Existentialism emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining his or her own development through acts of will. Conversely, environmental determinism suggests that society shapes individuals, leaving little room for personal motivations. In Richard Wright's novel Native Son, a young black man named Bigger faces constant fear of oppressive societal trends, but is inclined to define himself by his actions in order to find his identity. An existential sense of morality drives behavior that opposes societal norms, while the natural moral code results in conformity. Although Bigger is the product of an oppressive, fear-ridden society, his basic need for a determined identity drives him to accept his actions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Wright suggests throughout the novel that ingrained societal tendencies determine Bigger's existence and behavior, implying that environmental determinism supersedes and corrupts his free will. Max, Bigger's communist lawyer, insists that society has instilled fear in blacks and stripped them of their individuality: "they are helpless pawns in the blind play of social forces" (390). Through this communist perspective, Max argues that white society is responsible for Bigger's fear, which ultimately results in his hateful behavior and crimes. These social forces are the result of a universal desire for power and superiority, which comes at the expense of black pride and individualism. On the contrary, Blacks become “powerless pawns”, indispensable elements of a social game, considered by Whites as a simple lever to raise their own social status. Bigger is conditioned to hate himself and fear white people from a young age, because shame defines and controls him: "They made him feel his black skin just by standing there looking at him, one holding him hand and the other smiling. He then felt as if he had no physical existence; he was something to be hated, the badge of shame he knew attached to black skin” (67). Bigger is the product of a degenerate and oppressive society that fosters self-hatred and ultimately drives him to commit the crimes he does. Living in constant fear, he is born with this "badge of shame" into a world he can never win in, belittled and degraded by an alarmist white society. Although society may be responsible for Bigger's behavior, he is subsequently forced to take responsibility for his actions in order to establish his individualism and his own identity. Claiming personal motivation, Bigger embraces and defines himself by his actions: "What I kill because I am." . . When a man kills, it is for something” (429). Rather than blaming societal trends for one's flaws, Bigger adopts a mentality of intentionality to establish individual identity. Claiming that he kills “for something,” Bigger convinces himself that his actions were justified, thus manifesting this existential ideal into his reality. However, he does not realize that "something" he is killing for is the deep fear and hatred he has always lived in. Instead of blaming society for his transgressions, Bigger says he is what he kills for, defining himself by his actions. which most people would be ashamed of. Adopting this mentality of responsibility, Bigger “felt that he had his destiny in his hands” (156). Now that he no longer lets himself be controlled by society, he feels responsible for his own future.