Misogyny is a recurring theme within Native Son. Compose an argumentative essay explaining how the aggression against the women in the text perpetuates sexism. Use “What Bigger Killed For: Rereading Violence Against Women in Native Son” to corroborate your argument.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Perpetuation of Sexism: Misogyny and Violence Against Women in Native Son
Introduction
Richard Wright’s novel, Native Son, is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores numerous themes, including racism, poverty, and violence. One recurring theme that stands out is misogyny, which is evident through the aggression against women in the text. This essay aims to argue how the acts of violence against women in Native Son perpetuate sexism. The argument will be supported by the article “What Bigger Killed For: Rereading Violence Against Women in Native Son” by Julie H. Kim.
Thesis Statement
The aggression and violence towards women in Native Son serve to perpetuate sexism by reinforcing harmful stereotypes, highlighting the lack of agency for women, and ultimately normalizing the mistreatment of women within society.
Reinforcing Harmful Stereotypes
Throughout Native Son, the female characters are consistently portrayed as objects of desire and control, which reinforces harmful stereotypes. Bigger’s interactions with women, such as his girlfriend Bessie and Mary Dalton, illustrate this point. Bessie is depicted as a submissive and dependent woman who becomes a victim of Bigger’s violence. On the other hand, Mary is portrayed as a rebellious and sexually liberated woman who meets a tragic end at Bigger’s hands.
According to Kim’s article, these portrayals contribute to the perpetuation of sexism by reinforcing the notion that women are either submissive or rebellious, and that their worth lies solely in their relationship to men. This further entrenches societal expectations and stereotypes about women’s behavior and roles.
Highlighting the Lack of Agency for Women
The aggression against women in Native Son also serves to highlight the lack of agency that women have within the story. Bessie, for instance, is portrayed as having little control over her own life. She is dependent on Bigger for financial support and succumbs to his demands because she lacks other opportunities. Similarly, Mary is depicted as rebelling against societal norms but ultimately fails to escape the control of men.
Kim’s article supports this argument by explaining that the violence against women in Native Son serves as a reflection of the limited agency women had during that time period. By portraying women as powerless victims or rebellious figures who ultimately fail to liberate themselves, the novel reinforces the idea that women are inherently subservient to men.
Normalizing Mistreatment of Women
The acts of violence against women in Native Son contribute to the normalization of mistreatment towards women within society. Bigger’s violent actions towards both Bessie and Mary are not only condoned but also treated with indifference by other characters in the novel. This normalization is further emphasized when Bigger is tried for murder but not for rape or assault against women.
Kim argues that this normalization perpetuates sexism by downplaying the severity of violence against women and treating it as an expected part of life. By not holding Bigger accountable for his actions towards women, society at large is complicit in allowing such mistreatment to continue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, misogyny is a recurring theme within Native Son, as evidenced by the aggression against women in the text. The acts of violence perpetuate sexism by reinforcing harmful stereotypes, highlighting the lack of agency for women, and normalizing the mistreatment of women within society. Richard Wright’s novel serves as a reminder that despite progress in gender equality over time, there is still much work to be done to combat sexism and promote gender equity.
