpeoplearoundhimincludinghisfamilyandgirlfriendBessiearealsoblindandnumb.Infaceoftheoverpoweringwhiteforce,theyhavelostsightofsuchanunfairreality,withoutanyrebellionandstruggle.Theytakeblindactionstoescapefromtheirsufferinglifesuchasnumbingthemselvesthroughbeingaddictedintoreligiousbeliefandphysicallabor.Mrs.Thomas,hismother,can’tfindawayoutbutonlygetaddictedtoreligiontosearchforcomfort.Sheisfirmlyconvincedthatablackwomanshouldliveobedientlyandhumblyeveninapoverty-strickenandfear-riddenlife.Mrs.Thomashascompletelygotaccustomedtotheoppressedanddiscriminatedlifeasshebelievesthatthepromisinghopeandaspirationissuretobringaboutthedestructionanddanger.DuringtheGreatDepression,itistoughforablackwidowtosupporthertwosonsandonedaughter.SheregardsBigger’sfuturejobasachauffeurfortheDaltonsasthewaytoalleviatetheirpoverty.Sheblindlyblamesthefamily’simpoverishedlifeonBigger’slackofmanhoodratherthanwhites’oppression.Therefore,Mrs.ThomaspersuadesBiggertoacceptthatjobandisblindtoBigger’sunwillingnesstobeadriver.Biggerdreamsofbecomingapilotorworkingonsomedignifiedjobs,absolutelynotanordinaryservant.What’smore,sheeducatesBiggertoacceptthegapexistingbetweentheWhitesandtheBlacks.Mrs.Thomaspinsalllifehopeonherafterlife,believingthatGodwillsaveherandguidehertothehappylife.AsforBuddy,becauseofhisblindfantasyofthewhiteworld,heneverthinksoftakingactiontochallengeandresistthewhiteforce.Nowonder,then,thatBuddyisexcited43 ChapterFiveShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtstohearBigger’snewjobasachauffeurforarichwhitefamily.WhenitcomestoBessie,itisdoubtlessthatshecan’tseethesignificanceandvalueofherlifeatall.Allthatsheknowsistoworkforwhitesdayandnightandfreeherselffromtirednessandagonywiththeaidofalcohol.Shewantstouseliquortonumbhermindandforgetthehardshipandsufferingsheisenduring.Bessieissoblindthatshewouldratherexchangeherbodyformoneywhichcanbuyherdrinks.WhatBiggerhateshermostisherblindnessandpassivity.BiggerrecognizesBessie’slifeisanarroworbitsince“fromherroomtothekitchenofthewhitefolkswasthefarthestsheevermoved”(Wright2000:169).IncontradistinctiontoBessie,Biggerwholeadsthesamenarrowlifeorbitrealizeshissituationandcreatesanewmeaningforhislifethroughkillingawhitegirl.EventhoughBessieusedto“complainabouthowhardthewhitefolksworkerher”(ibid:169)frequently,shestillcontinuestobendherselftoserveforwhitesinsteadofcarryingoutanyaggressiveactiontochangeherlife.Thereasonforherblindbehavioristhatshefirmlybelievesherblackskinclosesthedoorofallthepossibilitytoescapefromherunpleasantsituation.Herlife,arrangedbywhites,actuallydoesn’tbelongtoherself.Afterlearningaboutherbeinginvolvedwiththecriminalcase,BessieiswrappedintofearandthenblamesBiggerunceasinglyforthemisfortunebroughtbyhim,whichevokesBigger’smurderinclination.Inshort,herinvisibilityofracismisthechiefreasonforherfinaldestructionaswellasBigger’sdreamdefeat.Everyindividualinsuchanabnormalsocietyfoundnoappropriateplacetofulfillitsdesire.Theycan’tparticipateinAmericansocietyinaharmoniouswayastheresultofpublicityofracialsegregation.TheWhitesundergoingthelossofjusticevaluewereconfusedbymoralitydeficiencyandachievedthedeceptivesenseofcontrollinganddominatingothers.WhereastheBlackswerefrustratedbytheunchangeablesituationthatblackpeoplewereunlikelytoperformtheirvalueandrealizetheirdreams.Whattheydreamedwereboundtobedisillusionedbecauseoftheirinabilitytoovercomealllimitationsimposedbywhitepeopleinablindsociety.WitnessingalltheblindactionsexistinginAmericansociety,BiggerdeterminestobreakawayfromhissetroleasanoutsiderinAmericansociety.Inconsequence,he44 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterFiveresortstocommittingcrimeasamethodtoseekforhiswhitedreambecausewhichcanprovidehimwithasenseofsafetyforhefinallyacquiresself-realizationthatcouldn’tbeexpropriatedbywhites.However,theblindactionstakenbytheWhitesandtheBlacksgiverisetotheshatteringofBigger’swhitedream.45 ChapterSixShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterSixConclusionThroughtellingthebreath-takingcrimestoryofBiggerThomasinNativeSon,WrightintendstorevealthattheBlackshavenowaytoachievewhattheydreamofinthedehumanizedsociety.Regardedastherepresentativeofblackpeople,Biggergoesthroughthejourneyofthedisillusionmentofwhitedream.AsanativesonofAmerica,BiggerThomascherishedthenativewhitedreamwhichisrootedintothesoilofAmericanracism.Inspecific,themassmediapropagandizingthesuperiorityofthewhiteraceandsubhumanityoftheblackracearousesblacks’yearningforparticipatingintowhitemainstreamsociety.Moreover,themassmediaconveysthegorgeousandluxuriouslifeofwhitestoblacks,whichevokesblacks’thirstforsteppingintothewhiteworld.Blacks’long-timeinequalityinsocialrightsandstatusmotivatesthemtowhitenthemselvesforthepurposeofescapingfromallsocialinjusticeinflictedbywhites.Blackpeoplehavetopayforshabbyanddirtyhousesathighprices.Whatisworse,undertheunjustjudicialsystem,theBlacksenjoynosocialrightswhichareexclusivelypossessedbytheWhites.ThelawregulationsimplyperformsitslegalfunctioninBlacks’criminalcases.WhenitisemployedtodealwithBlacks’law-violatingcases,theywilltakenothinkingofblacks’rights,totallyneglectingblacks’interests.Inthestateofisolationfromthemainstreamsociety,Biggerisprovidedwithnowaytofulfillhisself-realization.ThereisnosocialplacewhereBiggercanflyhisflyingdream.Promptedbyhispsychicdrive—Oedipuscomplex,Biggerattemptstocreatehislifeworthandasserthismanhoodwhichsymbolizestheforce,dominantpositionandwealth.Bigger’ssearchingformanhoodrealizationresultsfromhisdesireforkeepingmasculinitybeforehismother.Attractedbythewhiteworld,Biggerdreamstobecomeamemberofthewhitecommunitywhichimpliestheentitlementoftheprivilegeandpower.Consequently,BiggertakesMaryasthekeytoopenthecloseddoorofthewhitesociety.46 ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsChapterSixUnfortunately,hiswhitedreamscometoanendastheresultofhismurderofMarywhichcanbeinterpretedasthechallengetothewhiteworld.Asamemberoftheunderprivilegedclassinsocietywhereblacksandwhitestakeblindactionstowardseachother,Biggerisdestinedtobedestructedbyhiswhitedreams.HetakesMaryasthetooltomakehisdreamscometruesinceMarysymbolizesthefascinatingwhiteworld.Unexpectedly,duetotheprohibitionofsexualintercoursewithwhitewoman,WhitescannotacceptBigger’sresortingtoMarytoachievehiswhitedreams.Consequently,Bigger’swhitedreamsmeettheirinescapabledisillusionment.47 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ShanghaiNormalUniversityMasterofArtsAcknowledgmentsAcknowledgementsBymeansofthisopportunity,Iwouldliketoextendmygratefulthankstothosewhohelpmealotduringthecourseofcomposingthisthesis.Firstofall,Iowemydeepestgratitudetomysupervisor,professorLuMin,whohasofferedmemanyvaluablerecommendations,enlighteninginstructionsandinsightfulcriticism.Withoutherprofounderuditionandcreativeinspiration,Iwillnotcompletethisthesissuccessfully.Moreover,herconstantencouragementbuildsupmyconfidenceinovercomingtheobstaclesoccurringinmywritingprocess.Secondly,IamalsoindebtedtoallprofessorsinForeignLanguageCollege,especiallyprofessorChenQingxunandprofessorPuDurongwhoselecturesIhaveattendedinprevioustwoyears,owingtowhichIlearnedEnglishliteratureandIrishliteraturedeeply,whichwidensmyhorizonandlaysasolidfoundationformyliterarythinking.Lastbutnoleast,Iamgreatlygratefultomybelovedparentswhosesupportandlovearetheoverwhelmingpowertopushmeforward,bothinstudyandinlife.Additionally,Ialsowanttoexpressmysinceregratitudetomydearfriendsandclassmateswhonotonlysharemysorrowandhappinessbutalsoprovidemewithwarm-heartedsuggestionsandunselfishhelp.53