Wright's 1940 original novel followed a poor, 20-year-old black Chicagoan, Bigger Thomas, as he takes a job as a chauffeur for the wealthy, white Dalton family. When Thomas accidentally mits an act of violence against a member of the family, he engages in an elaborate cover-up scheme that begets more crimes. Wright emphasizes throughout the novel that society has been set up to make Thomas what he bees.

年轻的非裔美国人比格和母亲及兄弟姐妹住在芝加哥。他开始做富商道尔顿一家的司机，为道尔顿的女儿玛丽驾驶。直到他卷入了一场意外死亡事件后，其与强大的社会力量发生了冲突。