Prologue And Epilogue In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

It is through the prologue and epilogue, that we understand the deeper meanings of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. The prologue is essential, laying down a foundation that allows us to understand the meaning and reason behind the symbolism and relevance of events the that follow. The prologue allows us to understand the extent and level of intensity the novel is trying to achieve. Acting in the same way, the epilogue further illustrates the importance of different parts of the novel allowing us to truly see what the Invisible Man wants us to notice and take from the telling of his life. In the prologue the narrator introduces himself as the Invisible Man, simultaneously presenting himself as a character and as a theme in the novel. It is obvious that he is the protagonist telling the story of his life, but the way in which the theme is presented is more abstract. The theme is revealed as the Invisible Man explains that he has no identity because
He is taking responsibility for the things that occurred to him, knowing that he was a part of the decisions he made and paths he chose. Knowing this, he knows that the enemy is not totally separate from him, as his grandfather implied, but a part of him as well. And that he can't overcome it, as his grandfather suggested, because doing that he would also overcome himself and his identity.
The narrator admits that he is still confused over his identity. He has realized, through his hibernation, that he has gone about his life wrong. He has been trying many ways to proceed with his life and has learned that there is no single way to do it, something he failed to see early on. By the end of the novel, the Invisible Man no longer sees in black or white, a division of right and wrong, he is now able to think in the gray areas. Significantly, his new way of looking at life has given him a new way to find his