Soft determinism is a level of determinism which allows for the existence of free will, if only a somewhat restricted form. What Native Son and Wright neglect to address is the existence of soft determinism. I tend to disagree with this approach, because I believe Bigger does exhibit some degree of autonomy and that he is thus culpable for his actions. It is Bigger’s upbringing, socioeconomic status, and environment, rather than Bigger himself, which decide his fate: he is followed by “the feeling of being always enclosed in the stifling embrace of an invisible force” (150) in Wright’s eyes, Bigger, then, is not responsible for his crimes. The hard determinism which characterizes Native Son asserts that all behavior is governed by forces beyond our control: free will is only an illusion. Native Son and, indeed, Wright himself argue that Bigger’s actions are not his own rather, the text employs the philosophical doctrine of determinism. Bigger’s impoverished lifestyle and exposure to systemic racism each inform the events of the novel, most notably his murdering both Mary, a wealthy white heiress, and Bessie, his black girlfriend. Richard Wright’s Native Son follows Bigger Thomas as he navigates the precipitous race relations of 1930s Chicago.
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