Emerson said what?

In class we talked about how Emerson influenced Ralph Ellison and was in a way Ellison’s predecessor. In an article by Christopher Hanlon called Eloquence and Invisible Man. The author talks about how Emerson’s piece of writing influenced much of the rhythm of Ellison’s writing. The author, Christopher Hanlon, focuses on many different aspects of the first speech that the Invisible Man gives in alliance with the Brotherhood.

Emerson’s Eloquence written in 1870 doctrines that any man that can speak can sing. It is an art form that has the ability to move the people. The article highlights Emerson’s belief that the mastery of the art of literature is not focused on one’s ability to dominate but to propagate. “Hence, him we call an artist who can play on an assembly of men as a master on the keys of the piano, - who, seeing the people furious, shall soften and compose them, shall draw them, when he will, to laughter and to tears” (Hanlon, 74). I believe that Emerson was really confirming that a true author is an artist, who is able to convey a point in a clear and moving way. The article also discusses Emerson’s interpretation of Plato’s definition of rhetoric to be “the art of ruling the minds of men” (Hanlon, 74). The compilation of those quotes gives me the understanding that Emerson has established or has at least had the ability to control the emotions of readers and listeners through the art of literature.

As written in Eloquence, the article continues to discuss this idea that “every listener is also a potential speaker” (75). Relating Emerson’s point to Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the Invisible Man stands up and moves his audience to a riot, to stand against the inequality faced by two older African Americans (Chapter 13)...

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... because he was so eager to please the “important white men”. But, I hated the white men because they were cruel enough to make the Invisible Man and the other black men face internal hatred through a series of inhumane tasks.

I loved the Invisible Man and believe that it has been the most profound pieces of literature that I have read in my years of high school. It has inspired me to read more of Ralph Ellison’s books and has excited me to read outside of school. The article written by Christopher Hanlon did a magnificent job explaining the beauty of that speech and the book. Hanlon’s article and my experience reading Invisible Man has inspired me to read more writing from this time period. I want to read more by Ellison, Richard Wright, and I want to learn more about the writers that stood as artists for African American people during the time period of rebirth.