The Narrator In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

In Invisible Man written by Ralph Ellison, the main protagonist is not named and is
referred to as “invisible man.” He is an African American male living in the 1930s. Invisible man
originated from the Deep South and is currently roaming the New York streets. In chapter nine,
the narrator is having a conversation with Mr. Emerson’s son. Through the conversation, the
reader learns that the narrator is “nineteen...[who has] the build...[and can] probably make an
excellent runner or a sprinter” (182-183). Ultimately, the narrator is young and is going through
the journey of life. At the beginning of the book, the narrator explains “all my life I had been
looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted
their answers

too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was
naïve.

I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which, and only I,
could answer ” (15). In other words, the narrator is portrayed as a person who battles with his
self identity and is trying to figure out his place in society. His characterization is important
because it helps build the conflict between himself, racism, and a battle of oppression. For
example, when Mr. Norton wanted to go on a car ride, the narrator fell into conformity because
in his eyes he must please a white man. Although the narrator struggles to figure out his role in
society, the narrator is an ambitious and hopeful young man who seeks to obtain an education.
Despite the narrator trying to succeed in life, he is blinded by conformity and has oppression as

his constant obstacle. This can be seen when whites use him as entertainment at battle royal.
Although he is in great pain and whites laugh at him as his life is endangered, at the end of the
day, he cannot see their cruel intentions. Instead, he is filled with gratitude as in return for his
“participation” at battle royal he has been given a passage to a 4 yr college.
Another important character is Dr. Bledsoe, the president of the school. As the

narrator
first describes him, he states that Dr. Bledsoe is a “kind,... influential,...and a leader of his
people” (101). In other words, Dr. Bledsoe, a black man, is a good person who has made a name
of himself. As the narrator gets to know Dr. Bledsoe, his perspective changes. In chapter six, the
narrator exposes Dr. Bledsoe’s real nature. As Bledsoe is sending the narrator away, he states
“The white folk tell everybody what to think—except men like me. I tell them; that’s my life,
telling white folk how to think about the things I know about” (143). In other words, Dr, Bledsoe
is a person who has many faces. By this I mean he acts differently depending on his surrounding
but his main goal is to maintain his status and power. His characterization is important because it
reflects back to the advice of the narrator’s grandfather. Ultimately, Dr. Bledsoe is a selfish,
ambitious, and treacherous person. Despite Dr. Bledsoe being a jerk to the narrator, he also
helped the narrator’s blindfold come off. His words are teaching the narrator about his role in life
and that not everything is picture perfect. With this the narrator learns about the delusions in life
and the expulsion begins his journey in the north.