“the world moves, not like an arrow, but a boomerang”
Group 1: “the world moves, not like an arrow, but a boomerang”
“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, quotes the statement, “The end is in the beginning but lies further ahead” in the prologue. This introduces a big picture boomerang of the novel made with small events boomerang in the novel. In other words it is similar to ‘what goes around, comes around,’ including the events, deeds and behavior and character.
The beginning of the novel starts with narrator’s self-realization, “ It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations……….I had to discover that I am an invisible man” (Ellison 15). At every stage in the novel the narrator is faced with new challenges of boomeranging of his expectations such as his grandfather’s words haunt him at every incident in his life. The haunting of grandfather’s words again and again enables him to discover himself little bit in every situation.
The narrator’s life is reflected in his grandfather’s words “ Life is a war” and “Live with your head in the lion’s mouth.” This illustrates a boomerang as his life keeps being echoed throughout the novel by his grandfather’s words. In addition to his grandfather’s words, he boomerangs his grandfather in his conduct (treachery) too- “I was considered an example of desirable conduct- just as my grandfather had been” (Ellison 16-17).
Thus the narrator’s struggle or “painful boomeranging” helps him discover himself and in his conduct like his grandfather, which is “defined as treachery” against white folks (Ellison 17). The novel ends where it began and it imitates in deep layers the narrator’s life being started by his grandfather and him ending being same as his grandfather.
“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, quotes the statement, “The end is in the beginning but lies further ahead” in the prologue. This introduces a big picture boomerang of the novel made with small events boomerang in the novel. In other words it is similar to ‘what goes around, comes around,’ including the events, deeds and behavior and character.
The beginning of the novel starts with narrator’s self-realization, “ It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations……….I had to discover that I am an invisible man” (Ellison 15). At every stage in the novel the narrator is faced with new challenges of boomeranging of his expectations such as his grandfather’s words haunt him at every incident in his life. The haunting of grandfather’s words again and again enables him to discover himself little bit in every situation.
The narrator’s life is reflected in his grandfather’s words “ Life is a war” and “Live with your head in the lion’s mouth.” This illustrates a boomerang as his life keeps being echoed throughout the novel by his grandfather’s words. In addition to his grandfather’s words, he boomerangs his grandfather in his conduct (treachery) too- “I was considered an example of desirable conduct- just as my grandfather had been” (Ellison 16-17).
Thus the narrator’s struggle or “painful boomeranging” helps him discover himself and in his conduct like his grandfather, which is “defined as treachery” against white folks (Ellison 17). The novel ends where it began and it imitates in deep layers the narrator’s life being started by his grandfather and him ending being same as his grandfather.