Almost all people struggle with the idea that no matter how hard they try, the things they do remain overlooked by others. They feel invisible, as if they belong to a story where they are just background characters. Or rather, some people don't care about their impact, but simply want the world to notice and recognize them for who they truly are instead of how they appear from afar, if anything. Universally, people feel invisible on some level. In his novel Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison explores this idea of ​​invisibility and how it shapes his characters' actions, thoughts, and motivations. This notion of invisibility spurs the narrator on in many different parts of the book, allowing him to move forward and do everything he can to be seen by the white man, but it also leads to some of his biggest pitfalls and holds him back. creating a false identity in him. His choice to mold himself to the white man's world often hurts him, and he is not enlightened until he truly recognizes that the only way to be visible, to exist, is to remain true to himself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The story simply begins with an introduction from the narrator. Here he explains, in his own terms, that he is invisible. Of course, he doesn't mean that literally. Instead, he suggests that he is not to blame for any deformity or defect; instead it is with the people of society who look at him with a blind eye. “I am invisible, you understand, simply because people refuse to see me” (3). They perceive the world differently than he does, refusing to look beyond what society suggests they think a person of color should be. It suggests that there are some benefits to being hidden from the world; however, that topic will have to wait until later, when a more solid idea of ​​the narrator's situation can be gained. Continuing in his prologue, the narrator makes it clear that his purpose in writing is to explain to the reader his struggle with the idea of ​​invisibility and what led to not only that point but also the mindset he is currently in. Wanting to fully illuminate his situation, the narrator promises to tell the reader about his experience starting from the beginning of his journey. And so our story begins. The narrator introduces us to a black man who has attracted the attention of some prominent white men, especially his principal, through a pleasant speech he made. Here the first glimpse of invisibility directed at the narrator is shown. Seemingly receiving a great honor, the narrator is asked to recite his speech before a group of white men. This excites the narrator because it seems for the first time that he is being seen and taken into account. Unfortunately the night unfolds very differently than the narrator expects. Instead of simply reading his speech, he is forced into a violent spectacle with other black men. Afterwards, they still long for the narrator to speak, and through sips of blood, the narrator delivers his speech to a crowd that clearly doesn't seem to care. When he finishes he is awarded a scholarship and, once again, the narrator feels visible. He thinks he achieved it on his own: to have earned it, it must have been seen by the white audience. In reality (the idea itself is invisible to the narrator) the whites awarded the scholarship not because they saw his talent and thought he deserved praise. Instead, they forced him to go through a horrible day to amuse them and only rewarded him at the end so they could walk away happy that they helped a black boy. Thethey simply saw him as a black person in need of help, nothing more. However, this allows the story to move forward and places the reader in the future, where the narrator is attending his first year of college. The narrator's thoughts on invisibility here are simple: act as the white man desires and you will be liked by white society. He remembers and tries to follow the instruction that his grandfather left him: "defeat them with yeses, weaken them with smiles, accept them until death and destruction, let them swell you until they vomit or gape" (16). In essence, his grandfather said that it was better to smile and treat white men as they wish rather than increase the possibility of making them angry and hurt because of it. The narrator's hope becomes that, one day, he will obtain a position of power, such as the presidency of the college he is attending. He looks up at Dr. Bledsoe, the current president of the college, and assumes that because of Bledsoe's authority and title, Bledsoe is considered visible. During his college stay, the narrator tries to please white men and act appropriately to gain visibility. This point is made when he talks to Dr. Bledsoe in the latter stages of his time at college. After listening to Mr. Norton, a white trustee, and taking him to see a show that rather shocked and offended this visitor, the narrator is dismissed. Confused, the narrator asks Dr. Bledsoe what he did wrong. He did exactly what was asked of him, he acted correctly and he did what was expected of a black man like him. Dr. Bledsoe explains that it is necessary to direct the white man's thoughts: Black men must show or say only things that white men like and must divert their attention from things that do not. Dr. Bledsoe says, "This is my life, telling white people how to think about the things I know... It's a bad business and I don't always like it... But I've made my place and I'll do it." make every nigger in the country hang from tree branches by morning if it means staying where I am” (140-141). In other words, he claims that it is possible to achieve great things by submitting to the demands of white people, even if it means betraying one's ideal ethics. This point contrasts directly with the narrator's future visions of invisibility and is a remarkable reflection of how the narrator transforms into the man he will become in the future. After being expelled, the narrator heads to Harlem. He hopes that after enough time has passed and if he raises enough money, he will be able to return to college and continue on the path he was pursuing. Even after this huge bump in the road, the narrator still believes that to be visible he must become someone important, someone who holds a high position. Although he continues to work towards his goal in the next chapters, the narrator finds himself faced with new visual manifestations of invisibility. He is shocked not only by the large numbers of blacks flocking to the North, but also by the interactions he sees between the races. After accidentally meeting a white woman, he is surprised that she apologizes. On many different occasions, he sees white people behave much kinder than he had seen them behave in the South. Yet these events cannot be taken as true signs of progress for blacks: they were still seen only for the color of their skin, not as individuals. The people of the North simply behaved more compassionately, an idea that the narrator mistakenly takes as a sign that his race is more visible. The narrator searches and searches for work, sending addressed lettersto important contacts of Dr. Bledsoe, with words of recommendation. . Time passes until finally he has only one letter left and, knowing this is his last chance, he heads to Mr. Emerson's office. Here he talks to a man, later revealed to be Mr. Emerson's son, who reveals a huge secret. The letter, intended to help the narrator, asked the businessmen to remove the narrator because he had committed a terrible crime against the school. Each document explains that the narrator must not be informed of this, as his chances of returning to college were impossible, and the college did not want to face the backlash of him knowing this. This is an essential point for the narrator, because he now knows that there is no chance of him returning to college and fulfilling his dream of becoming an educator or achieving a high position there. Ellison introduces something in this chapter that the narrator is unaware of. Up to this point no one has truly seen the narrator for who he was. Throughout his story, contrary to what he might believe, he was invisible. Only now, with young Mr. Emerson, has his situation been shown in its true light. Mr. Emerson does not see him as a black man in need of a job: he speaks honestly to the narrator, without any gain to himself. They speak person to person, without preconceptions or blindness to them. To help the narrator, young Emerson offers him a job in a paint factory. It is here that the narrator receives the wound that sends him to the hospital. When he comes out of treatment it's almost like he's a new person. It is at this moment that his definition of invisibility changes. He no longer believes that pandering to white men is the right way to go. Instead he must do as he pleases; it will make itself visible in some other way. “I am what I am!” he says to himself (266). After witnessing the eviction of an older black couple, the narrator becomes enraged and gives an impromptu speech to the crowd. It is after this event that he finally discovers a way to become truly visible by joining a group called The Brotherhood after being approached by an impressed member. The Brotherhood is a group that defends the rights of blacks and seeks to create better race relations between whites and blacks. The narrator agrees to join the group and, although skeptical at first, soon rejoices in the fact that by giving these speeches and making a difference, he will force white people to see him. It will be visible to everyone. However, things don't go exactly as he planned. Throughout his time in the Brotherhood, he believes that standing up for his people and speaking publicly, where everyone will see him, will make him increasingly visible. He couldn't see that he was being used as an icon or for black people rather than being appreciated for who he is. He himself wasn't important: the brotherhood just needed a black man who could talk. For example, when a woman is seen to be giving speeches, she wonders whether he is “dark enough” to be a representative speaker. The Brotherhood members also criticize the narrator when he tries to speak outside of what the Brotherhood desires. He has no real voice for himself. In a way, he is just a puppet of the Brotherhood. In any case, invisible. Things reach a turning point when, one day, the narrator assumes the identity of a man named Rinehart. It's clear that Rinehart is his own man, and it seems like he doesn't play any roles other than his own and has a blast. This man takes on multiple different roles in society: a pimp, a briber, a priest. “His world was possibility and he knew it” (498). Rinehart holds a lot of power and yet remains completely himself, not submitting to.