Invisible Man: The Life of a Black American in Harlem
What is in a life? Do we exist as merely a conglomerate of memories and experiences, or are we also defined by the views of others? In The Invisible Man, our narrator finds that all of his experiences - everything that defines him - are informed by the views and manipulations of others. This is obviously a very troubling conclusion, so troubling in fact that the narrator must hide underground with nothing but dim lights and sad music for company as he tries to sort through his own invisibility and the naivety that formed his identity. In addition to the narrator trying to figure out what his life thus far has amounted t, and the future paths he must take, there is a scene in the novel that truly questions …show more content…
Through the roaring in his ears, and the sick feeling in his stomach, he stands up for himself, the Provo’s, and every African American in an emotional speech. The “junk” on the street brings something out of him, and he begins to finally understand that the struggle is not a thing of the past, and it is his turn to try to help his people. This “junk” is a representation of himself and African Americans everywhere - and their shame. “ We’re law- abiding, so clear the street of the debris. Put it out of sight! Hide it, hide their shame! Hide our shame! (281). He is advising everyone to play the white man’s game, and if they have to hide who they really are, and hide their difficult past, then they will do so with pride.
Of course, this venture into speech ends horribly for the invisible man, as it leads to the Brotherhood, which is a manipulative con hidden behind the veil of a good opportunity. The invisible man does not realize this at the time, but even in the moment where his race’s struggle caused him to shrug off his benevolent mask and speak with conviction, he was drawn deeper into the white man’s manipulation. He took one step forward and two steps
What is in a life? Do we exist as merely a conglomerate of memories and experiences, or are we also defined by the views of others? In The Invisible Man, our narrator finds that all of his experiences - everything that defines him - are informed by the views and manipulations of others. This is obviously a very troubling conclusion, so troubling in fact that the narrator must hide underground with nothing but dim lights and sad music for company as he tries to sort through his own invisibility and the naivety that formed his identity. In addition to the narrator trying to figure out what his life thus far has amounted t, and the future paths he must take, there is a scene in the novel that truly questions …show more content…
Through the roaring in his ears, and the sick feeling in his stomach, he stands up for himself, the Provo’s, and every African American in an emotional speech. The “junk” on the street brings something out of him, and he begins to finally understand that the struggle is not a thing of the past, and it is his turn to try to help his people. This “junk” is a representation of himself and African Americans everywhere - and their shame. “ We’re law- abiding, so clear the street of the debris. Put it out of sight! Hide it, hide their shame! Hide our shame! (281). He is advising everyone to play the white man’s game, and if they have to hide who they really are, and hide their difficult past, then they will do so with pride.
Of course, this venture into speech ends horribly for the invisible man, as it leads to the Brotherhood, which is a manipulative con hidden behind the veil of a good opportunity. The invisible man does not realize this at the time, but even in the moment where his race’s struggle caused him to shrug off his benevolent mask and speak with conviction, he was drawn deeper into the white man’s manipulation. He took one step forward and two steps