Blog Post #10 - Invisible Man

The end of the novel is when I think things become really existential. We are already aware of the briefcase representing the narrator's constructed identity. Furthermore I believe that the moment when he falls in the manhole symbolizes a "leap" into an abyss, in that he recognizes the inerrant meaninglessness of everything. This is further symbolized by him burning every item in his briefcase. Thus at the end he is truly "invisible" as he is undefined. He holds no identity.

Blog Post #9 - Invisible Man

With the narrator's return to Harlem he sees that much has changed. His old colleague, Brother Clifton has disappeared only to be selling Sambo dolls on the streets. While attempting to escape the police Brother Clifton attacks one of the officers to, to which the officer responds with a bullet to Clifton. Furthermore, the narrator begins to see the betrayal of the Brotherhood in that they have abandoned Harlem in favor of more international affairs.

The text here offers a good representation of the idea that blacks are like marionette puppets -- like the Sambo doll. They are all controlled by the majority powers via invisible strings. The social environment has blacks living and moving in specific patterns and not by their own accord, even if there is an illusion of freedom.

Blog Post #8 - Invisible Man

Chapter 19 is when the narrator is kicked out of Harlem due to his pending investigation of trying to sabotage the Brotherhood for his own personal gain. So he dedicates plenty of time as a woman's rights activist. Eventually a white woman invites him over to discuss brotherhood ideology, only to seduce him and sleep with him. This "reverse racism" occurs in that the white woman still objectifies the narrator as an exotic sex object.

Blog Post #7 - Invisible Man

Brother Tarp's leg chain is a prominent metaphor in the later chapters in the book. His story reflects the idea that one can escape racism and oppression by fleeing to the north. Nonetheless his scars are still there, represented by the fact that he still carries it as a token. Brother Westrum, on the other hand, is not sympathetic to the metaphor at all. Brother Westrum is a clear representation of "color blindness", and that any reference to some sort of racial symbol is invoking the ability to create racism. When in reality, color blindness is stating that a problem does not exist when it really does (racism). No doubt that there is a long history of this concept in sociological study to which plenty more could be expounded on.

Blog Post #6 - Invisible Man

With the narrator's adept ability of public speaking and persuasion, he is effectively able to rile up a crowd during an eviction to a resistance. It is at this point which Brother Jack notices him and wishes to hire him. He accepts and eventually becomes a public speaker on behalf of The Brotherhood.

It is at this point which the narrator no longer has to deal with poverty. He is slowly more and more well-off and he is also being educated. Despite this we will see that this does not free him from the social injustices and systematic racism, thus deconstructing Booker T. Washington's philosophy.

Blog Post #5 - Invisible Man

When the narrator is waking up from his unconscious state in the medical room of the paint factory, we see a transition in the narrator. A figurative "rebirth", so to speak. He truly becomes "invisible" during this time as he is unable to talk and does not remember who he is due to his amnesia. From this point on we see the narrator viewing reality quite differently.

Blog Post #4 - Invisible Man

When the narrator begins his journey up north, he begins to see a totally different culture which he was never aware of before. There seemed to be much more equality, and both blacks and whites held seemingly equal jobs.

I think it exemplifies the ideologies of Booker T. Washington, in that one should strive towards economic success to rather than social equality in order to succeed in life. Of course Ellison deconstruct this idea in the end, as even the wealthy narrator is still forcefully submissive to the ideals of The Brotherhood.