Journey

A physical journey is taken in this first section and it is led by the invisible man. as it is his job to drive around Mr.Norton, one of the white founders of the school, and in this particular car ride, they are early for an appointment. Mr. Norton suggests a drive "suppose you just drive anywhere you like"(38) the only place that came to mind of the invisible man was the campus but Mr. Norton knew the campus well. So the invisible man said "I'll have to try one of the roads" (38). Well, forgetting where this road led "suddenly I was sorry I blundered down this road." (46) , they passed by the Truebloods house and Mr. Norton insisted they stop by for a chat "get out" he cried, "I just want to talk with him"(50). Trueblood and Norton met and Trueblood told his infamous story of incest with his one daughter and after Norton heard this, he gave him $100. This scene is significant because it shows the journey the two (Mr.Norton and the invisible man) took together to learn about one another. Each had preconceived notions about the other and through the journey they learned each others true intentions, their character and the mask they can each put on. For example, the mask that Mr. Norton puts on is that he actually cares for the black community and their success but in reality, his success is determined by the blacks. The one hundred dollars then that Norton gives Trueblood, seems a payment. The money is intended for the children and toys but just as the gifts of money to the college is by motives that help him rather than the school. The money was a sort of payment saying congratulations on committing something Norton could never do; thus revealing his true motives behind his actions. These things would have never come to the surface if the invisible man did not offer to drive around town and take an off track journey with Norton.