Invisible Man And Giovanni's Room Essay

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man are two pieces of literature that at first glance appear to be dissimilar narratives; however, once one delves deeper within the pages of each text it is apparent both literary texts are very much alike. Invisible Man and Giovanni’s Room both possess protagonists that undergo very different journeys, but their adversity with identity (sexually and personally) is a theme that is fluid in each text illustrating the likeness of the two works. There are external factors and signs such as objects, space, language, and interaction among characters, which leaves the two main character’s sexual and personal identities stagnant due to the inability to successfully travel through Jacques …show more content…
Although succinctly summarized by Becker, a more complete working definition for naturalism is additionally outlined by Professor Donna M. Campbell at WSU as, “a type of literature that attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings.” In essence, naturalist literature examines how characters lives are controlled due to heredity and environment; however, even though naturalist writing was an approach to literature used by European authors, it was additionally utilized by black writers causing the core tenets of naturalism to slightly change. Black naturalist literature perpetuates naturalism’s foundation of heredity and its relation to the environment, but takes its principle ideas further by introducing race and white determinism as additional influencing factors. Thomas L. Morgan, author of “Black Naturalism, White Determinism,” explores the black naturalist works of Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Within Morgan’s article, he discusses the effects of white determinism on black characters in Dunbar’s works