The Role Of Identity In Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man

In Ellison’s book, The Invisible Man, the narrator confronts the challenges of becoming what society expects of him, and accepting his “Invisibility.” Although he contends with the stereotypes in the beginning stages of his journey, he discovers a way to thrive in lieu of his “Absence” in society. For instance, in the Prologue, Invisible Man describes his apartment, which is filled with 1,369 lightbulbs; he includes that the light,"confirms [his] reality," in which he continues to doubt his existence. Later, as Invisible Man speaks, he is given a form of visibility, despite the levels of transparency that black men are placed under in a "white man's world"(H. William Rice). For Example, Invisible Man, is recognized in the Harlem district

On his search, he encounters various father figures that he confronts, understands, and escapes. The first figure the narrator confronts, is Booker T. Washington, evoked in his speech at the Battle Royal and continuing through Mr. Norton. Whom the narrator meets when he is at the college. Moving onto Dr. Bledsoe, whom Invisible Man idolized until he exiles him to New York with hope of returning to his studies. Then there is Brother Jack from the Brotherhood, who guides the narrator in becoming the "chief spokesperson for the Harlem District" (Daniel S. Burt). One after another the narrator falls under the influence of these leaders only to rebel later. Ras, is the last of these figures, and he is "the representative of African nationalism who stalks him through the streets of Harlem as a rival speaker, accusing the narrator of faithlessness to the black man, seeking to align him with the ultimate father/mother symbol: Africa" (H. William Rice). Therefore, giving the scene where the narrator spears Ras's jaw shut importance due to him "having found his life by losing it. Thus, he has lived out the prophetic words of the vet from the Golden Day: 'be your own father, young man' " (H. William Rice) (Ellison