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Title: Invisible Man
- Author: Ralph Ellison Publication Date: April 14, 1952
- Memorable Quotes
Quote + Explanation
“Suddenly I lay shaking with anger. It was no good. I thought of young Emmerson. What if he’d lied out of some ulterior motive of his own? Everyone seemed to have some plan for me, and beneath that, some more secret plan. What was young Emmerson’s plan…? Who was I anyway”(194)?
Ellison uses increasingly discomposed diction and tone to assert the Invisible Man’s lack of control, and instinctual submission to people in power. The Invisible Man’s sudden “shaking with anger” installs a lack of control over his mind and being, as well as his powerful frustration and confusion given his newfound position after discovering he will not be able to return to his school. He then quickly enters the stages of grief, “I thought of young Emmerson. What if he’d lied out of some ulterior motive of his own”? The frustrated and flustered tone displayed by immediately entering denial blaming young Emmerson and accusing him of lying to him indicates not only his lack of control but his continuing alliance, which is deeply rooted within him, with the men in power in his life. As he continues to process, he displays even more feelings of lack of control and even paranoia. He continues to blame others, “Everyone seemed to have some plan for me, and beneath that, some more secret plan”. Ellison’s tone of paranoia and out-of-control diction allows us to interpret the Invisible Man as spiraling into more and more confusion. The Invisible Man continues to grow in his paranoia and confusion when he says, “What was young Emmerson’s plan… Who was I anyway? Ellison continues to add to the Invisible Man’s paranoia depicting his current state of being lost in his new world. His inability to even comprehend who he is as a person after finding out what his principal truly thought of him, and other people’s views on his life and what he should do, is thoroughly seen by the reader through his hysteria and lack of control through this passage.
‘Well, there was only one thing to do if I was to make a torch. I’d have to open my briefcase. In it were the only papers I had. I started with my high school diploma, applying one precious match with a feeling of remote irony, even smiling as I saw the swift but feeble light push back the gloom. I was in a deep basement, full of shapeless objects that extended farther than I could see, and I realized that to light my way out I would have to burn every paper in the briefcase. I moved slowly off, toward the darker blackness, lighting my way by these feeble torches’ (Ellison 567-568).
Throughout this section, Ellison portrays a lot of irony, description, and symbolism through the idea of the Invisible Man’s full briefcase. The briefcase throughout the novel is supposed to symbolize the Invisible Man’s vulnerability to everything that he has endured throughout the entire story, including physical, cultural, and societal struggles. The burning of his important papers is ironic to all of the things that the character has been through throughout his entire lifetime, especially transitioning out of school, and into the real world. Culturally, the invisible man made several accomplishments that were never thought of being possible for someone of his race, and even though he has made these amazing accomplishments, they were all he ever wanted for himself growing up, and in his young adult life, he just throws them away, or burns them. ‘I started with my high-school diploma…’ (Ellison 567). The feeble light that this character is ‘pushing back’ resembles the different ideas and perspectives of the many issues that came to light during this time. This becomes the turning point where the Invisible Man truly realizes what is important, and what has to be done for him to survive. This passage highlights the literal meaning of surviving in the story but figuratively defines surviving in society and being accepted, as well as creating and hanging onto a social standpoint. The briefcase symbolizes all of the important achievements and moments the Invisible Man has experienced.
Characters
Invisible Man
The main character in the novel is identifiable by readers as the Invisible Man. He struggles with self-identity due to racism throughout the book.
The novel revolves around the moral development of the narrator as he goes through several obstacles in his life. Even though he is the narrator, he remains up for interpretation for readers. Readers never learn his real name, the name of his college, or the name he is given in the Brotherhood. The narrator’s blindness towards racism and trust in hard work and determination also cause several problems in the novel. The narrator believes he is superior to uneducated blacks, but society will continue to limit his success based on the stereotype of black people always being uneducated. The narrator’s ambiguous personality and innocence highlight his name as the “invisible man” and force readers to see the severity of his blindness.
- Blind
- Submissive
Bledsoe
He was the president of the college the Invisible Man went to. He is a representation of what the narrator wants to be. As the novel progresses, Bledsoe becomes the primary reason behind the narrator’s struggle with his identity.
To the narrator, Bledsoe was a model of what hard work and dedication can lead to for black people. Bledsoe did what the narrator’s grandfather had told him to do to become successful in society. After the narrator discovers that Bledsoe’s success is due to his submission to white people, the narrator begins to struggle with his identity because he does not want to follow his grandfather’s words after seeing the brutality of Bledsoe.
- Aggressive
- Submissive
Norton
A founder of the school the narrator went to. He shows readers that there is more than one type of racism in society. He is the first example of someone who has an interest in blacks on the surface but is trying to gain power and recognition.
Instead of being openly racist, Mr. Norton hides his racist agenda with his job and charm. Mr. Norton’s fate relies on how many black people receive a degree at his school, and how many can get a job in the future, yet, when Mr. Norton could have offered personal help to the narrator, he does not. He sees the narrator as a label. Therefore he (the narrator) is invisible to him.
- Racist
- Power-hungry
Trueblood
Poor, uneducated black man who lives outside the narrator’s campus. Portrays the stereotype of “stupid blacks” during this time era. He impregnated his wife and then his daughter by accident and tells the story for money- fooling white people.
We are introduced to Trueblood as the man who impregnated his daughter. However, after Mr. Norton feels compelled to speak with Trueblood, it is revealed that Trueblood is ashamed of the incident. What surprises Trueblood the most is the way the whites try to help him rather than shame him. Trueblood states that after the incident several white people gave him food, tobacco, and money. Trueblood embodies the poor, uneducated black stereotype and is, ironically, smart enough to use this to his benefit. He is given benefits/ presents because of his behavior. The blacks, see him as a disgrace to their race and don’t want him around. The whites keep him because he makes them look superior.
- Cunning
- Smart
Brockway
Brockway is the boss of the Narrator when the narrator is sent to work in the pressure room at Liberty Paints. He is there when the pressurizer explodes, and causes the narrator to be hospitalized
Lucius Brockway is first introduced when the Narrator is sent to work in the basement of Liberty Paint after being sent away from the paint mixing station. From the Narrator’s first encounter, it is obvious that Lucius is terrified of losing his job, and portrays this through his arrogance. Lucius states that he is the only person capable of regulating the pressure in the boiler room; trying to make himself appear superior to the Narrator. Lucius can also be compared to Dr. Bledsoe because they are both driven by power- both try their best to keep other potential black competitors from their jobs/companies. Lucious is seen as being ignorant of the racism he faces every day in the company.
- Ignorant
- Hyper
Mary
Mary takes in the narrator when he has no place to stay. She nurtures the narrator’s black identity and coaches him to be a voice.
Mary is the first character we see try to revive the narrator’s roots within him. Mary can be seen as the opposite of Bledsoe. She continues to urge the narrator to fight for racial equality.
- Motherly
- Activist
Brother Jack
Brother Jack is the Narrator’s main connection to the Brotherhood. He is the one who truly incorporates the narrator into the brotherhood. He is another example of someone who does what he does for political gain.
Jack offers the narrator several opportunities. This allows the narrator to finally feel valued. He and other brothers try to change the narrator’s speech to include more scientific, and unnecessary phrases to deflect the harsh realities the narrator is trying to bring to light. Jack views people like the invisible man as tools, only useful in giving him power, and political gains. Brother Jack’s literal blindness acts as a metaphor for his flawed vision for the brotherhood, and the realities others face. Brother Jack also drops the Harlem community without hesitation, going against his preached belief of equality.
- Demanding
- Cheating
Clifton
He is an active member of the Brotherhood who genuinely cares for the future of the Harlem youth. Seen as a potential threat to the narrator, but ultimately has the biggest effect on him.
Tod Clifton is an active member of the Brotherhood who seems to be the only one who genuinely cares for the Harlem youth. He truly wants the Harlem youth to realize their unlimited potential in a racist society. However, Clifton surprisingly ends up on the street illegally selling sambo dolls. Tod Clifton’s death has a significant impact on the narrator and eventually makes him reevaluate the meaning of his life, causing him to change all ideologies.
- Progressive
- Handsome
Ras the Exhorter
Ras is the enemy of the Brotherhood. He sees the truth behind the brotherhood and tries to violently destroy it.
Ras the Exhorter fiercely questions the narrator and other black members of the brotherhood and accuses them of siding with white supremacy. Ras is a strong supporter of black segregation and power and expressively resents white supremacy. He causes riots, that the narrator believes will eventually cause the fall of Harlem together.
- Violent
- Powerful
The Vet
The vet offers the narrator advice towards the beginning of the novel. They meet at the Golden Day when the narrator is with Mr. Norton. He knows the truth of racism in society and tries to tell the narrator.
The vet calls the narrator an “automaton stricken with blindness”. He sees the narrator has “invested his identity in an institution” and does not see people who think little of him. The Vet also claims to be a graduate of the narrator’s college and tries to expose the downfalls of the school’s principles from his own experience. His frankness angers both the narrator and Mr. Norton because he exposes their ignorance and motives. Although society has labeled the veteran as insane, he seems to be the only character who speaks the truth early on in the novel.
- Wise
- Ignored
Significance of opening scene/ Significance of ending/closing scene
The opening scene consists of the narrator explaining his invisibility, and his circumstances. He is living in a hole, secluded from society. This is significant because he queues the main themes of the novel. The opening is indicative of the circular structure of the novel. The imagery is important to the rest of the novel due to its contextual metaphors for the rest of the book.
The closing scene is the narrator running away and tumbling into the hole he describes in the opening scene. At first, he is overcome with anger before truly understanding why he is in this situation. He realizes his, “end was in the beginning” thus revealing the circular structure of the book. The themes are apparent allowing the narrator’s invisibility to be easily known.
- The setting of the South/ College
The college the narrator attends is where he begins to fight obstacles. It is an establishment run by white men who use black people as tools for their power and gain. This setting resembles the corruption of society the narrator faces.
- The setting of the North/ Harlem
Harlem represents the heart of northern black culture for the narrator. Harlem is the place where the narrator is fighting for the entire novel, though for the main part of the story, he is unknowingly setting it up for failure. The narrator grows as a person primarily in Harlem due to its culture and the people that reside there.
Possible Themes
The Invisible Man is blindsided by most aspects of his life and tries the entire novel to find himself. He encounters racism in society over and over, which finally leads to his self-discovery and true place in the world. He tries to follow his grandfather’s advice unknowingly though it haunts him. The theme is not racism. His journey of identity takes place against a backdrop of racism throughout the novel.
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