Invisible Man Correspondence
As soon
as I began to read this book, it struck me that it is written in a very unique
style. The narrator employs an interesting storytelling style in which he is
looking back and reflecting on how his perspective has changed while telling
the story, and at one point he says, “Time was as I was, but neither that time
nor that "I" are any more” (Ellison 30). In this thought, Ellison
establishes that the narrator’s understanding of the world and even time itself
has been shaped by his experiences, and this draws questions as to whether he
can be a reliable narrator since his perspective is so concretely determined by
what he knows of the world. I think that the narrator has seemed reliable thus
far, but it is hard to say with no comparisons available to us. In this vein,
it is clear even in these first few chapters that Ellison is establishing a
very specific atmosphere when it comes to interracial interactions, and that
can be seen especially when the narrator is preparing to deliver his speech,
and reflects, “I wanted to deliver my speech more than anything else in the
world, felt that only these men could judge truly my ability, and now this
stupid clown was ruining my chances” (Ellison 20). The aforementioned clown is
one of the African Americans that the narrator is with in the battle royal, and
I find it to be very intentional on Ellison’s part that the narrator is not
blaming any of the white men who subjugated them to such pain and humiliations,
but instead is blaming one of his peers. That is very telling, since it shows
that when one group has all of the power, the powerless group can often get
caught up fighting and competing with one another, which renders them incapable
of uniting to improve their lot collectively. The narrator is clearly portrayed
as seeing himself in competition with his fellow African Americans for the
favor of the white people that have the ability to improve his life, and this
makes him feel guilty for reasons he can’t quite quantify. Regardless of this
guilt, the narrator does all he can to be what the white people want him to be,
yet still doesn’t always come out on top, such as when Jim Trueblood receives $100
from Mr. Norton after sharing his disturbing tale, and the narrator is unable
to grasp why he should be rewarded like that. This is further evidence of
something else that the narrator begins to learn while giving his speech. After
uttering the word “equality,” the narrator describes a scene of shock, “The
laughter hung smokelike in the sudden stillness. I opened my eyes, puzzled.
Sounds of displeasure filled the room” (Ellison 25). This experience goes hand
in hand with the interaction with Jim Trueblood, as they are teaching the
narrator that to get the attention of the rich white people in power, he needs
to shock them. They will be grateful to him if he follows all of their societal
rules, but then they will forget about him. If he shocks them, he will hold
their attention. What do you think? Do you think this idea will influence his
future choices?
I think you are right, I think that the Narrator has to dramatically shock the white people in order to get a response because they have become so accustomed to maintaining the status quo and remaining complacent. In order to see any sort of change in behavior or reaction, the narrator and his fellow black people would definitely have to do something drastic. This whole idea of "drastic times call for drastic measures" and the need to so something extreme to get the white people's attention perpetuates the narrator's feelings that he is invisible. Early on in the novel the narrator says, " you often doubt if you really exist. You wonder whether you aren't simply a phantom in other people's minds" (Ellison 4). This idea of invisibility creates an atmosphere of powerlessness and prevents the narrator and the rest of his community from taking action and "showing" the white people like they need to in order to see change. Instead, they resulting to bickering amongst each other just like you mentioned with the narrator and the clown in the battle royal scene. This idea of the black community not standing up to the white community is also shown in what I think is one of the most interesting scenes, the scene where the narrator recalls giving a speech at his high school graduation. The narrator says that his speech was about how "humility was the secret, indeed, the very essence of progress" (Elliot 17). This speech and its meaning is paired with his Grandfather's dying advice a few pages early when he said "overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, agree 'em to death and destruction" (Elliot 16). It seems as if the black community itself is promoting this idea of complacency and obedience and often view it as a form of progress, but is that true? Obviously I'm a little out of touch with the situation and have never been a part of something such as this but wouldn't they realize that sitting around idly will not make anything happen? I'm interested to see if the Narrator continues to harbor this perspective or if it changes throughout the rest of the novel.
ReplyDeleteThis section of the book was a very interesting one to read, since it really explored the precariousness of our narrator’s position in the good graces of white men. Despite always doing what was expected of him and more in a quest to better himself, the Invisible Man sees his fate changed after the events of a single day in a sequence for which he was not at fault. However, just before receiving his punishment, the narrator feels some resolution, “Old Barbee had made me both feel my guilt and accept it. For although I had not intended it, any act that endangered the continuity of the dream was an act of treason” (Ellison 134). His perspective makes it very clear that he is trying as hard as he can to fit himself into the mold that he is expected to fill as an intellectually advanced African American college student. He sees that he has stepped out of this mold, yet it is hard to discern where he went wrong, since he was only listening to what Mr. Norton requested of him. In the end, it all comes back to the somewhat disturbing image of The Founder that everyone at the university seems to perpetuate with their reverent descriptions, and the idea that his vision for the school is the ultimate authority on everything.
DeleteAnother issue involving Mr. Norton is race relations between African Americans and white people who are ostensibly working together. Even with these white people who are supposed to be “friendly” to the narrator’s cause, he feels severely uncomfortable. This is exhibited clearly in the scene when Mr. Norton becomes unconscious in the Golden Day, “I had never been so close to a white person before. In a panic I struggled to get away. With his eyes closed he seemed more threatening than with them open. He was like a formless white death, suddenly appeared before me, a death which had been there all the time and which had now revealed itself in the madness of the Golden Day” (Ellison 86). Even when Mr. Norton has no power over him situationally, the narrator has a certain general fear that is exacerbated by Norton’s vulnerable state. This is an interesting concept, since one would think that the Invisible Man would fear Mr. Norton least in this scenario. The fear in this situation, then, is a testament to the feelings ingrained in the narrator from the beginning of his life, feelings that he can’t explain or even really understand himself, but ones that nevertheless penetrate his thoughts constantly.
I noticed the precariousness of the narrator’s position in these chapters as well because I feel like the author revealed a lot more details and discrepancies within the relationships of the black people and the white people. Our narrator is quite clearly attempting to stick to the status quo, he’s just trying to survive in a brutal world by playing the part expected of him and staying under the radar. One of the characters I find most interesting is Dr. Bledsoe because he takes a very different approach to his relationship with those around him. During a discussion with the narrator in chapter 6 Dr. Bledsoe says, “I’s big and black and I say ‘Yes, suh’ as loudly as any burrhead when it’s convenient, but I’m still the king down here… The only ones I even pretend to please are big white folk, and even those I control more than they control me... That’s my life, telling white folk how to think about the things I know about… It’s a nasty deal and I don’t always like it myself. … But I’ve made my place in it and I’ll have every Negro in the country hanging on tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am.” (Ellison 142). Dr. Bledsoe explains to the narrator that he too plays the part of the subservient black man towards the white people in order to manipulate them and maintain his position of authority at the university. He makes himself appear ignorant and uneducated not because that’s what he thinks he should do in order to stick to the status quo, but because he uses that to make himself appear unthreatening to the whites. He then ends by saying he loves his power so much that he would rather see every black man in America die than give up his power. This takes the idea of the black people turning on each other to the extreme and shows just where Mr. Bledsoe’s priorities lie. Another part of this section I found interesting was Reverend Homer A. Barbee’s story about the Founder. The part I found most interesting about this portion of the story was how the narrator pointed out that Barbee was blind. Blindness is a symbol throughout the novel and that makes me wonder if his blindness affects the story he was telling about the Founder? What does his blindness mean in the context of this speech?
ReplyDeleteChapters 7-14 of Invisible Man are important ones for the development of the narrator’s perspective, as during these chapters he moves to New York and experiences a much different sort of life than what he saw in the South. I thought it was so interesting how stunned he was by the higher degree of equality in the North, especially right when he arrived in Harlem and saw African American people in positions where he had never seen them before. However, he soon encounters the same archetypes that he once saw back home, especially in his boss at the paint plant, “You were trained to pretend that you respected them and acknowledged them in the same quality of authority and power in your world as the whites before whom they bowed and scraped and feared and loved and imitated…” (Ellison 225). This scene involving the fight between the narrator and Mr. Brockway is really important because it shows how quickly and how severely the narrator has changed his ideals since arriving in New York. Originally, he planned to speak softly and use his charm to advance in his employment opportunities, yet here he is physically attacking his supervisor and that actually achieves his desired result. What do you think this says about how his newfound distrust in Dr. Bledsoe has affected his general view of those in authority above him? Shortly after this incident, the narrator meets Mary, and her initial advice to him greatly changes his perspective as well, prompting Ellison to write, “I now felt a contempt such as only a disillusioned dreamer feels for those still unaware that they dream…” (Ellison 256). The experience seems to have opened the narrator’s eyes to some things, and I think this may be the point to which he referred early on in the novel where his worldview is most accurate. What do you think? I am not sure he has quite gotten to his clearest point, but the narrator is finally gaining some confidence in his beliefs and beginning to see beyond what is initially presented to him, which is exhibited as well in his oration as the elderly couple is being evicted. The narrator seems to be spreading his wings much as he thought he would once he got to the city, just in a dramatically different field. What do you think about his induction into this new organization? So far, I am concerned, as his leader once again said to him, “You will rise to the task; it is only necessary that you work hard and follow instructions” (Ellison 308). Even though this is a whole new set of people, they seem to be telling our narrator the same things as always. I hope for his sake that things will turn out differently this time.
DeleteI really enjoyed these new chapters of Invisible Man because I feel like a change of scenery was needed and helps the reoccurring themes within the novel to stand out even more now that the story has shifted to New York city. I agree, it is adorable to see just how excited and shocked the Narrator was to see a black man directing white people in traffic because he is so unaccustomed to seeing fellow black people in positions equal to some white people. One of my favorite parts of this section was early on in chapter 7 when the Narrator talks to the peculiar veteran on the bus. During their conversation the veteran says, “All right, forget what I've said. But for God's sake, learn to look beneath the surface," he said. "Come out of the fog, young man. And remember you don't have to be a complete fool in order to succeed. Play the game, but don't believe in it -- that much you owe yourself. Even if it lands you in a strait jacket or a padded cell. Play the game but play it your own way -- part of the time at least.” (Ellison 188). Despite barely knowing each other, it seems like this veteran genuinely has the narrator’s best interests at heart and gives him advice he legitimately believes will help him. By having this scene take place before the narrator gets to New York it reflects the hopes that the narrator has for the city and the new positive attitude it might provide for him regarding the black community. The reader soon realizes that despite their being more equality in the north, that the relationships between the groups are still very similar to back down south. This is clearly illustrated in the narrator’s argument with Mr. Brockway. This black man versus black man fight is reminiscent of things the reader saw earlier on in the book but I’m happy to see the narrator actually speak his mind and stand up for himself for once. Other part of this section of chapters I found interesting was the narrator’s interaction with Mary in Chapter 12. The two discuss why the narrator is in New York and Mary says that she too is originally from the south saying “I’m in New York but New York ain’t in me’ (Ellison 264). There is an interesting dynamic between the people of the black community and each encounter the narrator has is unique depending on the person he is speaking too. Many of the black people he encounters want to do him harm, mostly because they feel like they are in competition with him for respect/affection or they just feel like that’s what they have to do in order to please the white folks. Other people genuinely care for his well-being but are hesitant to show it or show it in strange ways. Despite all these differences, there is a strange sense of community between them, even though they sometimes feel as if they have to fight amongst each other to survive. This dynamic confuses me because it feels very contradictory but I think this quote and Mary’s pride in the south despite the freedoms of the north helps to portray it.
DeleteEarly on in the section, in chapter 15, the audience is met with a significant event filled with symbolism and hidden meaning. The narrator discovers a unique coin bank as he is leaving Mary’s house to join the brotherhood, describing it as “a cast-iron figure of a very black, red-lipped and wide-mouthed Negro… staring up at me from the floor, his face an enormous grin, his single large black hand held pal up before his chest” (Ellison 319). The coin bank represents the crude racial stereotypes that were prevalent in that day that the narrator is desperately trying to run from. The coin bank represents the black man that is eager to degrade himself for the approval and amusement of the ruling white class, the type of man that makes it impossible for the narrator to be successful. This symbol is taken even further by the author using a physical object to represent a type of man, showing that that man is simply a play thing for those he is performing for. The narrator’s ensuing difficult of trying and failing to get rid of the trinket many times shows the near impossibility of destroying stereotypes once they are established – a theme the narrator continues to struggle with throughout the entire book. I find this section of Invisible Man intriguing because I’m interested in the narrator’s climb through the ranks of the Brotherhood Organization and am proud that he finally seems to have found a place where he fits in and can put his talents to use. Despite his newfound success, the narrator feels conflicted about what he is doing with the brotherhood and continues to have dreams and flashbacks about his grandfather and his advice. At first glance the idea of the brotherhood looks promising. Back in Chapter 14, jack describes the group as an organization focused on social activism, that fights for people that have been “dispossessed of their heritage”. On further observation, the organization isn’t as great at it seems. Despite its goals of racial equality, there is still racial tension between the black and white members of the brotherhood. Furthermore, in chapter 18, Wrestrum accuses the narrator of using the Brotherhood as a platform for personal game and there appears to be extensive corruption within the organization. This idea of corruption is supported by Wrestrum suddenly disappearing during the investigation or by how fellow brotherhood members intentionally excluded thee narrator from an important meeting. It seems as if there is nobody in the world the narrator can trust, and that makes for a very depressing book. I wonder if the narrator will have better luck in the future with finding more dependable/trustworthy friends? Do any trustworthy people actually exist in this story?
ReplyDeleteThis section was certainly action packed. The two things that really stood out to me through these chapters were the development of invisibility as an idea and the continued faith that the narrator puts in the Brotherhood. Invisibility played a bigger part than ever before as the narrator began to realize that even when he was playing such a prominent public role, he still was not being seen. This is evident as he gains in success with the Brotherhood and describes what that felt like, “My name spread like smoke in an airless room. I was kept moving all over the place. Speeches here, there, everywhere, uptown and down. I wrote newspaper articles, led parades and relief delegations, and so on. And the Brotherhood was going out of its way to make my name prominent” (Ellison 294). The narrator is gaining fame and popularity, but it is all for his name, and not his true name, but the one that the Brotherhood created for him. The one being seen by the public is merely a character, and our narrator is continuing to be unseen in public. He is also shown to be invisible in private, as seen in the incident that took place after he slept with the white woman. When her husband got home in the middle of the night, the narrator wondered, “Why hadn't he said something, recognized me, cursed me? Attacked me?” (Ellison 324). This scene is very concerning to the narrator, as he feels that he has just gotten away with something that should have been punished, and after that night he is haunted by this mistake even though he is never punished for it. This may be the beginning of realizing that invisibility can work in his favor. In regard to the organization, the narrator places far too much weight on the Brotherhood and finding his identity with them, which is especially dangerous since he is on such rocky terms with the leadership at the moment. Even after Tod leaves the Brotherhood along with so many others, the narrator proclaims, “I'd forget it and hold on desperately to Brotherhood with all my strength. For to break away would be to plunge” (Ellison 337). It is so interesting that he does not doubt the organization even after so many leave it behind. He continues to cling to their authority as opposed to facing things on his own outside their structure. One would think that he of all people should be able to see that the Brotherhood is not the only place that will get him where he wants to go. He once felt this same way about his university, and then he got disillusioned and took a radically different route that ultimately brought him more success. Therefore, he should know that there is not only one road open to him, and that other, more unexpected routes may be better for him in the long run.
DeleteI can’t believe we have reached the end of the novel! These last chapters were really interesting in regard to the narrator’s character development. Right from the start of the section, when everyone in the bar was discussing Clifton’s death and the narrator responded, “‘Please, not tonight,’ I said. ‘he was one of my best friends’” (Ellison 479). Even after the betrayal, the narrator still considers Clifton to have been a dear friend since he generally only associates with members of the Brotherhood and has no real allies in that group. I think this really shows the loneliness that the Invisible Man is trying to hide. Do you think he has any real friends at this point?
ReplyDeleteThe experience with Sybil was also an interesting one, especially when he was trying to get rid of her and she kept coming back, “Then near 110th Street I saw her again. She was waiting beneath a street lamp, waving. I wasn’t surprised; I had become fatalistic” (Ellison 530). This scene is very reminiscent of when the narrator was trying to get dispose of the racist coin bank and it kept returning to him. This interaction affirms the theme that once stereotypes are established, it is tough to get rid of them, and Sybil’s refusal to leave represents this perpetuation of stereotypes. This section is instrumental for the narrator realizing how he is viewed by others, and that in some ways people will always see him just as a tool, whether that is the Brotherhood using him for political gain or Sybil using him to fulfill her twisted fantasy.
In the end, our narrator does find resolution in his perspective on how people fit together, “Now I know men are different and that all life is divided and that only in division is there true health” (Ellison 576). The Invisible Man shows us that sometimes posing for equality is really advocating for conformity, which is ultimately harmful to everyone. The narrator in the end affirms that unique individuals are what make America what we are, and this diversity should be encouraged. What do you think about his choices about hiding near the end?
I’m happy this is finally the end of our journey with The Invisible Man but I’m sad that we do not get to write letters to each other anymore, maybe we should try out being real pen pals for a change? I have to agree; the Narrator is obviously lonely throughout the whole novel and I cannot really think of anybody I would consider to be his “friend”. I was optimistic when he joined the Brotherhood, thinking that that community could potentially be a source of friendship for him but that organization was corrupt to the core and despite the Narrator considering Clifton his “friend”, nobody in that organization was good to him. The Narrator’s loneliness and desperation are reflected in his willingness to accept people mistaking him as Rinehart. After he purchases the glasses and the first woman mistakes him for Rinehart, the Narrator corrects her saying “No, I aint him… but you seemed so pleased to see him that I couldn’t resist it. He’s really a lucky man” (483). As the chapter progresses, the narrator adds a hat to his disguise more and more people mistake him for this mysterious Rinehart – the bartender, some men at the bar, a prostitute, and another group of people after that. When the people believed he was Rinehart at first glance they accepted him, but when they realized he was an imposter they immediately rejected him, a reaction he has been getting throughout the entirety of the novel. His willingness to pretend to be somebody he isn’t just to be noticed and talked to shows just how invisible the Narrator feels and how hungry he is for recognition and attention. During the epilogue the Narrator finally acknowledges his invisibility saying, “I’m not blaming anyone for this state of affairs mind you; nor merely crying mea culpa. The fact is that you carry part of your sickness within you, at least I do as an invisible man. I carried my sickness and though for a long time tried to place it in the outside world, the attempt to write it down shows me that at least half of it lay within me” (575). At first I found the epilogue very sad and almost hopeless but as the Narrator continues his outlook begins to transform into something more positive. He eventually goes on to say, “The word is just as concrete, ornery, vile, and sublimely wonderful as before, only now I better understand my relations to it and it to me… I have stayed in my hole, because up above there’s an increasing passion to make men conform to a pattern” (576). Through his interactions with the world and writing down his journey the Narrator began to realize that while being invisible isn’t always great, it’s better than being forced to be somebody you’re not or being forced to be a part of something you don’t believe in. He learns to value diversity over conformity and individuality over acceptances, an important lesson to learn.
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