An Analysis of Racism in Native Son from the Perspective of Trauma Theory 从创伤理论视角析《土生子》中的 种族主义文献综述

文献综述

1. Introduction1.1 Rational for the researchRichard Wright (Sep. 4, 1908-Nov. 11, 1960), a black American writer and critic, is one of the most influential figures in American literature. As one of the most important African-American writers in 20th , Wrights works set foot in multiple areas, novel, novella and story, prose, play, as well as article, critical essay and poem. Most of his works are written in a pungent and acerbic style,boldly describes the wretched and predicament of black people.Wright is born in an impoverished black family which is a plantation near Natchez, Mississippi. His grandfather is a slave. His unlettered father, Nathan Wright, a plantation worker, deserts this impecunious family when Wright is only six. Although there are ups and downs, Wright still lust for reading. But his mothers suffering from severe illness stymies that aspiration. For the most part of his childhood, he lives in orphanage or stay with several relatives.At the age of 15, Wright writes a picturesque novel to mirror the living conditions of black people. His work is given a position in a local black newspaper. From then on, an imperceptible passion for literary have sprouted in his heart. Later, Wright moves to Memphis and engages in miscellaneous physical labor which bring him into more straightforward contact with the white world. Relentless social reality and execrable survival environment make Wrights reception of racism becomes more incisive which is embodied in many of his works. Hence, he starts to spur himself by books and establishes a lofty ambition of being a writer. Through reading, Wright penetrates into innermost being of thousands of people who have been traumatized both mind and body just like him. Aframerican is a nation who has been enslaved for a long time.They suffer unspeakably under the yoke of slavery and get no right to education. After the civil war, what Afro-American gain is liberation in name only. Their circumstances hasnt substantially upgraded and, the ruling class persecutes them deeper and deeper which precipitates the Great Migration in American history. A great number of blacks flock to the north, getting start to entrench themselves in cities. The quality of the blacks lives are improving for the better, in consequence, and they having access to education. When time comes to 1920s, in the accumulation area of the black, Harlem, in New York, the Harlem Renaissance is in full swing under the leadership of black writers. This campaign negates traditional black compliant images like uncle Tom combined with the demand for moulding bran-new black figures in literary creation and, it heighten the artistic taste of the black populace (Shi, 1988). As one of the leaders in the late Harlem Renaissance, the novel of Wright, Native Son (1940), is born under the impress of this movement. The New Negro Cultural Movement is accompanying the Great Depression which puts the entire United States in bloodcurdling financial crisis with intensification of social contradictions and stark gap between the rich and the poor. Wright saddles a long-lasting unemployment and has to count on social relief in the cause of guaranteeing a normal life during this time. Meanwhile, classical liberalism reaches its rock bottom. The sweep of industrialization has aggrandized social treasure to a large extent, but it has also fabricated fresh social issues. The unprecedented fortune contributes to unheard-of polarization. A few plutocrats grip with most of the nations wealth while incalculable paupers struggle to eke out an existence and the mental and physical exploitation of capitalists also reaches its acme. The outburst of the Great Depression makes the already ambivalent American society worse. President Roosevelt announces the implementation of New Deal for purpose of dealing with the new social matters, which also means that the connotation of New Deal Liberalism begin to change and the germ of New Deal Liberalism is emerging (Qian, 2006). Individuals should be given the freedom and opportunity to give play to talents. In this period, Wright also incurs huge impacts brought by the alternation of social environment, and the image of Bigger Thomas, which created by he in Native Son, also flowing the blood of New Deal Liberalism.Nevertheless, bedraggled social phenomena and knotty life endow Wright a further awareness of the gap between the rich and the poor, and at the same time, racial discrimination. The experience of growing up in such a indigenous and distressed existence as human exert a lifelong influence on Richard Wright, especially on his works. All this furnish opulent aliments for his later literary creation. In 1932, Wright accedes to the Communist Party of the United States at which he attempts to observe the society from the perspective of Marxism. There are myraids of descriptions of communism in Native Son. Most of the previous black writer neither disavow or differentiate them in a bystanders gesture. They often squint towards the narration of backwardness and exoticism of the black nation while seldom refer to the real lives they have always leading. In general, floating on the surface.However, Wright is larruping, his works are replete with the scent of reality, goes deep into the intrinsic causes. He unearths all spheres of life, unfolding various social conflicts and the seamy side of the world in front of the entire being. He narrates those inhumane, unbearable and bloody truth not in a shy way. Furthermore, the images of black people he fashioned in his works who are teemed with rebellious spirit and liberal thought break away from those resigned and stereotyped figures formerly. Thus, Wright has become one of the father of protest novels of American Left-wing Literature in the thirties and forties.In 1937, Wright leaves Chicago for New York. Then, he becomes a vice president of the League for American writers and works in Workers Daily, an organ of the Communist Party of the United States, as an editor of the Harlem. His first publication of Uncle Toms Children, a collection of novellas, is critically acclaimed in 1938. It contains five short stories which illustrates the miserable lives of southern blacks who are subjected to discrimination and oppress. This work also earns him a certain status in the literary arena. Two years later, his masterpiece, Native son, makes him one of the most prestigious black writers all over the world. In 1942，there gradually comes a stupendous divergence of opinion and policy between Wright and the Communist Party, he ultimately give it up in 1944 during which his third distinguished book 12 Million Black Voice, a recount of African-American history, is published. Hereafter, his autobiographical novel Black Boy in 1945 makes him world-renowned. After World War II, Wright embraces the invitation of French government and moves to Paris in the company of his family.There he meets Jean-Paul Sartre and De Beauvoir who have imposed tremendous impact on his later writing trajectory. In the years to come, he publishes The Outsider (1953), Savage Holiday (1954), White Man, Listen! (1957), Long Dream (1958), Eight Men (1961), Lord Today (1963). In 1960,Wright died of heart attack at the age of 52 in Paris.1.2 Literature reviewNative Son has earned astoundingly wide readership and absorbed considerable critical attention shortly after its publication, not only because Wright ushers in a new era for protest novel, but also because he makes a weighty mark in the history of African American literature and blazes a trail for the development of African American literature after world War II. Scholars at home and abroad have studied its theme, narrative strategy, character features and racial problem from the perspectives of symbols, post-colonialism, existentialism, cultural criticism and other aspects.Native Son is published in 1940 notwithstanding, it befalls China after 43 years. Shi Xianrong completed the books translation in 1983. In China, Over 200 articles have been written on the subject of Native Son on various levels. Definitely, the study of protagonists personality and psychology is prolific from the point of Freuds psychonalytic theory. For example, Hu (1997) illustrates the tragic character Biggers personality fission in the relationship between social existence and psychological motivation and, he summarizes that Biggers split personality is affected by social existence. Tan (2010) only exposes the reasons resulting in Biggers tragedy through the analysis of the relation and discrepancy among self, ego and super-ego. To the benefit of psychological health, the personality structure must stay in balance. However, although Freuds psychoanalytic theory was extensively used by the early 20th century, the domestic discussion is not all-sided and profound enough. Wang (2004), for instance, shows the rebellious psychology of black people suffering from racial discrimination by moulding the image of Bigger. But inadequate exposition is exist in terms of reasons that foment this psychilogy. Based on Freudian psychoanalytic theory, Deng and Zhao (2016) present the growth process of the whole black nation through tracing the psychological growth track of Bigger. But the influence of family factors on psychological development is not further elucidated.In abroad, Native Son has also ignited a firestorm among a broad of critics. Some critics are highly recognized of its literary value while some writers turn up their noses at Wrights work and some black literary critics also, heavily impugn it. Baldwin (1955) regards Native Son as a novel that against humanity while Henry Seidel Canby, a critic in Yale University highly gratifies that it was the finest novel as yet written by an American Negro (Reilly, 1978: 49). Racial issue is a hot spot in foreign research. Kinnamon (1990) dives into racism and discrimination on Native Son by resorting to four scholars foresight and sagacity. Tuhkanen (2009) also points out the rock-ribbed racism in Native Son that the ethnic segregation between white and black forms the boundary between blackness ad whiteness. There are still other studies center on feminism. For example, Steven (2010) deems that white tyranny contributes to Biggers propensity for violence on women. None of the women in the novel are given enough respect. The social position of black women is exceedingly low, low to the dust. Although these writers have awared of Wrights revelations about race, they rarely delve into the real cause of race problems.From above reviews, it is unmistakable that Biggers personality and racial issues have been widely observed in the domestic and foreign studies. However, few scholars paid enoughattention to the protagonists spiritual journey from the perspective of trauma theory, a momentous embranchment of psychoanalysis. Therefore, this thesis attempts to interpret traumatic events and analyze traumatic syndromes of the character and his recovery to expand research territory of this book. 1.3 Purposes and significance of the studyThe purpose of studying Native Son under the guidance of the trauma theory is discussed as follows: First of all, preeminent literary works have multiple facets, and it is helpful to elucidate their unique aesthetic enchantment to interpret them from disparate perspectives. From the angle of trauma theory, this thesis explores different sources of trauma and various modes of traumatic syndromes which dramatically deepen both thematic meaning and humanistic care of Native son. Besides, the traumatic discussion of this book shed light on Wrights concern for blacks survival predicaments, and can trigger readers thinking about the hard-won harmonious life at present. Second, the studyisofsomepracticalsignificance.On one hand, it helps to raise the apprehension of people that trauma has its own peculiar worth. Everyone will suffer from different kinds of trauma in the process of growth, as long as we get to grips with it properly, trauma can reshape our lives. On the other hand, for most of the human history, mankind is arguably bathing in unsayable and incomputable trauma. Consequently, probing into literary works that reflect human disasters and traumas such as the animated cases in Native son can call on the societys concern on trauma which is not only phenomena throughout history but also among one of the most biggest problem for contemporaries. Nowadays, people are living under colossal pressure consequently, there needs to be more caring for traumatic issue.This thesis is to sound the alarm that admonish more people to take trauma seriously and to provide a reference for the cure of psychological trauma in real life as well as a potent research example for the trauma theory. 2. The theory of trauma2.1 Origin and definition The word trauma derives from the Greek, literally means wound or pierced skin or torn skin. It was officially included into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders issued by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Its a medical term which refers to damage to tissue or cells in general. Later, trauma is applied to psychological analysis, implying the mental and spiritual trauma caused by physical trauma. Therefore, the meaning of trauma is no longer univocal, it also intends both physical trauma caused by external forces and psychological trauma. When a person is saddling great strain or suffering huge injury, he may be temporarily paralyzed by the shock of the trauma. In Freuds text, the term trauma is comprehended as an injury inflicted not on the body but on the mind. As he suggested in Beyond the Pleasure Principle that the wound of the mindthe breach in the minds experience of time, self, and the worldis not, like the wound of the body, a simple and healable event. As a pioneer in combining psychological and medical trauma theories with literary studies, Caruth (1996: 11) made a cultural implication of trauma that trauma describes an overwhelming experience of sudden or catastrophic events in which response to the event occurs in the often delayed, uncontrolled repetitive appearance of hallucinations and other intrusive phenomena. Traumas are involuntary occurrence of events which, to a great degree, may comminute personal or collective blessedness.2.2 Development and essentiality of trauma theoryThe study of trauma as medicine and pathology started from the hysteria study in the 1870s. During and after the First and second World Wars, the study of war trauma among soldiers arose in the field of psychiatric medicine. The wave of opposition to the Vietnam War in the 1970s left the U.S. government and its people in the shadow of war trauma. In addition, the feminist movement flourished in the 1960s and 1970s, and trauma suffered by women and children, such as domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape, became one of the main themes of this movement. In the early 1980s, the trauma caused by Nazi Germany to Jews became the focus of attention from all walks of life; The terrorist attacks that shocked the world on September 11, 2011 became the common traumatic memory of mankind in the early 21st century, and also the turning point of the trauma in this period. In this century, the development of trauma theory has experienced four stages: Freuds psychological trauma theory, post-Freuds psychological trauma theory, race/gender trauma theory and trauma culture theory (Tao, 2011) and gradually developed into an interdisciplinary study involving history, philosophy, psychology, literature, sociology and other multidisciplinary contents in the 1990s. Freuds and Jungs theories have laid a theoretical foundation for trauma research, which has also shifted from psychological research to cultural and ethical connotation of trauma.Traumatic events leave a lingering shadow on those who experience them, causing people to stomach willies, trepidation, depression and desperation Their impact on life is endless. In no place on the earth must there be someone who is not born with trauma. Both individuals and groups may experience trauma, and the narrative of traumatic experiences requires not only the narrator or witness, but also the audience. Literary works serve as the witnesses of trauma stories, transmitting traumatic events through words. The first step to get out of the haze of trauma is to face up to trauma, and literary works are just the bridge to witness and explain trauma. Pain can be palliated by explaining trauma by means of literature.Song (2013) suggested that if people can grasp traumatic events through witness and interpretation, then the mysterious funk brought by traumatic events can be assuaged. Trauma is the experience and need of life. Only after going through conjuncture and trauma can individuals grow and improve. Looking squarely at trauma is also a respect for history in that it is from trauma to trauma that human history moves forward. Trauma points toward the past time and space, and through a succession of narration and unleash directs at the pregnant present and future. Promoting the spread and development of trauma theory is more conducive to exposing trauma to the public, arousing peoples attention to trauma, healing trauma, and urging harmony and peace.2.3 Trauma theory applied in the thesisWith the unceasing development of trauma theory, the scope of trauma research by various scholars is constantly expanding and, the branches of trauma theory are increasingly abundant. It mainly includes the following areas: psychological trauma, cultural trauma, racial trauma, historical trauma, sexual violence trauma, gender trauma, social trauma and so on. Among them, psychological trauma, racial trauma and cultural trauma are the contents to be studied with the assistance of Freuds psychoanalysis theory, Fanons racial trauma theory and Alexanders cultural trauma theory respectively in this paper, to discuss the performance and cure of different trauma in Bigger. Psychological trauma is the most basic concept in trauma theory, which means that a particular experience which leaves indelible wounds in the mind of the victim which is not only an individual but also a group. Freuds thought is the original point and source of trauma theory. Even in modern and contemporary trauma research, Freuds thoughts and theoretical works are the premise and basis of applying trauma theory. As far as psychological trauma is concerned, he believes that the traumatized subject refuses to admit the loss of the object of love and to restore the normal identity relationship with external reality (Freud: 2005). Psychologically traumatized subjects start to split internally, become fear and despair with their emotional expression tend to be deformed. But its exterior appears to be very restrained, inclined to silence and, adept at concealing the inner dynamic. Therefore, psychological trauma can be said to be the lonely experience that the traumatized subject unutterable and perceivable.Racial trauma occurs mainly between ethnic groups. The origin of black racial trauma is black slavery. Under the long-term oppression of white people, black peoples way of thinking, living habits and even their cultural system have been whitened to a great extent. The study of racial trauma cant go without Frantz Fannon, a black psychiatrist, thinker, and revolutionary who began his theory of racial trauma in the 1950s with his Black skin and white mask. Fannon notes that black people are dominated by an inferiority complex. For the black man there is only one destiny. And it is white (Fanon, 1967: 4). Black people spurn their skin and internalize white values in order to integrate. But the more they try to fit in, the more they suffer. At last, they are not accepted by the white society and continue to wander outside their race, seriously losing their self-identity which eventually lead to the occurrence of racial trauma.Cultural trauma is different from psychological trauma, it marks the loss of a groups identity, which can cripplingly disrupt group cohesion. Cultural trauma is not something that every member of a community experiences personally. However, it can affect the whole group. Alexander (2004：1) stated that cultural trauma occurs when members of a collectivity feel they have been subjected to a horrendous event that leaves indelible marks upon their group consciousness, marking their memories forever and changing their future identity in fundamental and irrevocable ways. That is cultural trauma is not the product of collective experience, but occurs only when discomfort penetrates into the collective and becomes its consensus. Culture can also play a positive role in evoking collective memory and thus enhancing group cohesion. Cultural trauma is the product of collective trauma. Therefore, the healing of cultural trauma must rely on collective strength.3. ConclusionThe arrival of Richard Wrights Native son has an epoch-making purport for American black literature which not only convulses the American literary field, but also a baptism of the thought of the white society. This thesis has studied Native Son from the angle of trauma theory which is a elementary research theory of traumatic literature. Under the auspices of trauma theory, the analyzes of traumatized peoples traumatic syndromes and its treatment methodology are more concrete and interiorized.The traumatic events and its corresponding syndromes that are being reflected in Bigger are working in concert with the trauma theory flawlessly. By going deep into the protagonists experiences and the journey of his heat, we can discover that it is the dark social situation that precipitates trauma in Biggers life. In Native Son, black peoples barbarous and ferocious are not derived from their ethnic characteristics, but to a great extent, the product of current American social system. Bigger, the protagonist, his body is an outcome of American society and, his minds and character are the portion of American civilization. Psychology of the black which blossoms at Bigger is a large collection of the national psychology of tens of thousands of black people rather than a part of the black community. He is a spawn of American society, a native of American soil.Atrocious living conditions and bad family atmosphere are breeding Biggers psychological trauma constantly. Born as a sort of base species which repletes with servility and be ready to be at the mercy of others whenever and wherever possible, Bigger is marginalized by the white world. His menial social status which is unworthy of mentioning cant put his ambition to good use. His manslaughter of the white girl also induces his racial trauma. He suffocates Mary for he is trapped on the horns of a dilemma which leaves him no choice. As if killing Mary was the inevitable outcome. During the subsequent manhunt and interrogation, all kinds of reports of mass media are racism victimizing Bigger on a cultural level which fabricate cultural trauma for Bigger.Bigger is subjected to traumatic syndromes a lot. After his killing of Mary Dalton, a white lady with means, Bigger is haunted by the image of Marys head lying on the newspapers as well as Mrs. Daltons white blur frequently. Such horrific flashbacks can easily rise him from nightmares. Then, he gradually estranges himself from his compatriots and his allegiance to God. Disassociation turns more and more discernible in Bigger that he could neither acknowledge the black community nor blend in the vast white world that straggling and soaring before him. The disassociation of consciousness splits him in half and leads to his deficiency of self-identity.Ultimately, with the aid of Jan and Max, Bigger slowly recovers from the trauma by recalling his past and establishes a new relation with the world in which he exists. Although unable to escape being brought to justice, Bigger finally seeks out a new sense of value of himself. Thus, his recovery from trauma is not only a upshot of others assists, but also the awakening of his self-awareness which is of fist-rate importance in recovering from trauma.In virtue of the trauma theory to analyse Biggers trauma in Native Son, this thesis unfold a new perspectives to the research of this novel. As one of the major themes of literary narration, trauma has its unique artistic value. By concentrating on the symptoms and treatments of trauma, this thesis can guide people to envisage trauma and deal with it correctly. Although the author has gathered a great many of materials, research on this work is still very limited. The definition of trauma theory and its development are not specific enough and the research object of this thesis is single. Other characters, like Jan, Bessie, Buckley and Mr. Dalton, are not laid enough emphasis on. Future research should focus more on figures other than the protagonist. The application of trauma theory should be diversified as well.

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