Invisible Man Passing Analysis

The 20th century is famous for many things, and the novels that were written during the century definitely contribute to that fame. The novels that were written are extremely important and still relevant in the education system today because of their amazing imagery, interpretations of society, and symbolism. One extremely popular and influential novel of the 20th century was written by Ralph Ellison and it’s titled Invisible Man. The story is about a black man in the 1940s who lives in the South, but moves to the North and the circumstances in which he has to maneuver while there. A lesser known, but just as important text is Passing by Nella Larsen. Passing follows two black women in 1920s New York City and the idea of how ‘passing’ as a …show more content…
While he may be skeptical in his mind, he rarely speaks up about the way he feels because he is caught in the illusion that others know what is best for him. By submitting, he succumbs to society 's expectations of a black man and rejects freedom of identity and self-expression. Through this, society acts like a veil obstructing the sight of reality for Invisible Man. On the campus of the college IM goes to, there is a statue of a black man who appears to be lifting a veil off of a former slave. In describing the statue, IM says, “And I am standing puzzled, unable to decide whether the veil is really being lifted, or lowered more firmly in place; Whether I am witnessing a revelation or a more efficient blinding,” (36). While veils are put over the face, they are often light and translucent so objects can still be seen. It is tradition that brides wear veils over their heads to symbolize purity and ultimately submissive to their husband in a traditional marriage. If the man is lowering the veil, like IM suspects, the man is keeping the slave naive and ‘blind’ to the realities of the world. The former slave sacrifices his own freedom of identity to be seen as the ideal black man to the superior white race. The former slave embodies IM and the black man holding the veil represents Dr. Bledsoe. While he …show more content…
The nuclear family of the 50s is a middle-class, suburban white family including two parents, a man and a woman, with two children, one a girl and one a boy. In contrast, the Younger family is black and has five members total: Mama, Travis, Walter, Ruth, and Beneatha. As the man of the house, Walter is responsible for having a ‘real’ job and providing for the family financially. Ruth, Beneatha, and Mama, the women of the house, are responsible for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Travis, Ruth and Walter’s son. Since they are married, Walter believes it is Ruth’s responsibility to support him in his often unrealistic goals. In the dynamic of these roles, Ruth and Walter each have to sacrifice things. Walter has lived sacrificing his dream of being