Ralph Ellison invisible man - Book Report/Review Example

The novel opens with the author reminiscence about his life when he was young. He was a naive young man who wanted to be a famous orator and got disillusioned in this pursuit. The novel explores many social and mental themes but all the themes are related to one prominent theme of individuality and identity. The protagonist of this novel is a black American who through his experience learns the ways of this harsh world. He experiences indifference not only from the white people but is also receives with apathy from his black counterparts.

The novel revolves around Search Motif. The protagonist is in search of his identity and individuality. He questions everyone .He is unable to find answers about his existence. He thinks he is invisible as no one wants to acknowledge his identity. Eventually, he develops this understanding that he can only answer his questions. In the end, ‘The theme of self-realization by relying solely upon one's self is developed’. Ralph Ellison employs numerous poetic devices to bring forth the theme of the novel before the readers.

The novel is largely carried in a stream of consciousness. It moves from the present into the past and vice versa. There is lot of word play in the novel. Ellison’s use of these words in the Prologue, "the master meter," the "power station," and "free current" all relate Writer 2 to the underlying themes of power, freedom, and the legacy of slavery. The use of symbols also enhances the underlying ideas and is very persuasive in conveying the meaning. The narrator's calfskin briefcase symbolizes his psychological baggage; Mary Rambo's broken, cast-iron bank symbolizes the narrator's shattered image; and Brother Tarp's battered chain links symbolize his freedom from physical as well as mental slavery.

He employs metaphors of being invisible because he is invisible to himself and to the world that ignores to identify him and accept his individuality. Ellison’s Invisible Man is an allegory .He focuses on the light, bulbs, and illumination in the beginning of the novel refers to the intellectual enlightenment. Introduction of Prizefight in the first chapter illustrates the concept of fate. Certain things are beyond human control despite of our diligent efforts. The presence of grandfather in dreams represents a guiding force that gives directions to the protagonist to act.

The central metaphor used in the novel by Ellison is the blind fold. The protagonist wants to get rid of this blind fold in other sense it also refers to emerging of Blacks from the bondage of slavery. The narrator of the novel is the main character. The entire story revolves around him. He is a black American and starts considering himself invisible as people do not acknowledge his presence. The narrator is an educated young man. He is deeply introspective and a gifted orator but he is naive young man.

He believes others easily and therefore finds himself in very strange situations. His illusions are destroyed gradually as he comes face to face with the reality of the world. Throughout the novel, it is observed that his identity as an individual is ignored and he makes many efforts to establish it. He struggles for his existence. He is a responsible young man however, he is mis educated in the sense that he is taught to despise his own people and accept humbly the supremacy of the Whites thus ignoring the strength of Black culture and Literature. His