Types of Invisibility in Invisible Man
John Brownridge
Ralph Ellison displays a multitude of different types of invisibility through multiple characters in Invisible Man. All of these types of invisibility are different and interesting, and important in helping the Narrator’s character arc of realizing his own invisibility.
The first type of invisibility displayed in Invisible Man is shown all the way back in chapter one. The Narrator’s grandfather, on his deathbed, gives the Narrator advice on how to survive peacefully in a white society. He says that the Narrator should “overcome ‘em with yesses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction, let ‘em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open.” He is basically telling the Narrator to conform to the will of white people and let them control and manipulate him. With this type of invisibility, the Narrator would live without his voice and opinion about racism and social issues never being heard, but in return, would hopefully live a relatively peaceful life. The idea of living like this is absolutely appalling to the Narrator, so he does everything in his power to let his voice be heard to keep from being Invisible.
While trying to stay visible, the Narrator joins the Brotherhood, which claims to be an egalitarian organization that campaigns for social justice. With the Brotherhood, the Narrator makes several speeches to crowds of people, and his voice is heard by many. Despite this, he is still invisible, as it isn’t really his voice which is being heard. Instead, he is forced to follow the agenda of the Brotherhood, which doesn’t exactly line up with his beliefs. This type of invisibility is what the Narrator lives through throughout a majority of the novel, although he doesn’t realize it until the end.
Another form of invisibility that is depicted in the novel is that of Bledsoe. His form of invisibility is similar to what the Narrator’s grandfather was talking about, as it involves pleasing white folks, but different in that Bledsoe believes he is manipulating white folks and rising to power. In the Grandfather’s form of invisibility, one would fade into the social norms of society, but Bledsoe instead became very powerful and wealthy, and respected. The Narrator previously idolized Bledsoe and his success, and thought of him as proof that black people do not need to submit to what society views black people as. Later on, he realizes that Bledsoe is just pleasing white people to get ahead, and thus, not showing his true self to them.
I think it is interesting that Ellison depicts different types of invisibility, and I think the Narrator doesn’t realize the invisibility of those around him until he writes the entire story. I think that before writing the story, he might have believed himself to be the “Invisible Man”, but at the end, he knows that many people can be invisible in different ways, which is why he frames the novel as a warning to the reader about becoming invisible.
Great Post! I like how you focused on the theme of invisibility throughout the novel. After all, it is mentioned in the title. You did a great job explaining different instances in the book where the narrator experienced invisibility. I really find it fascinating to read Ellison's depiction of invisibility and identitiy in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post! I always just kind of lumped all the forms of invisibility in Invisible together as one vague blob, but I agree that there are certainly types! I also like how you connect each type to a different landmark event, character, etc. in the Narrator's life; it really makes your analysis clear and easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteHey John, this is a good post! I like how you distinguish the different types of invisibility depicted in the novel. You do a great job of explaining how the forms of invisibility manifest themselves and affect people's lives. Good work!
ReplyDeleteThis was a great read John! You did a nice job of categorizing different types of invisibility in Invisible Man. In my opinion, I would argue that the grandfather and Bledsoe's invisibilities are even more similar, in that both of them aim to manipulate white people through conforming to oppressive standards in order to get what they want. However, I definitely agree with you in the respect that there is some daylight between their invisibilities, just like most characters in Invisible Man. I really enjoyed your point about the end of the novel, and how it represents the narrator's finalized understanding of invisibility, and how invisibility in itself is individual. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good blog John. Invisibility is arguably the main theme of the book, so its important to inspect different types of invisibility. You did a good job analysing how the narrator himself goes through different changes throughout the story.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I had never thought of invisibility depicted in this way. I just always thought that the narrator's status was always binary. He was invisible or he was not. You really make it clear what the different types of invisibility are, backing it up with some nice examples. Great job on the blog!
ReplyDeleteInvisibility was definitely not just a single definite meaning given to all instances in which it was alluded to, and you did an amazing job of laying the specific categories out! The different types of invisibility really build upon one another to create the overarching theme of invisibility we all saw at first glance. Nice work!
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