Speeches #2

While boarding the bus on his journey to Ney York, the invisible man has another encounter with the blind veteran and his companion, Crenshaw. After his reluctant seating decision, a series of questions presented by the vet begin to probe the invisible man and force him into conversation. It is quickly revealed that the two have different destinations, due to the vet being transferred to Washington D.C. This establishes that he will no longer be able to guide the invisible man through his journey, yet this does not prevent him from delivering significant dialogue to him before this occurs. The vet states that it is necessary to "play the game, but don't believe in it" (pg. 153). The invisible man must "play it his own way," even if it lands him within a "straight jacket or padded cell" (pg. 153). This will allow him to be "hidden right out in the open" if he "only realized it" (pg. 154). The lesson presented here is the foundation on which the prologue had built itself. These words are the begging steps in the change that will ignite as the invisible man spirals toward enlightenment. The anonymous state it allows one to achieve relieves the binding of conforming to society's expectation; something the invisible man has been conditioned to preform since his grandfather's passing. Furthermore, the advice further cements the blindness of society, due to the fact that recognizing this higher form of thinking is associated with mental illness. People have been tempered to speculate conformity, they would not "expect" or "know anything" was amiss (pg.154)

Blindness 2

The Invisible Man decides to take a job at a paint plant in order to fund his plan of revenge on Dr. Bledsoe. As he is on his way to his first day of work he says, “I crossed a bridge in the fog to get there and came down in a stream of workers,” (chapter 10). The fog represents his figuratively clouded vision, which hinders him from seeing the strength of the prejudices at Liberty Paint, as well as in America. The Invisible Man believes that Dr. Bledsoe is at fault for his trouble in finding a job, when the reason for him not getting hired could very well be because of his skin color. He does not realize the prejudices between whites and blacks, because he believes that the prejudices are personally against him.

Light vs. Darkness Week 2

Light and darkness are used by the author to portray many things. In Chapter 5, light is used as a symbol of knowledge and hope and darkness is used as a symbol of “sorrow, of ignorance and degradation…” (118). The color imagery is also used to denote the differences in race as light represents the slave who went to the “war-scarred land” (119), “shedding light upon it where’er he passed through” (119) and the blackness portrays the “aching land” (118) which was filled with “strife and darkness” (118). This image of illumination by the slave is representing the race as more knowledgeable and superior to the white race. Light is used to depict “good” and the darkness is used to represent “bad” in this case. The darkness represents the white society in which there are “clouds of darkness” (119) and the black people represent the light that brought the land back to life. They allowed the land to be “reborn” (119).

Blindess: Week 2

After attending a powerful and stirring sermon in church the Inivisible Man goes to talk to Dr.Bledsoe in his office. Dr.Bledsoe furiously berates him for driving Mr. Norton to the old slave quarters and to the Golden Day and questions the Invisible Man's motives for doing so. He accuses him of being coerced into it and can not believe that the Invisible Man would actually take definite orders from a white man instead of doing what was in his own, the school's, and even the African-American race's interest. It is in this chapter and scene that the Invisible Man comes to a sort of revelation. Dr.Bledsoe gives the Invisible Man a speech that describes how he lives his life, "That’s my life, telling white folk how to think about the things I know about. . . . It’s a nasty deal and I don’t always like it myself. . . . But I’ve made my place in it and I’ll have every Negro in the country hanging on tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am.”(142) All this time-with the exception of the mirror scene- the Invisible Man has seen the President as the epitome of a humble and respectful black man, a faithful servant to the powerful white men. His blindness to the truth of Dr.Bledsoe caused him to even envy the doctor and want to one day have a future like his. We see the blindness of the whites that Dr.Blesdoe has in the palm of his hands by being able simply change his manner of speech to that of an uneducated southern black man, and telling them "the kind of lie they want to hear,"(143). The students, the faculty, the minister, the trustees are all blind to the fact that whatever Dr.Bledsoe does is simply for his own benefit. Dr.Bledsoe(no matter how confident he appears) understands that his completely unveiling his mask to the Invisible Man could prove detrimental to his career, and since he would rather see every black lynched then lose power he sends him away to New York. We think that the Invisible Man is no longer blind to Dr.Bledsoe's ruse and intentions, but he still on pg.147 manages to convince himself that the doctor is right and his punishment is a merciful act from Dr.Bledsoe instead of the self-serving action it really was.

Power

Reverend Barbee delivers sermons and speeches. During Chapter 5 specifically, he talks about The Founder and his life journies and adventures from being an escaped slave to an educated, respected individual. The room of people is mesmerized by his words. He holds a great power in his style of speaking that comes through to the people by his genuine passion and interest. Dr. Bledsoe and Reverend Barbee reminisce on the Founder's death, in which they were both present. The chapel is silent by their engaging story-telling. Only when Dr. Bledsoe is leading Reverend Barbee back to his seat does the narrator realize that something is peculiar about him. As Barbee raised his head the narrator saw "the opaque glitter of his glasses, he saw the blinking of sightless eyes, Homer A. Barbee was blind." (133.) The power of his sermons doesn't require  him to even need to look at the crowd, his words simply spoke to them.

Symbolism: Week 2

After learning that the Invisible Man took Mr. Norton to Trueblood’s cabin and the Golden Day, Dr. Bledsoe is furious at him for his lack of judgment. However, rather than expelling the narrator completely like he had expected, Dr. Bledsoe sends him to New York for the summer to work and earn his next year’s tuition. Upon arriving to New York, the narrator receives his first job at the Liberty Paints plant. The name of the company itself suggests freedom and equality, which ironically goes against how the narrator is treated by those around him. The company, famous for its Optic White paint, uses the slogan “’If It’s Optic White, It’s the Right White’” (217). The slogan demonstrates the cruel belief that only white can be right in society. Liberty Paints plant is a symbol used to portray the racial inequality between blacks and whites during this time period. In his training at the plant, the Invisible Man is shocked to learn that in order to create the pure white color, ten black drops of toner need to be added into each bucket of paint. The addition of the black paint indicates the necessity of black contribution to white America. Blacks play a major role in society, but are overlooked by the white’s, who are blind to their input. In choosing to incorporate a paint factory in the novel, Ralph Ellison is able to clearly demonstrate his thoughts on racism to his readers.

Black v. White (2)

After the narrator gets a job at the Liberty Paints plant and spends some time mixing a black substance into the "Optic White" paint, he is transferred to another job helping Lucius Brockway manage the pressure gauges on the boilers and machines that make the paint. At this point, he has gone beyond the surface of the company into the "machines inside the machine"(217).  Brockway informs the narrator that "our white is so white you can paint a chunka coal and you'd have to crack it open with a sledge hammer to prove it wasn't white clear through!"(217)  Ellison uses the white paint to symbolize the assimilation of the black population in a white society. Charcoal is often used to draw or make black marks on a medium, marks that are now hidden by the white paint.  The Optic White paint is so popular because it is able to cover up blackness so well.  It represents the prejudicial struggle in America between the blacks and whites.  The narrator’s previous job of mixing the black substance into the white paint before dispatch also symbolizes the disappearance of black influence in the white society. Although he puts 10 drops of the substance into a bucket of paint, it still appears white. After a while, the paint samples begin to look like they have a grayish tint, representing the desire for the narrator to be influential in the society. When Mr. Kimbro overlooks the grayish tint, it is obvious that just as the paint must pass a “white inspection” in order to be sent out, blacks in the society are blindly driven by their hope of success to blend with the white society.

Music Week 2

In the Invisible Man, the main character finds himself leaving the apartment of Mr. Emerson, disappointed after finding out what was said inside all of the letters. He gets onto a bus where he encounters a man whistling a tune that the main character recognized as a song going:

“O well they picked poor Robin clean

O well they picked poor Robin clean

Well they tied poor Robin to a stump

Lawd, they picked all the feathers round

from Robin’s rump

Well they picked poor robin clean” (193).

The song is used to mock the Invisible Man. It mocks the pride and confidence that he had before he went into the meeting with Mr. Emerson’s son. He was essentially “picked clean” of the hope of finding a  job in the city, but also of being able to rejoin the college. The song also serves to mock the way the Invisible man admired Dr. Bledsoe, when he says “The robin bearing this letter is a former student. Please hope him to death, and keep him running. Your most humble and obedient servant, A. H Bledsoe…” (194). This shows how the Invisible man believes himself to be the Robin in the song, and now believes that Dr. Bledsoe was using Mr. Emerson, and all of the other trustees as ways to“[pick] poor Robin clean”.

Power (2)

After hearing the lecture given by Homer Barbee, the invisible man hesitantly goes to see Dr. Bledsoe in order to find out his fate at the school. Dr. Bledsoe then advised, “let the white folk worry about pride and dignity.” He’s implying that white people care too much about their image, so much that it is their greatest weakness. In society black people are humiliated on a daily basis; “pride and dignity” is not attainable for them. He then goes on to say that ” you learn where you are and get yourself power, influence, contacts with powerful and influential people- then stay in the dark and use it!” Dr. Bledsoe achieved his high position in society by pleasing the right people. It’s as simple as that. The narrator reacts to this as if he had been betrayed. After all, his role model turned out to be so ambitious for power that he was willing to do anything to get it; even if it meant disrespecting himself.

Dreams (Chapter 11)

The narrator has just participated in a small brawl with his mentor, Brockway, after being suspected of being a member of the Union. It is abruptly stopped by the loss of Brockway's teeth after biting the narrator, and the hissing of the boilers due to extremely high valve pressure. In the efforts of releasing the pressure, the boilers explode covering the narrator in machinery and "stinking goo" (230). The narrator awakes in a hospital to see a man, the doctor, "with a bright third eye that glowed from the center of his forehead" (231). This scene represents a figurative "rebirth" for the narrator due to his paralleled symptoms of a newborn--no memory, inability to understand speech, and unformed identity--causing the character to see the spiritual and religious symbol ultimately representing his mind finally being awakened to the truth. His entire state of euphoria during the x-ray and electric shock treatments is the act of him being enlightened and exposed to his potential universal energy that will finally keep "this nigger boy from running." The transition of the narrator first hearing "the opening motif of Beethoven's Fifth" to "a distinct wail of female pain" illustrates the process of a woman's cries in childbirth and the narrator's enlightenment through works of music (235). However, this "rebirth" happens with neither a mother or father, relating back to the advice of the veteran "Be your own father, young man." stating that he should create his own identity rather than accept the identity imposed on him from the outside. (156) More evidence is prevalent in the song choice of "The Holy City" in the narrator's lucid dream and his memory of his grandmother's peaceful, in some ways haunting, song about the "Godamighty" (234).

Black & White (2)

After the church service the invisible man had a discussion with Dr.Bledsoe about why he took Mr.Norton to Trueblood's cabin and the Golden Day. Bledsoe was heavily criticizing his judgement and when invisible man tried to justify himself Bledsoe said, "White folk are always giving orders, it's a habit with them....You're black and living in the south - did you forget how to lie?"(139) This caught the narrator off guard not only because of the harshness of the comment but also because of how revealing it is. This statement gives clear insight to both the invisible man and the reader about what kind of outlook Bledsoe has on races. This becomes even more significant as it is now understood that Bledsoe's morals are representative of the school's and the narrator's grandfather. He views white as being a characteristic of supremacy that must be treated as an unwavering power, even if that power is not true and only comes from blacks pretending to heed to them. The sense of white being a facade of control is further developed in this, especially when paired with the idea that it is as natural for blacks to lie as it is for whites to order. Bledsoe perceives the harmony in this system to be the ultimate goal and the harmony only comes when these inborn tendencies are fulfilled. He further states that "the dumbest black bastard in the cotton patch knows the only way to please a white man is to tell him a lie!"(139) This solidifies the concept that the invisible man's intellectual capability will never reach its full potential in this environment that lives under the spoken confines of deception and race. This scene allows the narrator to see more of the true nature of the school and his grandfather's curse which are necessary for him to eventually overcome them.

Allusions - Week 2

As the narrator's interactions with Dr. Bledsoe progress, his true intentions are brought to light. He deceives others, namely his donors, into believing he is very submissive while in reality he deviously manipulates others into getting what he wants. Ellison's inclusion of Barbee, the blind preacher, doubles as a complex and thought out allusion when coupled with Dr. Bledsoe. The two characters together supply the reader with a reference to Booker T. Washington, who himself took a passive stance in equality and was criticized as a result. Barbee represents Washington's more consolatory nature towards black equality while Dr. Bledsoe serves to personify many of his critics more aggressive views. Through this comparison, Ellison alludes to the differing opinions when it comes to achieving black equality and their complex interactions with each other.

Black vs White Week 2 (New York)

The Invisible Man's trip to New York submerges him into a brand new environment unlike any of the others he has introduced us to in the previous settings; the city of Harlem is a "salt-and-pepper mob". In his journey thus far, the white men in society withhold the power over the blacks. This change in setting keys into the fact that Harlem will open the invisible man's eyes to how it is possible for both races to be able to sit together as one, just  like salt and pepper. The next visualization provided of New York can be found in the unappealing description of a blemish found on the skin of a white lady, "I stared with horror at a large mole that arose out of the... whiteness of her skin like a black mountain". While this description is seemingly appalling it addresses the Invisible man's reaction and thoughts towards his submersion. Even the simple idea of the two races being so close and in contact with each other shock the man. At this time in the novel the man is surrounded by people of all shapes sizes and even races, the invisible man feels "trapped", both physically and mentally. While his physical trap is due to the amount of people in the area his mental trap is due to him being close-minded in his beliefs regarding race. After the people disperse, the man starts to explore his new surroundings and begins to notice the differences between Harlem and the college. The two significant observations he makes deal with both gender and obedience. One of the first observations the man makes is how there are "black girls [working] behind the counters". This is one of the first positive associations with women thus far in the  novel. The previous women introduced were white, naked, and used for "entertainment" purposes. Harlem has introduced a new view to the Invisible man of women, one that provides more respect. The fact behind the gender differences also gives the reader a sense of how because of their race white women are simply there for temptation and sin while black women can serve a purpose. The next aspect significantly addressed in Harlem is the fact a "black policeman" was directing traffic and "the white drivers... obeyed" him. This shows a reversal of the power in society and also connects to the roulette wheel mentioned previously to foreshadow the times changing in society. Harlem itself, to the Invisible man is a "new world" with new views and new hope; it is the city of his "dreams".

Symbols Week 2

Dr. Bledsoe becomes disenchanted with the Invisible Man following the events with Mr. Norton; and subsequently, he decides to take away his scholarship money. When the Invisible Man learns of his predicament, he decides to fight back; however, Dr. Bledsoe refuses to change his mind. Ultimately, he decides to help him find a job in New York to pay for next years tuition: "These letters will be sealed; don't open them if you want help. White folks are strict about such things. The letters will introduce you and request them to help you with a job" (Ellison 149). After rejection from all his attempts for employment , he considers reading the letters and struggles with his own values of right and wrong. Nonetheless, he decides to be faithful to his values, but those around him continue to follow a double standard. These letters are symbolic of the lack of control the Invisible Man possesses and of the deadly power of words. First,  Dr. Bledsoe controls the Invisible Man at college, but now even his future. In addition, these letters emphasize the narrators innocence and trusting nature despite the many clues he receives. This blind trust  illustrates  the inability of Invisible Man to look beneath surface and control his future. Furthermore, these letters symbolize the tremendous power of words.The narrator overlooks Bledsoe’s propensity for double-dealing precisely when he should  remember it. At the end, he discovers the contents of these letters and he becomes enraged by the betrayal ,but he still allows the others to control his fate. He is left powerless and must seek a simple job to survive.

Journey: Week 2

In the Invisible Man by Ralph Waldo Ellison, the narrator embarks on a physical and spiritual journey. Throughout this journey, the Invisible Man meets “guides” in order for him to find himself. One of the guides that the Invisible Man encounters is Dr. Bledsoe, who also represents everything that the narrator would like to become. The Invisible Man is speaking to Dr. Bledsoe in his office as he tells him how he communicates with white people and why he has their respect. He says, “You’re nobody, son. You don’t exist – can’t you see that? The white folk tell everybody what to think – except men like me, I tell them; that’s my life, telling white folk how to think about the things I know about.” The words that Dr. Bledsoe tells the narrator are similar to those spoken by his grandfather in how to earn respect with the white people. By speaking with Dr. Bledsoe, the Invisible Man is forced to realize the steps he must take in order to earn this respect, thus allowing him to begin his journey and find himself.

Light Week 2

In Chapter 5 of the Invisible Man, after Barbee gives his speech, the Invisible Man walks out despite the “disapproving eyes of teachers and matrons” (134) because he is so overwhelmed with Barbee’s speech. Once outside, he describes “the mockingbird trilled a note from where it perched upon the hand of the moonlit Founder, flipping its moon-mad tail…, heard it trill behind me” (134). After this, he describes the lighting in a particularly interesting way: “The street lamps glowed brilliant in the moonlit dream of the campus, each light serene in its cage of shadows” (134). Normally, light usually takes over darkness and hides it, but in this quote, the narrator shows that the darkness (shadows) is covering (“caging”) the light, or in other words, society covering up the truth. However, the narrator switches around what is represented by light and what is represented by the dark: the black race is represented by light, and the darkness is represented by the white race (society in general), showing that the white society is covering up and trying to hide the black race’s true identity (making them hold true to the stereotypical black community). This quote also implies the potential that the black race has, or in this case the black students have, and that this potential is confined by the schools ideals, and how the black race is held like a caged animal in a white society.

Symbolism Week 2

The invisible man has now entered Dr.Bledsoe’s office, waiting for him to reveal the punishment he will undergo after introducing Mr. Norton to Jim Trueblood and the Golden Day. Dr. Bledsoe is infuriated as he is yelling at the invisible man for performing such actions on his campus he has control over. As Dr. Bledsoe is screaming at the narrator, he “reaches over for something beneath a pile of papers, an old leg shackle from slavery which he proudly called “a symbol of our progress””(141). The “leg shackle” is a symbol that is used to portray many things. The shackle represents being in control, which is why Dr. Bledsoe chose to keep it. The shackle shows how far African-Americans have come since slavery, but Dr.Bledsoe has a deeper meaning for picking it up off the shelf. It shows how proud he is of his accomplishments and how he started as being “trapped,” but now holds the thing that represents power, referencing his leadership at the college. The invisible man is now trapped by Dr. Bledsoe, and this is shown through the shackle he wishes to share with the narrator. The shackle holds a strong sense of power and Dr. Bledsoe has complete power over the invisible man, yet he does not know such thing yet. This also ties to another form of “blindness” possessed throughout. Without the use of this symbol we would not be able to see how the invisible man at this point is trapped.

Journey Week 2

In chapter 6, the Invisible Man is sent on a journey to New York; but this is not by choice. Dr. Bledsoe sends him there, "I want you to go to New York for the summer and save your pride-" (144) This is significant because it is the beginning of a new experience for the narrator and at this point in the novel he is not the biggest fan of Dr. Bledsoe because he realizes that he is not looking for black improvement on the campus. The IM blatantly states that he though Bledsoe has the best in mind for him "But I know whats best for me, Or atleast Dr. Bledsoe does." (189) This is disproven once he reaches NY and reads the final recommendation letter for a potential job and sees that Bledsoe was trying to release him without pain. This landed the IM no where because the letters were dishonest and a form of tyranny.I believe the letters were a turning point in the IM's overall journey and life because it is a clear sign that he can not rely on other people to get him ahead in life but he must be self-reliant and fend for himself. It gives him a push over the edge and to his lowest point that only causes him to build up pride and confidence to keep moving on and proving the doubters wrong. Thus, he takes Emerson's advice and without a letter of recommendation or phone call "I happen to know of a possible job at Liberty Paints. My father... " "I shut the door" (192), the IM goes on his own to land a job the next day at Liberty Paints.

Ashley Shepherd Journey week 2

After the speech given by Homer A. Barbee, the invisible man starts on his walk to go meet with Dr. Bledsoe as instructed. The invisible man follows the heard out of the church and finds himself “behind a group of boys going up the drive” (106). He makes a point to note that students feel “seemingly far away from me now, remote, and each shadowy form vastly superior to me” (106).  As he continues to follow behind the boys on his journey he surprisingly finds himself “outside the gates of the campus and heading down the highway” ( 107). Shocked the invisible man turns back and runs to the building. This journey the invisible man takes demonstrates how much the events with Mr.Norton, Trueblood and the vet have impacted him. The events of the day have made him see his fellow students as shadows and remote since he has experienced something most of them will never will. As the invisible man wanders absentmindedly outside the gates of the college it shows the desires of his unconscious. The desire to go beyond the safe and hypocritical gates of the college and to experience more of what he had experienced through the course of events that day. His conscious is scared as demonstrated by him running back inside the gates, but his unconscious is curious eager to see beyond the safeness of the college. This journey he takes gives insight on the journey that the invisible mans brain is taking as well, being open to new ideas and ready to experience more of the world.

Speeches (week 2)

Dr. Bledsoe does whatever he has to in order to get acceptance from the white folk. In the scene when Dr. Bledsoe had a meeting with the narrator; Dr. Bledsoe reveals how he truly progressed to his success. He states "white folk tell everybody what to think-except men like me. I tell them" (143); he exposes his power and how "I control" white people. Dr. Bledsoe got to his position and title because "the only way to please a white man is to tell him a lie!"(139) His whole explosion illustrates how Dr. Bledsoe puts on an act to look like a strong and honorable man but truly is a suck up that lied his way to success. It shows how he will do whatever it takes to keep his position and to please the white folk.

Light/Darkness- Founder's Death

Light is generally accepted to mean what is right, true and good and is often linked to hope as it is here. When the founder dies, the community's light dies and is snuffed out by the proximity of death. The old ways of slavery, their darkness, threaten to return. The speaker, Barbee, relates that, "They smelt that old obscene stink of darkness, that old slavery smell, worse than the rank halitosis of hoary death. Their sweet light enclosed in a black-draped coffin, their majestic sun snatched behind a cloud" (131). The darkness of death was threatening to cover their light, their hope, their goodness and reveal more darkness through returned slavery. "Black" is symbolic for darkness and is closing in on their happiness and hope that is "their sweet light". The "majestic sun", their wisdom, guide, source of energy and enthusiasm, is being smothered "behind a cloud", another sign of darkness. This symbolic imagery helps to relay their deep sense of loss and hopelessness associated with the founder's death. They are restored, though, by the incredible leadership and initiative of Dr. Bledsoe, the current school president.

Power Week Two

The Invisible Man goes to see Dr. Bledsoe after the speech delivered to the students and the white guests. Dr. Bledsoe tells the Invisible Man that he is expelled from the black college. The Invisible Man threatens to confront Mr. Norton himself and Dr. Bledsoe laughs at him. Dr. Bledsoe tells the Invisible Man that he wont stop him from speaking with Mr. Norton and explains to him why his efforts would be futile due to the immense amount of power that Dr. Bledsoe has. Dr. Bledsoe defines power as not being something that the "Negroes" or the "white folk" have but rather something that he has individually acquired. Dr. Bledsoe tells the Invisible Man that he says "'Yes , suh' as loudly as any burrhead when it's convenient"(142). This displays his use of manipulation to acquire the power  and control that he has over the black college. He is willing to meet the needs and standards of the rich white men in order to gain power. He explains his lust for power by describing it as being, "confident, self-assuring, self-starting and self-stopping, self-warming, and self-justifying"(142). From this quote, the reader may observe that Dr. Bledsoe uses his power to give himself a sense of self. To him, power is what creates his form and power is what drive his actions even if he only saying "yes, suh" to get himself more power. This need for power and control contradicts the idea of enlightenment and transcendence and further clouds the Invisible Man's judgment and perception. Dr. Bledsoe was once someone the Invisible Man looked up to as role model but he was now revealed himself to be power hungry, manipulative, and only after his own well-being rather than the well-being of his people. This is important to the Invisible Man's journey because rather than becoming a man like Dr. Bledsoe he will be able to become the man that he was meant to be even if that is unclear to him now in this section of the novel.

Violence :-) week 2

Once the invisible man returned from the captivating and hectic union meeting he had tried to escape, he was bombarded by Mr. Brockway's accusations and chose to become physical, "I was throwing myself forward, feeling him go over with a grunt, hard against the floor, rolling beneath the force of my lunge. It was as though I had landed upon a wiry rat." (226) The irony of this brutal dispute lies within the invisible man's frustration of "accept[ing] the foolishness of such old men as this" (225). Ellison's description of this argument presents a shift in the invisible man, from tolerating and respecting authority figures and their actions to aggression and hatred towards them. Ellison also makes it clear that the invisible man was first to become violent during this disagreement, illustrating that he may no longer put up with the discrimination he has been receiving- even if from someone much older and smaller. Just before this quarrel, the invisible man realized he would not always be able to "overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, [and] agree 'em to death and destruction" (16). Ellison's initial portrayal of the invisible man as a polite and law abiding negro has now altered due to his violent response to Mr. Brockway's threat to kill him.

Blindness chapters 5-10

After the Invisible Man is expelled from college because of what happened to Mr. Norton, Dr. Bledsoe tells him to travel to New York and get a job in order to learn the ways of the world. The Invisible Man takes this advice to heart and the day after his confrontation with Dr. Bledsoe, he has his bags packed, retrieves the letter to "white folk" in New York asking for job help given to him by Dr. Bledsoe, and is boarding the first bus out of town. As he boards the bus, he realizes the vet from the Golden Day is there along with an attendee. Unfortunately, the Invisible Man has no choice but to sit next to the vet because those were the only seats given to Negros. During the conversation with the vet, the vet tells the Invisible Man to "come out of the fog..." and to not "be a complete fool in order [for him] to succeed." (153). The vet is alluding to the conversation with Mr. Norton about how the Invisible Man is just a robot, just saying and doing exactly what the white men want him to do. The vet is trying to show him that in order to be truly successful, the Invisible Man has to learn to see the truth and figuratively open his eyes to the world. The vet parallels what the grandfather said earlier in the story by stating that the boy should "play the game, but don't believe in it...play it [his] own way...;earn how it operates" (153-154). By stating this, the vet is simply repeating for the Invisible Man that he should outwardly be everything the white men want him to be, but in the inside, he needs to be true to himself and rebel against them. This is the beginning of the journey for the Invisible Man to truly become invisible because since the vet acts as his first guide, this is the first bit of wisdom and truth that he is given. The vet hints at the need for Ellison's character to become invisible by saying that the boy is "hidden right out in the open...[the white men] wouldn't see you because they don't expect [him] to know anything..." (154). He is showing the Invisible Man that he needs to break from social expectations because the people he is trying to please don't "see" him anyway. They see him physically, but they don't see his potential, they don't value him as a person. The vet is hinting that in order for the Invisible Man to be successful in his life, he needs to embrace the fact that he really in invisible, so that he can focus on being himself and making his life successful for himself.

Blindness 1

After Mr. Norton and the Invisible Man witness a brawl among some supposedly insane black war veterans at a tavern by the name of Golden Day, Mr. Norton goes unconscious a second time. One of the vets tells the Invisible Man that he was previously a doctor, and offers to help him. Once Mr. Norton regains consciousness, he begins to explain to the vet that the reason for his dedication to the college is because he believes that blacks are, “tied to his destiny,” and, “the success of his work,” (chapter 3). The vet finds this reason to be preposterous and claims that both men are blind (chapter 3). In this case, the vet, who is labeled insane, seems to be thinking more clearly than Mr. Norton and the Invisible Man. He points out that Mr. Norton claims that his involvement in the school is for a good cause, when the truth is that he does it because deep down, he feels that whites are superior to blacks and it makes him feel as though he is controlling their destiny. The vet refers to the Invisible Man as blind, because he believes that he is ignorant to think that Mr. Norton sees him as an individual, as well as an equal.

Speeches

While facing his imminent demise, the constructive grandfather of the invisible man delivers a final speech to the family gathered around him. Within his final words, there is a message relayed; their “life is a war.” (pg. 16) During his rant, it is revealed to the invisible man that he needs to place his “head in the lion’s mouth.” (pg.16) Due to their constant struggle against the white suppression of society, it is imperative that he grasp the necessity to “overcome ‘em with yeses,” and “agree ‘em to death and destruction.” (pg. 16) While this lesson appeared antagonistic toward the general consensus of the grandfather’s temperament, its meaning shed light and ignited the invisible man’s shambolic following of the guidance. Being described as “the meekest of men,” the power of his “treachery” (pg. 16) shocked the receivers. This presents the first instance of the invisible man grasping this form of self duplicity. His adaption to the bindings of society blinds him, rendering him unable to see his true form. The conduct he adopts stems directly from his grandfather’s “curse” (pg. 17) looming over him. Due to this, his journey began with the development of ignorance to his true form. This parallels with Ellison’s allusion to Dante’s Inferno, allowing him to be lost in the dark wood.

Music

The nameless protagonist of the novel first explores music in the prologue after receiving a reefer from a stranger. He declares, “Each melodic line existed of itself, stood out clearly from all the rest…” (8). It shows a yearning for a sense of individuality that has been stolen away from the African American people. Every person aids in the orchestration of the song of his or her people, and each individual voice deserves to stand out and be heard. Ellison often writes about the need for self-discovery which can be linked to the need for individuality in the world. Louie Armstrong’s “What did I do to be so Black and Blue?” finishes its last few lines as Ellison’s protagonist comes back to his senses (12). The song title is a perfect description of the way life was for African Americans during this time. Those in higher power repress these people, making the feel inferior and “blue” with sadness; the repression almost makes them ashamed to be whom they are. 

Allusions- week 1 (Tripp H.)

     When the invisible man and Mr. Norton enter The Golden day, they are confronted with all sorts of obscenities, and crazy accusations.  The most profound of these come from the man who is simply called "the vet".  After he is done tending to Mr. Norton, he begins to accuse Mr. Norton of tying his destiny to the college and the African Americans.  Towards the end of his rant, he says, "Now the two of you descend the stairs into chaos and get the hell out of here.  I'm sick of the both of you pitiful obscenities!  Get the hell out before I do you both the favor of bashing in your heads!"  This is an allusion to the bible, but principally to Dante's Inferno.  The vet is accusing both of them for the unconscious crimes that they are committing, and thus telling them to descend into hell.  Mr. Norton is guilty of treating the Blacks as things, when he says that they are his destiny, rather than that he means to have them have successful lives.  He means to help, but is unconsciously hindering and still being possessive of them.  The invisible man is guilty of allowing this to happen, when he tries to do exactly what they want him to.  He means to do well in life, but is still staying within the boundaries that have been put in place for his race.  The vet is merely pointing this out, and getting this new thought process and way of viewing reality rolling.  His statement, "descend the stairs into chaos," is symbolic of this accusation and fate.

Reading section 1, ch 3, Page 95

Blindness

On his deathbed the invisible man’s grandfather tried to relay one last piece of advice to the family before passing. He admits to being a traitor and urges to his son to “keep up the good fight,” after he’s gone. “I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses,” he says, “undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death…”(16) He dies right after uttering a passionate final speech, but the boy never feels as if his grandfather’s presence has truly left him after being a witness to what occurred that night. As he grows older, he follows in his grandfather’s footsteps and is the epitome of what a “model black boy” should be like. His behavior is agreeable with whites: meek, polite, submissive, and respectful. He follows orders and instructions and even does so well in school that he is invited to recite a speech in front of the most respected white men in the town. However, when he arrives at the venue he is forced to partake in a gruesome and outrageous sort of ‘battle royale’ with other black boys for the entertainment of the white men. They are blindfolded which plunges them into a physical blindness, but also we see a symbolic blindness take place as the boy goes through the night. First of all the blindness represents the black man being physically incapable of standing against the white men, they are powerless. All throughout the fighting he is thinking about his speech he is supposed to give. “Would this not go against my speech?”(25) He wonders as he contemplates defying a white man’s voice, “Was this not a moment for humility, for nonresistance?”(25) He only wishes to impress the white men with his speech, and so he takes himself out of the barbaric situation he is placed in and fails to recognize the blasphemous humiliation and animalistic behavior he portrays as he scrambles for the fake coins or the naked woman is thrown before them. He is blind to the fact that he is acting and thinking exactly like they want him to. He is blind to the fact that he is merely a pawn in their game. He is giving a speech because they want him to. He is going to college because they want him to. The moment he made a mistake by saying, “social equality” it did not align with what the white men wanted to hear and he is immediately reprimanded for it. The invisible man is acting like the grandfather told him to on the outside, but he is failing to realize that he is making the mistake of doing so on the inside as well.

Racism (Black v. White)

After the Invisible Man receives his scholarship to the Negro college, he dreams about opening a briefcase to a series of envelopes, each leading to another. The endless cycle of envelopes presents a circular idea that is prevalent in other sections of the novel. In the final envelope, the Invisible Man finds an "engraved document containing a short message in letters of gold" (33). The document seems to resemble the scholarship letter he had received after giving his speech. However, this time it read, "To Whom It May Concern... Keep This Nigger-Boy Running"(33).  The emphasis on this quote in the novel highlights the reality that black students would continue to follow the circular path of searching for respect and dignity through education. Society allows them to believe they can gain those things in college, however the impossibility of that achievement in society will destroy their mental sanity and push them to resort back to the physical, animalistic baseness that drives all of humanity. This message to the Invisible Man in the conclusion of chapter one serves to introduce the idea that animalistic blacks are tied by society to a metaphorical stake in the middle of a round pen- such as that for a horse- and can never deviate from that path to achieve success.