We began to read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison in class, and honestly I have been both confused and pleased by the different experiences that our narrator has experienced. Ellison leads us through a somewhat uncomfortable, dream-like journey of some of the narrator’s early experiences. It’s interesting I am so quick to say “Ellison leads…” because our narrator is technically the first person. But I guess they work together to create these images.
There are a lot of things to touch on in the earliest chapters, but I am especially interested in the scenery change from the South to the North when he is sent to New York by this “fatherly/authority” figure Mr. Bledsoe. I think 2nd hour and myself aren’t completely sure what his intention is of this? Is Bledsoe giving the narrator another chance? Is he mocking him? Is he giving him false potential? I think it’s hard to figure out because Bledsoe’s character challenges both our narrator and the reader (not what we’re used to). On page 179, the narrator comments “Whether we liked him [Mr. Bledsoe] or not, he was never out of our minds. That was a secret of leadership.” It’s interesting to me that the narrator sheds some type of positive light on Mr. Bledsoe, and I think it’s partly because he thinks he’s satisfied with the new life he is living, and because he wants to become Bledsoe.
However, I think there is some correlation between the narrator’s change in environment and change in action. On page 179, “I slapped the dime on the counter and left, annoyed that the dime did not ring as loud as a fifty-cent piece,” indicates the more emotional and angry take he now has.
I can relate this to my own life in a way -- and perhaps you can too. I know I’ve had situations where I have to make a transition, and I end up having high expectations of what it’s going to be. And then when it doesn’t fit those expectations, I end up being angry at myself and at my current situation. It hurts to see our narrator in that place, even if he has it a little different than me. So, if I was to give advice to our narrator, I would tell him to go to some therapy, find a way to be happy with Northern life, and live. I believe in him (more than I did Bigger for sure).
I think it is really interesting that you said "Ellison leads" because that made me realize how much I do compound Ellison and the narrator. We don't know the narrator's name, so unlike with Bigger and Richard Wright, it is harder to differentiate them. The narrator's identity is such an abstract concept, and yet we know so much about him, so the question "who is the narrator" is a little confusing. He isn't Ellison, but he also has part of Ellison in him. Anyway, I liked your post and your advice for the narrator.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “Whether we liked him [Mr. Bledsoe] or not, he was never out of our minds. That was a secret of leadership" really stuck with me here. I definitely think that the narrator does look up to Mr. Bledsoe, and it is interesting that he sheds a positive light on him, like you said, but sometimes the people or things you think about the most are actually the most negative for you. At this point in the book, the narrator still hasn't read the letter that Mr. Bledsoe gave to Mr. Emerson, so his view of Mr. Bledsoe may still be positive, but I think after he reads that letter, Mr. Bledsoe continues to take up much of the narrator's thought process, but in a more negative way. I also liked that you included at the end that you believe in the narrator.. I agree with you (and that I have more faith in him than I did Bigger-- funny since I keep wanting to call this character Bigger because of their similarities and the narrator's lack of name).
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! Every time I enter a new phase of life, meet a new group of people, etc. I feel that it is a chance to start over. Yet, you can never really escape your identity -- we sometimes don't realize how much the environment we grew up in shaped us. For example, when I visit China, I expect to blend in. After all, by blood I am 100% Chinese. And yet, people can always tell that I am American as well, even before I open my mouth -- street vendors try to sell me goods at tourist prices rather than local prices, for example. People say they can tell by the way I walk. I was definitely reminded of that when Invisible Man's narrator was offered "the special".
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I think it's important to come to terms with who you are. You can never change where you were raised, so be proud of it, and learn from it if you need to. When you try to reject your identity that's written all over your face and your walk, it will only chase you and bring you down (that's the message I got from the Jolly Bank metaphor). It was such a relief to see the narrator rejoicing in his yams and his cheesy puns -- we come back to the theme of laughing, and it certainly seems healthy! Unfortunately, it seems that the narrator's confidence in his identity wavers as he takes on a whole new identity in the Brotherhood.
Although I definitely agree the narrator could benefit from going to therapy and becoming happy with his life in the north, I've got to say I'm glad he didn't do either - the book wouldn't be nearly as fun to read if he was just able to settle down happily. I think you're right about the correlation between the narrator's environment and actions. Whenever he feels out of place, it seems to really affect him (more than most people), and his way of coping causes him to be much more emotional and to do things we'd never imagine him doing if he were back in the south.
ReplyDelete