Journey week 4

The IM has been on a Journey with the brotherhood since he first met brother Jack after he gave the speech at the eviction. Throughout this journey with the brotherhood the IM has been stripped of his identity and his relationships. The IM has also gained a new name, which solidifies the disappearance of his old identity and the emergence of a new one, an identity that allows the IM to be an entirely new person. The IM recognizes not only his physical and emotional journey with the brotherhood, but also a more figurative journey as well when he says that “ my name spread like smoke in an airless room” ( 294).  Figuratively the IM’s new name has become another way to trace his journey. The way his new name has spread around to people of status and now has people addressing him with “profound respect” ( 294) has now linked the IM’s new name with this newfound respect and success he is gaining. Although this appears like a positive aspect of the IM’s journey, this newfound respect the IM is gaining is only through this new name, which he was given by the brotherhood. This allows for the brotherhood to have control not only over the IM’s new identity but the success that comes with this identify. So in reality the IM has no ownership, not of his name and not of his new prominence in the community. The IM right now has ways of tracking his figurative and physical journey with the brotherhood but he has no ownership or control of the journey. The IM has again found himself in a position where he is controlled by white men, this time though it is more dangerous because the IM does not recognize he is not in control. He is blinded by the success of his name, that he forgets he does not own the success since the brotherhood owns his identity.