While the protagonist allowed others to take advantage of him when he naively conformed to their personal say, he ultimately learns to stop allowing others determine his identity. The protagonist greatly admired the president, Dr. Bledsoe, and tried to conform to his expectations; however, when he expels him from the university, the protagonist is able to see Dr. Bledsoe’s true identity and tries to question his authority but backs down when he realizes he needs him. “But more than that, he was the example of everything I hoped to be: Influential with wealthy men all over the country; consulted in matters concerning the race; a leader of his people; the possessor of not one, but two Cadillac's, a good salary and a soft, good-looking and creamy complexioned wife ” (Ellison 101). Evidently, the protagonist admires Dr. Bledsoe and his accomplishments. Dr. Bledsoe reflects everything the protagonist wants to be; in other words, he is his role model, his idol. For this reason, the protagonist ignores his own identity and intends to comply with Dr. Bledsoe’s expectations. That is why when he is expelled from the university by his idol, Dr. Bledsoe,
While the protagonist allowed others to take advantage of him when he naively conformed to their personal say, he ultimately learns to stop allowing others determine his identity. The protagonist greatly admired the president, Dr. Bledsoe, and tried to conform to his expectations; however, when he expels him from the university, the protagonist is able to see Dr. Bledsoe’s true identity and tries to question his authority but backs down when he realizes he needs him. “But more than that, he was the example of everything I hoped to be: Influential with wealthy men all over the country; consulted in matters concerning the race; a leader of his people; the possessor of not one, but two Cadillac's, a good salary and a soft, good-looking and creamy complexioned wife ” (Ellison 101). Evidently, the protagonist admires Dr. Bledsoe and his accomplishments. Dr. Bledsoe reflects everything the protagonist wants to be; in other words, he is his role model, his idol. For this reason, the protagonist ignores his own identity and intends to comply with Dr. Bledsoe’s expectations. That is why when he is expelled from the university by his idol, Dr. Bledsoe,