Invisible Man Analytical Essay

In the novel Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison makes use of the physical surroundings of the protagonist, who is left intentionally unnamed, to indicate a psychological shift in the character. Specifically, toward the end of the novel the protagonist is left entrapped beneath a manhole and in utter darkness. Here the plight of his bleak destiny becomes reality for him. Ultimately, this illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole, which is to shed light on those who are left invisible to society. When the protagonist was left without light in the sewer system, he truly began to realize that throughout his life he had been destined to never succeed by factors of both his race and his social class in society. From the very beginning with his speech …show more content…
Whether it was when he received his diploma and briefcase from graduating high school and receiving the scholarship, his time as a student in college, or his entirely new identity as a brotherhood member, each of these presented a new sense of renewed optimism for his future. However, each of these mementos were destroyed as a means of light for him to truly see the position he was in, both literally and figuratively. Light works throughout the novel to provide focus on social injustices committed against the protagonist. This idea of light is illustrated in the prologue when the reader learns of his 1,369 light bulbs he uses to bask himself. The protagonist takes the electricity from the city without them noticing to show how truly invisible he is – he is able to remain completely undetected while shining light brought in from society entirely over him. In other words, he managed to become completely invisible. This invisibility, brought on by his psychological change towards realism, is his final identity the protagonist claims in the book, and the one at which he finally finds peace. Ultimately, being left in the darkness led him to find the