“And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own. I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man.”
When I first picked up the lengthy 900-page classic, I thought I was about to dive into a great science fiction novel. I was very much mistaken. “Invisible Man,” by Ralph Ellison is certainly not science fiction; although “The Invisible Man” and “Invisible Man” share similar titles, the two are nothing alike.
The 16-week best seller created by Ralph Ellison brings the reader into the Harlem district during the 1930s. The book features an extensive look into the American culture and language, both from the viewpoint of black and white. Along the way, the novel asks the infamous question: “Who am I?”
Instantly the reader is thrown into a world of clashing opinions and ideologies. Ralph Ellison’s use of horrifying imagery and suspenseful tone will turn all perspectives upside down and leave the reader questioning the good, the bad, and the ugly until the very last page turn. The novel speaks of finding yourself and a sense of belonging. Ellison also uses each page to describe the racism that took place in the 1930s, when everything was considered a “white man’s world.”
“Invisible Man” follows the narrative of a young African American and his journey from the Deep South into the streets of Harlem. The referral to the main character only as “invisible man,” is the first of many shocks throughout the novel. The “invisible man” is introduced in the prologue as living in an underground sewage tunnel, using his claimed invisibility as an excuse to steal the electricity that powers his 1,369 light bulbs. His journey then unfolds in the form of a flashback, which includes his experiences at college, and at a low-paying job producing “Optic White” paint.
The true story does not unfold until the “invisible man” is greeted by the Brotherhood, a precious group that claims “too many people have disposed of their heritage.”
I think the most compelling part of the novel is the lack of naming the main character. By doing this, the reader is really drawn to the character; constantly pushing to know who the man behind the invisibility is. Even though “Invisible Man was published over 50 years ago, the ideas still stand strong to this day.
There is always a struggle to find your identity and to accept that you are, in fact, not invisible. The classic novel “Invisible Man” created by Ralph Ellison is a necessary read. There are not many novels that have really inspired and enlightened me, but this is one of them. “Invisible Man” perfectly demonstrates the concept of being true to yourself and never letting go of your identity, no matter how hard you are pushed to.
