Invisible Man Character Analysis
For many a personal identity evolves over the course of one’s life. Personal identity is demonstrated through many aspects such as the way one dresses or their occupation. However it is really defined by ones interactions with others. How one interacts with others in society shows what kind of people they are. Whether they may be introverts or extroverts’ society labels them.
Within the novel, Ellison describes, “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me (Ellison Prologue 1).” But, what Ellison describes is that “the Invisible Man” portrays himself as what society what wants to see not for who he really is. For example, at the beginning of the novel, the main character is unnamed. This is thought provoking since the …show more content…
One meaning is that being invisible shows how he doesn’t just hide from society just because, he does so because people view him as less since he is black. “And I love light. Perhaps you'll think it strange that an invisible man should need light, desire light, love light. But maybe it is exactly because I am invisible. Light confirms my reality, gives birth to my form (Ellison Prologue 6).” The narrator hides partly by choice but also because people are unwilling to view him as an individual. People don’t consider him to be a human being more so an object. Yet, because he doesn’t allow himself to figure out his own identity, he sees himself as invisible too. However, isolating himself from society allows him to get to know himself better and form one.
In conclusion, Ralph Ellison clearly describes how the narrator finds his true identity through his grandfather’s advice and his invisibility. Because the grandfather shared key advice with “the invisible man,” it inspired him to fight back against the people who looked over him. As for his invisibility, it allowed him to become himself and not have to hide from society
Within the novel, Ellison describes, “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me (Ellison Prologue 1).” But, what Ellison describes is that “the Invisible Man” portrays himself as what society what wants to see not for who he really is. For example, at the beginning of the novel, the main character is unnamed. This is thought provoking since the …show more content…
One meaning is that being invisible shows how he doesn’t just hide from society just because, he does so because people view him as less since he is black. “And I love light. Perhaps you'll think it strange that an invisible man should need light, desire light, love light. But maybe it is exactly because I am invisible. Light confirms my reality, gives birth to my form (Ellison Prologue 6).” The narrator hides partly by choice but also because people are unwilling to view him as an individual. People don’t consider him to be a human being more so an object. Yet, because he doesn’t allow himself to figure out his own identity, he sees himself as invisible too. However, isolating himself from society allows him to get to know himself better and form one.
In conclusion, Ralph Ellison clearly describes how the narrator finds his true identity through his grandfather’s advice and his invisibility. Because the grandfather shared key advice with “the invisible man,” it inspired him to fight back against the people who looked over him. As for his invisibility, it allowed him to become himself and not have to hide from society