Invisible Man

At some point in your education, you come across or cobble together a list of Great Books, titles that you're given to understand are long, ponderous, hard to read, but vaguely essential for the would-be civilized mind. If and when you brave any of the titles on that list, you find that MOBY DICK isn't about a nautical peg-leg, THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV isn't about brotherhood, THE HOUSE OF MIRTH is not a comedy — that in fact none of the Great Books is what you imagined, except in sheer greatness.

INVISIBLE MAN is one of those books. You don't know what you are in for.

The prose may be occasionally clumsy, the forays into dialect may feel dated, but no flaw you find can detract from the sublimity and power of what Ellison has to tell us, not only about the horror and tragedy of being Black in America, but too about the mortal impossibility of being human in this world we humans have made.

INVISIBLE MAN feels it could have been dictated from the burning bush on Mount Horeb, so truthful, fearless and complete is what it achieves. It changed me. It will change you.

With my being so finicky about the books I choose to read, I have relatively high expectations for what lies within each one. I've seen this book for awhile now, and on many recommended reads within Black Literature. With such a vague cover and an even more ambiguous title, I found myself constantly overlooking it without realizing that I had seen this book right in front of me time and time again, as I searched for my next enlightening piece of history. I realize now with the book being so inconspicuous, that the title itself is actually quite fitting.

Prior to reading Invisible Man, I hadn't heard much about it. No recommendations or opinions from others. So there was no way for me to foresee the impact the story would have on me. No way to envisage how eventful and substantial this book would be. No way to anticipate the perspective given to me, from the author, of this black man in America. No way for me to expect the change made to MY perspective as a Black American. After experiencing this painful truth, there was no way I could have conceived that the very people in my life may be "Invisible," and that I myself am invisible as well.

The protagonist did not expect to experience the harsh realities of his existence. More specifically, to experience a journey that he had not planned for, but had plans for him; to meet with a number of individuals that would alter his perspective on being black in a white country; not expecting to ultimately realize that he never accurately knew himself in the first place. The Invisible Man struggles to live in a world where people choose to see him as THEY want to see him, and not for who he truly is. I felt deeply connected with both the mental plight of the protagonist, and his lonesome walk of life.

Author Ralph Ellison paints the most vivid picture of an incredible story. With it's outstanding descriptiveness, and incredible symbolism, this book is nothing short of a masterpiece. While it may be tough to grasp all of it's messages and comprehend each metaphor in one read, it's a page turning experience that unforgivably takes a hold of your emotions without ever letting go. This book is an essential read for a number of reasons, however, two of them strike me as the most palpable. The first being its accurate portrayal of racism in America. Ellison takes us inside the mind of the protagonist as he experiences and discovers hateful discrimination in many forms. As well as many perspectives on racism though multiple characters in the book. And second, though it goes without saying how well written and beautiful the novel is, I was astounded by the overall genius of Ellison's vision. With how meticulous and well crafted this work of art is, it came as no surprise when I learned that it took Ellison roughly seven years to complete this book. The ideas presented in this book, though written nearly 70 years ago, still resonate deeply in today's society. I consider myself fortunate to have graced its pages. Easily a 5 star book, and one of the best books I've ever read.

Any discussion of the most important works in African American literature is sure to include Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man, first published in 1952. The novel depicts and comments upon the racial and social climate of its era, including the black nationalist movement, the American Communist party, and social conditions in the American South. This groundbreaking work of modern literature, however, goes beyond social realism to address more existential issues of black identity. While it often deals with heavy themes, Ellison eloquently mixes tragedy and humor to deliver an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The story is told by an unnamed narrator who grew up in a small town in the American South. He wins a school contest in speech-making, for which he earns a scholarship to a black college. Before he can collect his prize, however, he must first undergo a harrowing and brutal racist hazing ritual for the amusement of the town’s leading white men. As a college student, he is assigned to act as chauffeur and guide to one of the school’s wealthy white donors. When, at the donor’s request, he ushers the white man to some unseemly sites that display the harsher realities of black life in the town, he draws the ire of the college’s president, who expels him from the school. He then heads to New York, where he is recruited by a socialist group called the Brotherhood that ostensibly advocates reforms for the poor and working classes of all races. Due to his prowess as a public speaker, the narrator is assigned to be the Brotherhood’s spokesman in Harlem.

At least half of the novel is devoted to the protagonist’s career with the Brotherhood, which is easily the narrative’s biggest fault. Way too much time is spent on the internal politics and behind-the-scenes strategies of this organization. The reader sits through a series of protracted dialogues in which members of the group’s hierarchy accost each other in accusatory tones without ever really saying what they mean. In the end this yields some interesting conclusions, but Ellison sure takes a long and circuitous route in getting there. Just as in John Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle, a novel about labor organizers among oppressed white farm workers, focusing so much on the supposed reformers often leaves the reader feeling one step removed from the problems they’re trying to reform. In both cases, the author is critical of these purported saviors and exposes the self-interested exploitation behind their agendas. Ellison’s criticisms of the Communists and their treatment of black Americans may be valid, but the 21st century reader finds himself wishing more time had been spent focusing on the realities of black life in Harlem. The beginning and end of the novel—the narrator’s life in the South, his time at college, the frenzied climax, and the thoughtful epilogue—are superior to what’s in between.

Those who prefer a more traditionally naturalistic social realism will find that Ellison ventures a little too much into a verbose, Faulknerian stream-of-conscious style that obscures his arguments more than it elucidates them. Thankfully, only portions of the novel are written in this manner. Despite my few reservations, Invisible Man is still a great novel and an enlightening read. Though published almost seven decades ago, many of the issues Ellison raises have proven regrettably timeless, thus Invisible Man still retains its relevance. For those receptive to what it has to say, this book still has the power to change one’s views on race in America.