Summary
Published in 1952, Invisible Man stands as a searing portrait of Black American life in the mid 20th-century United States. In the novel, author Ralph Ellison explores how society routinely views and fails to recognize Black Americans through the journey of its narrator, an unnamed Black man. After a disturbing event in his high school days, the protagonist's life unfolds from the campus of a Southern Negro college to the bustling streets of Harlem, where the bulk of his story takes place.
Throughout the novel, Ellison masterfully depicts the narrator's complex interactions with a variety of characters, Black and white, illustrating the diverse social dynamics of the time. These encounters often lead to experiences filled with deception, betrayal, and self-discovery, highlighting the narrator's struggle with both his own identity and society's view of him.
Winner of the National Book Award and named by the Modern Library as one of the 100 Best Novels of All Time, Invisible Man transcends a story of one individual’s life to offer a profound exploration of the human condition. Through the narrator's journey, Ellison crafts a powerful and uncompromising interpretation of the everday experience and inherent invisibility of Black Americans in the broader society. Ultimately, Invisible Man emerges not only as a compelling saga of individual struggle and resilience but also as a critical examination of the social constructs that define and divide us.
Themes
The struggle for identity
Race and racism
The complexities of social and political activism
Individual versus society
Illusion versus reality
Search for self-discovery
The effects of invisibility and visibility on one's identity
Power dynamics and exploitation
Setting
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is set in the mid 20th-century United States, an era of racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. Following the protagonist, an unnamed Black man, from a Southern Negro college campus to the urban hub of Harlem in New York City, the novel explores the experience of African Americans in both the Jim Crow South and the more cosmopolitan but still racially divided North.
A significant portion of the novel takes place in Harlem, portrayed as a vibrant yet complex African American community where the protagonist confronts the harsh realities of racism, poverty, and social injustice. Beyond Harlem, the novel occasionally shifts to various unnamed cities and towns across the country, reflecting the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and his quest to understand his place in a society that renders him "invisible" due to the color of his skin. These shifting settings underscore the pervasive nature of racial prejudice and the challenges faced by African Americans nationwide.
Characters
The Narrator: An unnamed Black man, known only as the "invisible man," who describes his journey from the South to Harlem, and his experiences of racism and not being seen as a person in America.
Brother Jack: The leader of The Brotherhood, a political organization the narrator joins in Harlem.
Dr. Bledsoe: The power-hungry president of the Historically Black College the narrator attends.
Mr. Norton: A wealthy white trustee of the college, who has a fateful encounter with the narrator.
Ras the Exhorter (later Ras the Destroyer): A Black nationalist leader in Harlem who opposes The Brotherhood.
Tod Clifton: A young, charismatic Black member of The Brotherhood who becomes disillusioned.
Lucius Brockway: An old Black man who works in the basement of the Liberty Paints plant, representing a link to the past.
Reverend Homer A. Barbee: A blind preacher who gives a glorified speech about the college's founder.
Mary Rambo: A kind, maternal figure who takes the narrator in when he first arrives in Harlem.
Emma: Brother Jack's mistress, who questions whether the narrator is "Black enough" for their purposes.
Sybil: A woman the narrator attempts to use to learn Brotherhood secrets, but she is more interested in her fantasies about Black men.
The Vet (also known as the doctor): He first appears at the Golden Day bar and offers insight into the narrator's situation and the society around them.
Critical reception
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man received high praise from literary critics upon its publication in 1952. In his review in The New York Times, Orville Prescott called the novel an "impressive work of fiction ... [marking] the appearance of a richly talented writer." Novelist Saul Bellow described it as "a superb book ... it is tragi-comic, poetic, the tone of the very strongest sort of creative intelligence." In The New Republic, George Mayberry declared Ellison "a master at catching the shape, flavor and sound of the common vagaries of human character and experience." Esteemed author Anthony Burgess described Invisible Man as "a masterpiece."
FAQs
What is Invisible Man about?
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is a novel that explores the life and struggles of an African American man living in the mid 20th-century United States. It follows the unnamed narrator as he navigates through various experiences and encounters that reveal the complex realities of racism and discrimination.
Who is the main character in Invisible Man?
The main character is an unnamed Black American man who serves as the narrator and protagonist of the story. He refers to himself as an "invisible man" because he feels overlooked and unrecognized by society due to his race.
What is the central theme or message of the novel?
A central theme of Invisible Man is the struggle for identity and recognition faced by African Americans in a society that often renders them invisible or marginalizes their experiences. The book explores issues of racism, discrimination, and the search for individuality and self-acceptance.
What is the significance of the title?
The title "Invisible Man" is a metaphor for the way society fails to truly see and acknowledge the humanity and individuality of the African American narrator. He feels invisible and unrecognized due to the prejudices and biases of others.
What is the tone and writing style of Invisible Man?
The tone of Invisible Man is often satirical, ironic, and darkly humorous, even as it tackles serious and complex themes. The writing style is rich, lyrical, and incorporates elements of symbolism and allegory.
What are the novel's major events or plot points?
Major events include the narrator's expulsion from college, his involvement with the Brotherhood organization, his experiences in Harlem, and his eventual retreat underground where he reflects on his life and identity.
What are some of the notable characters and their roles?
Notable characters include the narrator himself, as well as characters like Dr. Bledsoe, the Brotherhood leaders, and characters like Mary Rambo and Rinehart who represent different aspects of the narrator's journey and experiences.
What is the historical and cultural context of Invisible Man?
Invisible Man was published in 1952 and reflects the racial tensions and civil rights struggles of mid 20th-century America. It tackles issues of racism, segregation, and the experiences of African Americans during this time period.
What is the literary significance and legacy of Ralph Ellison's novel?
Invisible Man is considered a landmark work in American literature. Winner of the National Book Award, Ellison's novel has been praised for its powerful exploration of identity and its innovative use of narrative techniques. What's more, Invisible Man has had a lasting impact on discussions of race and social justice.
Quotes
“I am an invisible man. No I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allen Poe: Nor am I one of your Hollywood movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids, and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, simply because people refuse to see me.”
“What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?”
“I was never more hated than when I tried to be honest."
“Play the game, but don’t believe in it ... Play the game, but raise the ante.”
“Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.”
“Perhaps to lose a sense of where you are implies the danger of losing a sense of who you are.”
“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”
Quick facts
Released in 1952, Invisible Man is the only novel Ralph Ellison published during his lifetime.
Invisible Man won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1953, establishing Ellison, the first Black writer to receive this honor, as a pre-eminent American author.
The novel's often anthologized prologue, which includes the famous quote, "I am an invisible man," has been interpreted in numerous ways and remains a central text in American literature studies.
The Library of Congress named Invisible Man as one of its "Books That Shaped America."
In addition to publishing two collections of essays, Ellison continued to work on a second novel about the African American experience. Juneteenth was published posthumously in 1999, edited down from more than 2,000 pages of manuscript that the author left upon his death in 1994.
Ellison did not write Invisible Man solely as a work of social protest on behalf of Black Americans. In his National Book Award acceptance speech, Ellison stressed what he considered the novel's chief significance—its "experimental attitude."
Despite its critical acclaim, Invisible Man has been banned in some schools and libraries in the United States because of its explicit content and language.
About the author
Ralph Ellison is an American author renowned for his seminal contributions to literature, education, and the African American community. His groundbreaking novel Invisible Man won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1953, distinguishing Ellison as the first Black American writer to receive this honor. In 1964, he was appointed to the Academy of American Arts and Letters.
Born in Oklahoma in 1914, Ellison trained as a musician at the prestigious Tuskegee Institute from 1933 to 1936. However, a transformative visit to New York City and an encounter with the writer Richard Wright steered his focus towards writing. He published two collections of essays. His second novel, Juneteeth, was published posthumously in 1999.
Beyond his writing, Ellison played a significant role in nurturing future talents through his educational engagements. He served as a faculty member at various prestigious institutions, including Bard College, the University of Chicago, and New York University, where he held the esteemed position of Albert Schweitzer Professor of Humanities. His involvement in academia and the literary community showcased his commitment to fostering literary excellence and critical thought among emerging writers and scholars. He died in New York City in 1994. Through his innovative narrative techniques and profound exploration of complex themes, such as identity and societal structures, Ellison has left an indelible mark on American literature and society.
