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.