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.