Invisible Man Clifton Character Analysis

How can a man, who was once so bright, so devoted to an organization suddenly turn into

a “traitor”? What could have caused such a drastic change? In the novel, Invisible Man by Ralph

Ellison, Tod Clifton, a former black member of the Brotherhood tries to help in any way he can

to support the black community, but he eventually runs away from the organization and performs

acts against the organization’s ideology, leading to his death. Tod Clifton is able to discover

the corruption of the Brotherhood who only “look” the part of helping the black communities,

ultimately allowing IM to also realize that he has also been used as a doll for the Brotherhood’s

own means. …show more content…
It is because of Clifton that IM realizes the Brotherhood for what it is and decides to

become “invisible” in order to truly help Harlem and the African American Community without

interference from the Brotherhood.

Ralph Ellison introduces Tod Clifton in Invisible Man in order to uncover the

fraudulency of the Brotherhood and help IM realize that the Brotherhood entirely disregards the

welfare of the black community. Clifton, who first believed in the Brotherhood’s goals and

ambitions, realizes with Ras’s words that he was just a doll that danced for the Brotherhood’s

own benefits. After his epiphany, Clifton then goes out of his way to follow the stereotypical

views of African Americans, showing that he would rather openly display stereotypical racism in

the public than be like the Brotherhood who try to hide it and instead pretend to be against. His

pride and decision ultimately lead to his death. However, it is because of his actions against the

Brotherhood and his death that IM is also able to realize the Brotherhood’s corruption