Speeches #5

After the invisible man's insight into the actuality of society, under the guise of "Rinehart," his conversation with Brother Hambro presents a stark contrast in the quondam perspective of the Brotherhoods ideals. When prompted with question of escalating violence in the narrator's district, it is divulged that they will be "sacrificed" for the "larger plan" (pg.501).However, this is something the invisible man deems impermissible; contemplating if they have been "duped by the Brotherhood as by Rinehart" (pg.502). This illustrates the "gulf" that "Rinehart had opened... between them" (pg. 501). The ability to transition between the different perspectives of society broached an issue for the invisible man; Scientific and manipulative steering of the Brotherhood binds those who form "society." It is believed "impossible" not to take advantage of them in their own "best interest" (pg. 504). This establishes the group as a force that seeks to generate destruction, and prolong an endless cycle with their " new society," or rebirth (pg. 502).

Allusions week 5- Tripp Hemker

     In the last section of the book, the invisible man again encounters ras, but this time he is calling himself "ras the destroyer".  Ras is both a visionary and a prophet in the novel, and has a view based around self reliance, much like that of Ralph Waldo Emerson.  In this section, he serves as a guide to the invisible man, and a spark for the riots and chaos in Harlem.  While Ras is very similar to several black nationalists like Marcus Garvey, in this section, Ras is a direct allusion to Shiva, the destroyer and judge.  Ras has gone mad, much like with the untamed passion of Shiva and plans to get rid of the invisible man, and to destroy the brotherhood, both of which he despises and opposes the views of.  In this aspect, Ras has started the violence that is to build and destroy all.  Like with Shiva, this not all in vain.  All of this violence will lead to reconstruction and rebirth.  The tenants of the burned building will find a new, safer home to live in, the brotherhood will likely rebuilt, and most importantly, the Invisible man will grow from his escape and increase his level of understanding how and why everything works and exists as it does.  While Ras does not necessarily cause all of the violence, he is responsible for the violence as well as the chance that some have to revolt, find new homes, and get a new view on life.

Allusions Week 5

During the later parts of the novel, the narrator encounters Sybil, the wife of an abusive member of the Brotherhood. The narrator wishes to acquire information about the brotherhood's dealings and, after originally targeting another woman, he settled on Sybil because he felt that she would be more likely to give in to him given her family life. Her name itself is an allusion to the greek oracle Sibyl who, not unlike the character in The Invisible Man and her relations with the narrator, is used for her ability to provide information. In the story, the narrator attempts to use Sybil to get information about the future plans of the brotherhood, just as many did with Sibyl. Ellison uses this allusion to assert the Sybil's purpose in the novel and to provide insight into the position equivalent to the greek hero that the narrator fills.

Power Week 5

During the race riot that occurs on the streets of Harlem, the Invisible Man once again crosses paths with Ras. The Invisible Man finds him on a huge horse, dressed in robes, and carrying a shield and spear. He and his crowd of followers label the Invisible Man a bretrayer and threaten to hang him. During this moment the Invisible Man is reflective and contemplates the power struggle that is evident throughout the novel. He rejects the pursuit of power by saying, " ...knowing too that I had no longer to run for or from the Jacks and the Emersons and the Bledsoes and Nortons...(559)" The reader may observe that the Invisible Man has achieved enlightenment and rejects the "running" that he feels he has been doing his entire life. He says he will only now run from the "powerful" men's "confusion, impatience, and refusal to recognize the beautiful absurdity of their American identity and mine". He can now see past the facade presented by the Brotherhood and others to see that being an individual and finding yourself is more important than the power and being in "history". Through this realization, the Invisible Man has come full circle as a character because he finally broke away from the curse that his grandfather set in the beginning by recognizing how destructive sub-coming to power (saying yes) can be for the sake of gaining personal power. The state of Harlem made that evident because of the apocalyptic hell-like atmosphere created during the race riot. From the Dante's Inferno perspective, the Invisible Man reached the final circle of hell and faced all of the devils and traitors like the men he listed above. From that experience, his enlightenment and acceptance of being an "invisible man" occurs.

dreams (week 5)

The narrator has just discovered that Brother Jack had written the anonymous threatening letter to him. That night, he has a dream in which he is by a river and he is surrounded by Brother Jack, Emerson, Bledsoe, Norton, and Ras. Every character that has produced an obstacle for him, or an illusion to his seemingly stable reality. They each handed him a new mask and even with that he was still invisible to them. In this dream, the men are mocking the invisible man and are telling him they can relieve him of his "illusions." They end up plucking out his eyes, which is a reference to Oedipus who was a Greek King of Thebes who struggled with his identity and ended up plucking his own eyes out. They ask the invisible man how it feels to be "free" of these illusions, and he responds by telling them they are nothing in the midst of the universe. They will not leave their mark or be remembered by their continuous cycle of a false reality and facade veiling them behind their insecurities and selfishness. The river in itself is symbolic in relevance to the river of Styx near the gates of hell. The invisible man ends the dream by laughing at the men, and being lifted out of his misery (a metaphorical rebirth) in which the men are shouting that they must get him back down under their control. This dream symbolizes his release of ignorance and his new found principle of self awareness. He finally is able to look his grandfather's prophecy in the eyes and laugh due to it's absurdity and how easily you can get caught up on the never ending track (running) of life. He truly sees without seeing. He had to look with his own mind in order to unveil the truth of life: you are the only voice you should have, the only heart and mind you should follow, and the only reliance you will ever need. We are invisible as people because we choose to not stand out in order to avoid being outcast-ed or rejected by the very same people that share the same feelings towards us.

Blindness 5

At the end of the novel, the Invisible Man finally becomes "free of illusions," because for the first time he see himself for who he is, and not who others expect him to be (579). He claims that he is “invisible, not blind,” because he understands how absurd society is and removes himself from it so that it cannot cloud his judgment (586). The Invisible Man also recalls an encounter with Mr. Norton at the subway station. He explains how Mr. Norton acted as though he had never met him before, which emphasizes Mr. Norton’s, along with other members of society's, blindness and absurdity. The fact that Mr. Norton claims that the IM was “his destiny” and does not even recognize him proves that he never saw the IM as an individual, but as another black man who would aid him in attaining a charitable image. After this occurrence, the narrator is even further reminded that he is no longer blinded by his ignorance.

Final Black vs White

A riot that was supposed to be the start of a new age was in fact something completely different it was an “uproar”, becoming “a crash of men against men”, that would lead to nothing “but murder”. With even its beginning uncertain whether it was because of a “candy bar” or a “black gal’s man” there was one thing everyone thought for sure “it was a white gal, all right” or in other words caused by temptation.  The people didn’t have to know the cause to begin fighting because they acted before thinking, society did not think as individuals but as one. With “a tipsy fat lady” leading “a circus parade” bodies hung from lampposts. There were “seven” “white, naked, and horribly feminine” but they are “unreal” only “mannequins”. But all of this, “the absurdity of the whole night” reveals the absurdity in society. The riot itself points out how absurd society actually is in turning the races against each other. The hanging of the mannequins is used as an example of the sin. This type of hatred found in the hanging of the mannequins causes “blood to spill” and is not coming towards a time where both races can live in peace. The invisible man realizes in this situation that he cannot change society because his society is made up of blind men “controlled solely by white men” who were “as blind”.