It is not in a cool sense like Susan Storm from the Fantastic 4 who has the super power to turn invisible, rather it is plainly the fact that he is a black man who is not seen by others. In the beginning as he described himself, I truly wanted to feel pity. This man thinks of himself as invisible to the world, so much so, that he doesn't even feel the need to say his name to an audience who is curious to learn more! However, that feeling dissipates within me when he tells us about his mugging incident with the white man. Yes it is fueling his case for being invisible to the audience, but it is also fueling my case for thinking that he is unreliable due to his emotions as well as causing me to slightly unlike him (non of this is related to his race I must add, it is simply because I do not think that violence is ever the answer to solve any problems).
Moving on from the prologue which included some tribute to the famous Louis Armstrong as well as the building of the man feeling invisible throughout society, we move to chapter one. The narrator starts off by developing himself as a character in the story, talking about his grandparents, who were freed slaves from the Civil War and who lived peaceful meek lives in contrast to the father who undermined the people around him. He remembered his grandfather saying on his deathbed weakness being a treachery because it results in a mockery to their community. However the narrator still chose to live a meek life himself, as shown in his next memory of high school and the speeches that he made. They urged the black community to submit and be humble to others in order to advance in society, which was very popular amongst the white community. They urged him to speak at gathering, however this gathering made a circus show out of what should have been a delivery of a great speech. It had boys tumbling on the ground fighting each other blindfolded, then when they were all beat up and tired, and the fights were over, they fought again for money that was thrown at them-that electrocuted them instead. Yet the narrator still wanted to make his speech. But what irks me the most is when he is quoting Booker T. Washington, and begins to speak about social equality-he cowers and says that it was a simple mistake rather than standing for his actual beliefs! I guess if I were in that situation and was staring death in the face as he as staring at a group of outraged white men, I would have probably cowered as well, but for me to want to believe in him I want him to be bold and courageous! However, due to his cowering he gets a briefcase (will this be a significant as the handkerchief in Othello?) This obviously is a symbol to the narrator, but I am not too sure quite yet what it is. What's curious though is what's inside-a scholarship to a state college for black youth. This is huge for the narrator and he is thrilled!! I wonder how this will fuel him and his invisibility amongst others. The chapter then ends with a trip to the circus with the narrator and his grandfather, then he awakes with laughter ringing in his ears. I am not too sure how reliable this entire dream sequence can be, considering that I already think that he is an unreliable narrator and it is a very emotional dream he recalled. The boxing with the others boys could mean many things-it could be literal, or it might just be how he felt, but I am not too sure what I believe quite yet.
Chapter two is slightly shorter, yet still a relocation of the narrators memory-this being an experience in college. It begins with the narrator recalling his colleges statue-a black founder, yet his eyes are cold and his stance rigid. I think that this stands out a lot, because the narrator felt that going to a school where he was welcomed and not shunned, he thought that the statue of the founder might have been a little bit more "welcoming" and not so cold. This could fuel his invisibility complex that he feels. It then moves to a drive that he had with a millionaire named Mr. Norton. He began to work for the man, and took him on a drive to the country side, however things took a turn (haha car pun) when he accidentally drove to the old slave cabins and to the home of Mr. Trueblood. But what irks me here, is the amount of shame that the narrator feels when passing these cabins. He is so upset that he says that the whole trip was a mistake and he urged Mr. Norton to allow him to drive away. Why would he feel this way? None of this was his fault, yet here he is feeling shamed of buildings and a man that he couldn't control. Why is it do you think that he feels this way?
So I probably did this whole thing wrong and we were probably supposed to divide it up somehow and I was probably supposed to put in quotes, but I am just so confused and I left my book at school. I had already read it before this weekend, but I can't get the quotes in right now if we were supposed to have some... So yah! I think that it's your turn?
I think that chapter two was very defining for the narrator, I don't talk about it in my post, so I'm glad you asked a question about it. I really think the reason the narrator feels this way when passing the cabins is because he has been indoctrinated with the idea that the white man looks down upon "his kind." He probably feels embarrassed for the people living in those cabins. He doesn't want Mr. Norton to know what it's really like on the day to day basis. Remember he is invisible, and has embraced that kind of lifestyle; therefore, anything that exposes what is associated with his lifestyle as a black man will cut him deep.
ReplyDeleteThe Invisible Man is quite confusing. Because it is stream of consciousness, it’s difficult to really understand the big picture. However, the stream of consciousness really does allow the reader to experience everything the ‘invisible man’ is experiencing. Beginning the novel right in the middle of the action, Ellison sets up an intimate between the narrator and the reader. The reason the stream of consciousness works so well from the beginning is because of this relationship that is established in the prologue.
Ellison introduces the narrator in the very beginning line, saying, “I am an invisible man” (Ellison 3); this invisibility however, is not physical and is explained: “This invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact” (Ellison 3). Jumping right into the action and depth of the novel immediately attracts attention, causing the reader to wonder why this invisibility exists for the narrator. The advantage of being invisible is that no one expects anything of the narrator, as explained in his narration of his living situation. It becomes apparent that the tone the narrator takes is somewhat content with his lifestyle: he doesn’t bother anyone and no one bothers him. However, that lack of bothering is purely physical because he is obviously very bothered psychologically by his place in society. One of his role models, Louis Armstrong, wrote a song that goes like this: “What did I do to be so black and blue” (Ellison 12). The narrator then ends the Prologue, saying “But what did I do to be so blue” (Ellison 14). Black and blue is obviously referring to the bruises that would come from beatings, however the invisible man’s beatings are on his mind. He does not have a true picture of himself because of how society has tossed him out like he is not even human.
The Battle Royal scene quickly develops his character from a phantom to a human being with emotion. Ellison does a wonderful job pulling out his humanity, writing, “But now I felt a sudden fit of blind terror. I was unused to darkness” (Ellison 21). The invisible man may not be seen by those around him, but he makes it very clear earlier that light is important to him and his invisibility has no effect on his vision. But the Battle Royal is so blinding, both physically and mentally, causing him to be plunged into unknown after unknown. Blindness is already a key element to this story, and as the novel progresses, it will be interesting to see how Ellison ties in physical and mental blindness.
Why do you think the whites were so willing to help Mr. Trueblood? Do you think they had some agenda that will be revealed later? Also, I think his name is super interesting...any significance or just a cool name?
(No, no, and yes, Julia. No, you did not do it all wrong. No, you were not supposed to divide it up--I actually think the discussion is more effective when both partners are looking at the same material, especially since summarizing is not part of the assignment. And yes, you were supposed to add quotes, but I totally know you will next time so no harm done.)
ReplyDeleteIn chapters 3-6, we see the daily tension between black and white people. Chapter 3 begins with the narrator taking Mr. Norton to the Golden Day in order to nurse him back to health. It’s interesting that the narrator would choose such an establishment as a place of refuge as it seems to be erupting in complete chaos. Colors are very important in this novel, and the color gold often carries with it the connotation of opportunity and justice. However, the Golden Day offers the opposite; it is filled with people in need to treatment or punishment, involving themselves in disgusting habits. The very fact that the narrator chose to take Mr. Norton to the Golden Day proves just how different his thought process is to Mr. Norton, a white man. He sees the Golden Day as a place where he can get help, although it is dirty; while a white man would want a pristine hospital room, everything sterilized. The narrator is in a panic all while at the Golden Day because he is afraid that he will be severely punished if anything happens to Mr. Norton. The narrator constantly loses sight of Norton, and a man yells out at him, saying “He’s only a man. Remember that. He’s only a man” (Ellison 86). This is a key line when discussing racial tension in this book because the narrator obviously holds Mr. Norton in an elevated position, almost idolizing him. However, this equalizing statement throws the reader back to the moment when the narrator slipped up in his speech and said equality. Ellison is very subtle but manages to hint at progressive thoughts of equality through a simple line like this. The Golden Day is a big deal for this book as it sets the stage for the narrator’s actions/punishments to follow. Before I close this entry, I want to mention what the narrator says right after the previous quote: “I wanted to tell him that Mr. Norton was much more than that, that he was a rich white man and in my charge; but the very idea that I was responsible for him was too much for me to put into words” (Ellison 86). The narrator is conflicted in that he feels responsible for and yet inferior to Mr. Norton. This is the product of a changing society where racial rules reach a grey area, but tension is still high. Internal chaos continues to rage in the narrator’s mind even as he progresses through the following chapters.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think is more important for these chapters: the narrator’s attempts to help Mr. Norton or Mr. Norton’s response to his attempts? I think each say something about their character and the merging society in which they are living.
To answer your question, I personally think that it is more important to look at the narrators attempts at helping Mr. Norton, because it causes other characters to respond and react-especially when they find out where the narrator drove Mr. Norton. I think it is interesting how the community around the narrator reacts to him taking Mr. Norton out to see Mr. Trueblood.
DeleteWhich leads into my spiel for this section. I will agree full heartedly with your opening statement saying that ,"we see the daily tension between blacks and whites." Yet what is also interesting to look at is the tension within the black community because of the whites. I am going to focus mostly on one quote here, from chapter 6-a conversation between the narrator and Bledsoe. Bledsoe is angry with the narrator because he took Mr. Norton up to see Mr. Trueblood (that not being his main end goal, but it being where they ended up). But I believe that the most impactful part of this scene is, "'But I was only driving him sir. I only stopped there after he ordered me to...' 'Ordered you?' he (Bledsoe) said. 'He ordered you. Dammit, white folk are always giving orders, it's a habit with them. Why didn't you make an excuse?'" (pg. 138-139). It goes on from there with Bledsoe yelling at the narrator and chastising him as well as in the end sending him off to New York, but what stands out to me the most is how thoughtless Bledsoe is about the narrator and how much he cares about the college and the image that the black community has tried to put up to the whites. Bledsoe almost doesn't seem to care about the narrator, even though the narrator cares what Bledsoe thinks about him. It is curious to think that Bledsoe would care more about the image that is put out then the young man who made a fool of himself and is looking for guidance. I also personally don't like Bledsoe and think that the narrator made a simple blind mistake-yet Bledsoe is treating him as if he did it on purpose...
Do you think that the narrator will ever see that Bledsoe just doesn't care for him? Will Bledsoe's opinion continue to shape the narrator throughout his story?
In this next section the IM has finally found himself in New York for his "new start". I believe that the IM was going to find a new beginning in New York, with no influence by Bledsoe or any problems that his past environment might have caused for him, but I believe that it is the exact opposite for him.
DeleteThe IM begins on a bus to New York, with a veteran who is being transferred. they talk for a quite a while and the veteran stakes about pulling away from the white authority and so forth, but the quote that stands out to me the most from him is after the IM tells him that he speaks to much, the veteran respond with, "I put into words things which most me feel, if only sightly" (154). This veteran has been held in an asylum to "win the freedom" that he has desired, by using his speech to defy the the masquerade that the blacks are becoming equal with the whites. I don't think that the IM really understands this, or even remembers this throughout his life, but the ideals and things that this veteran says and stands for is something that should stay with the IM during his journey.
Moving on a little farther in the section we see the IM with Emerson's son reading the letters that Bledsoe sent with him. Now, as I predicted (by the events that we saw with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet... man I loved those insignificant characters so much) the letters don't exactly say what the IM thought. The IM finds out that Bledsoe set him up for disaster in a new city when he was looking for his new start. The influence of Bledsoe, and the negativity of him has followed the IM into New York, and ultimately stripped him of his education in order to "better the university" that he had just came from.
Which results with the IM picking up a job at the Liberty Paint plant. Now I believe that this plant right from the get go is a giant symbol as the way that blacks and whites interact in their society during the times. This quote stood out to me the most from this chapter showing that symbol, "Our white is so white you could paint a chunka coal and you'd have to crack it open with a sledge hammer to prove it wasn't white clear through" (217). This basically describes how the whites are trying to take over the black community, by having them conform to the societal norms of the whites and "cover up" the traditional aspect of the black community completely to have a well running society.
The IM is then next seen in the hospital, after the large explosion that happened on the plant. But what I find the most fascinating about this scene, is that he cannot remember anything about himself, except for the fact that he is still invisible-as he still doesn't reveal anything about his name or anything like that.
Now how do you think that this accident at the plant will help shape the IM further in the his story? Do you think the explosion was on purpose--in order to further his oblivious life in New York?
To answer your questions, I think that Ellison was very brilliant in how he push the IM into a new chapter of his life in New York. Because shortly after the explosion, his life literally explodes into new opportunities and friendships and identities. Without the explosion and ending of his paint job, the IM would not have been in the position that I think will benefit him in numerous ways.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the perfect transition into the second half of this section! Upon leaving the hospital, the IM is confused and depressed because he finds himself without an identity. However, his worth is quickly validated when Mary Rambo comes into the picture. She is a very vital character to his life because she is the first person to truly see beyond their shared skin tone. It is through her kindness that the IM begins to realize how blacks should treat each other (unlike the Battle Royal…yikes!). She encourages him by saying things like, “Everybody has to be trouble to somebody” and “Well, whatever it is, I hope it’s something that’s a credit to the race” (Ellison 254-55). Because she is one of the very few women in this book, anything she says must be important. The IM needs this validation that he is important and that he has an obligation to his race to do something important with his life. Like you mentioned, Julia, those reference letters were nothing more than an occupational death sentence; therefore the IM has spiraled into a loss of employment and purpose. On one of his walks, seeming to be going a bit crazy, he starts muttering random bits of anger to himself. I think this is a pivotal thing for him because as we saw earlier, he does enjoy speeches; he just needs to be passionate about the topic. All the confusion and chaos existing in his unknown life in Harlem fills him with passion for his people and for equality. This passion leads the IM to deliver a spontaneous speech in order to help an older black couple repossess their home. The IM cries, “No, no…Black men! Brothers! Black Brothers! That’s not the way. We’re law abiding. We’re law-abiding people and a slow-to-anger people” (Ellison 275). The IM is reminding himself, along with all his listeners, how they should be fighting inequality. Ellison makes it clear in these chapters just how important unity and loyalty is to fighting for a cause. The Men’s House was dangerous for the IM because the residents were not all united in what they wanted to see in the world. But the Brotherhood that Brother Jack invites the IM to be a part of is united. This puts a focus on the passion for equality burning inside the IM. This Brotherhood stint is going to be good for the IM, I can feel it. Like Mary Rambo told him, “It’s you young folks what’s going to make the changes. Y’all’s the ones. You got to lead and you got to fight and move us all on up a little higher” (Ellison 255).
In these first couple of chapters, the IM goes through some pretty interesting times.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest moments that stands out, is his speech that he makes at the old boxing ring. This really brings back memories for the IM because his first speech was held at a ring, however he was mocked that time by being thrown into the Battle Royal. However, what is different about this time is that the people were here to listen to him and actually hear what he had to say in order to unite them as a stronger Brotherhood. During his speech--after he forgets everything that he wrote down to actually say, he relates back to the motif of blindness by saying, "'Let's make a miracle,' I shouted. 'Let's take back our pillaged eyes! Let's reclaim our sight; let's combine and spread our vision. Peep around the corner, there's a storm coming. Look down the avenue, there's only one enemy. Can't you see his face?'" (334). From this speech, he is applauded by his listeners and truly confused on how to act due to his last time at the ring. He feels like a new man who has actually been heard for the first time. I would even be so bold to say that this is the first time in the novel that the IM doesn't actually feel invisible.
The other major moment in this section is the rally held by the Brotherhood that gets interrupted by Ras and turns into a brawl. The rally was to be a peaceful event, fueled by racism (in Harlem?). The two parties fight in the night against each other which led to some confusion on to which who was on each side, "It was confusing in the dark and couldn't tell ours from theirs and moved cautiously, trying to see" (369). It is extremely ironic that two groups of people would begin fighting amongst each other at a peaceful racism rally, however it is to fuel the point that Ras states later "...Brothers are the same color; how the hell you call these white men brother?" (370). Although the IM was able to unite the Brotherhood through his words, Ras is trying to show the black community that when it comes to risking their lives the white people will leave them to fight alone, "Don't be stupid man. They white, they don't have to be allies with no black people. They get what they wahnt, they turn against you. Where's your black intelligence?" (375).
Although the IM leaves still trusting the Brotherhood, he should think about what Ras has said to him. In the day and age that they are in, it is wiser to team up with your own color rather than the opposite, due to the fact that your color of skin will have your back. I do think though that this crosses the mind of the IM as in chapter 18 he receives that anonymous note that tells him to not go too fast. I think that the IM really needs to figure out who he can trust and in the end who has is back no matter what.
What do you think?
In the second half of this section of chapters we really see a shift in how the readers understand the IM. It is obvious that he is being used as a tool by the Brotherhood. They send him to the women’s activist rally, not because he is good at speaking, but because they want to get rid of him. Chapter nineteen opens with the IM saying, “I went to my first lecture with a sense of excitement” (Ellison 409). The IM has no idea that the reason he was sent to give that lecture with the hopes of relieving the other brothers the burden of his opinionated presence. The IM still believes the best about everybody. He still believes that the Brotherhood, and this seducing woman, mean everything they say and that they have no agenda with him. It’s like his invisibility is no longer hiding him from the world, but the world is hidden from him. In chapter 20, the IM seems to have a small realization that the Brotherhood may be hiding something from him: “When I arrived the meeting was in session, just as I expected, and word had been left that it was not to be disturbed by anyone. It was obvious that they hadn’t forgotten to notify me” (Ellison 429). The IM leaves confused because he is not invited into the place where he thought he belonged. He has been indoctrinated to such a deep degree, however, that this meeting fiasco does not crush his faith in the Brotherhood; it just taints it a bit. As the IM is walking along, he spots Clifton selling Sambo dolls. These dolls are significant because Clifton has not only left the Brotherhood, but is now selling something completely against what the Brotherhood says they stand for. The Sambo dolls are also being used as puppets; much like the IM is being used by the Brotherhood. If anything, this meeting with Clifton on the street solidifies the IM’s faith in the Brotherhood; he thinks, “And I had been worrying about being left out of a meeting! I’d overlook it a thousand times; no matter why I wasn’t called. I’d forget it and hold on desperately to Brotherhood with all my strength” (Ellison 435). The IM has been so indoctrinated that he can’t seem to even imagine what life would be like a part from the Brotherhood. His identity is being molded into this perfect Brotherhood puppet. The only glitch is that he still thinks he has freedom. But Brother Jack addresses this in a conversation with the IM saying, “For all of us, the committee does the thinking. For all of us. And you were hired to talk” (Ellison 470). The IM was hired to be the face. He is getting paid to do what he does. However, the “Brotherhood” implies that they are family, equals; but family does not pay one another to speak their mind…family allows opinions to flow. I think it will be very interesting to see when, and if, the IM realizes his true place in the Brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteWell these two chapters are chalked full of important stuff that we need to discuss…so let’s get right to it. The IM begins chapter 23 in a bar, well kind of in a bar. He’s on the outside, but still wants to listen in and be included. Ellison writes, “I stood near the door and ordered a bourbon. Then someone noticed me, and they tried to draw me in” (479). This movement is very significant because it represents his desires for involvement in society but not enough involvement where he could get hurt. Because if he were to enter the bar and get verbally involved in the discussion, he could get hurt; but staying off to the side, he gets to see without being seen. He gets to be invisible. We’ve already established that he recognizes the power of invisibility, but here we see a prime example of him using that power. However, he gets noticed which could represent when the Brotherhood picked him up (although they don’t notice him completely), attempting to draw him into society. Once the IM leaves the bar, he has a bit of a run in with a mob of people, angry about how the Brotherhood handled Clifton’s death. The IM again involves himself in conversation, but doesn’t really invest in it. That doesn’t make sense so let me explain. This is what the IM says, “…But it seems highly dishonorable to use the unfortunate death of one of our most promising young men as an excuse to end such outrages. Who was the first organization to act against this killing? The Brotherhood! Who was the first to arouse the people? The Brotherhood! Who will always be the first to advance the cause of the people? Again the Brotherhood!” (Ellison 480). The IM says a lot of great things to defend the Brotherhood, but does he really believe them? Is he sharing from his heart or his head? If you want my opinion, I say the head. Because he’s just trying to sell the Brotherhood and get in as little trouble as possible; saving his skin. He’s involved but not invested. The IM continues to fret about being pummeled by the angry people so he buys some sunglasses: “They were of a green glass so dark that it appeared black, and I put them on immediately, plunging into blackness and moving outside. I could barely see; it was almost dark now, and the streets swarmed in a green vagueness” (Ellison 482-83). The IM tries to hide his identity; he longs to be invisible. Ever since the IM began to suspect that there were things he didn’t know about the Brotherhood, he has desired to be invisible again. His blindness, and the discovery of that blindness, has forced him back down a hole of invisibility. So was he ever seen? Did he ever see truth? The last thing I want to talk about is the Rinehart business. Everyone seems to be calling him that, giving him identity. But he’s not being seen for who he is, he’s just being mistaken. This is a motif of his life, mistaken identity. First he was almost a college student, but that was just a false hope…then he worked at the paint factory, but that was false responsibility. Lastly, he’s been a part of an organization that pays him to be there when they claim they are family. He has fake comrades. The IM is at a cross roads: true identity vs. safe acceptance…which will it be??
ReplyDeleteI believe that in the end, he chooses the idea of true identity. He has struggled with this concept the whole novel of his identity and not knowing who he is as specifically, however as the novel ends he is enlightened a little.
ReplyDeleteEven if he is still confused, the IM is able to finally identify that the Brotherhood is not who they say that they were, and that they have been helping Ras start the fights in order to turn Harlem into chaos. He finally realizes that the group that he trusted betrayed him. But what sticks out the most is the the realization that the IM has when he sees Ras.
"I looked at Ras on his horse and at their handful of guns and recognized the absurdity of the whole night and of the simple yet confoundingly complex arrangement of hope and desire, fear and hate, that had brought me here still running, and knowing now who I was and where I was and knowing too that I had no longer to run for or from the Jacks and the Emersons and the Bledsoes and Nortons, but only from their confusion, impatience, and refusal to recognize the beautiful absurdity of their American identity and mine. . . . And I knew that it was better to live out one’s own absurdity than to die for that of others, whether for Ras’s or Jack’s" (Ellison).
This breakthrough that the IM has of who Ras really is, is a monumental moment for the IM as it is him throwing away anyone else's identity that has been made for him, and him deciding to accept his own true identity. This moment also transitions to when he is in the manhole, and he is burning everything in his briefcase that he owns what what he thought identified him as a person. He burns each document one by one which is a sign of him letting go.
This idea of him finally realizing who he really is, is also shown in the Epilogue with this quote, "And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own. I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man."
In the Epilogue the IM finally encapsulates the fact that his identity is the key to his freedom. So he chooses to make his identity his own, and reflects that without the first 25 chapters of the novel, he would have never come to that realization.
I did not have my book with me I used an online book but they didn't have page numbers!! But the first quote is on page 550 and the second quote is on 573.
ReplyDelete