A conflict found in Invisible Man is the narrator’s sense of trying to find a place in society. The narrator questions his own existence in civilization. He states that “You wonder whether you aren't simply a phantom in other people’s minds……You ache with the need to convince yourself that you do exist in the real world, that you're a part of all the sound and anguish, and you strike out with your fists, you curse and you swear to make them recognize you”(page 4).
From this excerpt, you can clearly conclude that the narrator is far from an invisible figure. But rather invisible to society. During the time of which this story pertains America, is currently racially divided. Our narrator feels as though he is invisible because he is not acknowledged by those outside of his own race. Due to the color of his skin, white people do not accept him as a fellow member of society. And thus condemn him as a “phantom”(page 4).
The racially prejudice between the blacks and whites greatly angers the narrator. For example he tells how he “bumped into a man, and perhaps because of the near darkness he saw me and called me an insulting name. I sprang at him, seized his coat lapels and demanded that he apologize.”(page 4.). The insult being a racial slur coming from a “tall blond man”(page 4.) with “blue eyes” (page.4). Referring to a white man. Racial segregation is obviously going to be a large topic within the novel. This scene being only one of many representations of the prejudice behaviors constantly occurring.
The link provided here:http://wallpaper222.com/explore/civil-rights-movement-violence/, is a photographic representation of what is going on within Invisible Man. The picture is showing the racial clashing between blacks and whites during the Civil Rights Movement. During this time many African Americans are protesting to be recognized as citizens, equal to that of white Americans. This often resulted in physical violence between the two races. The correlation between the photo and Invisible Man is the prejudice shown towards black people. The narrator only wants to be acknowledged within society as typical human being rather than what stereotypes portray him to be, much like those shown within the pictures.
I think recognizing him how he sees himself as a "phantom" is a very well put way to describe how he was forced to live in a white society. He struggles day in and day out to be recognized for his talents which may be superior to the white man, but are nullified due to his black skin. As far as stereotypes, i believe today many races are still perceived as this common misconceptions. Even if it is completely false, many people tend to still judge due to skin color, regardless of their talents.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you that the narrator saying that he is a phantom is a good description of how he feels about himself in society. And it is unfortunate that it is still happening today and kids and teens are growing up and seeing/being a part of that. But when he reacts violently is he adding to the stereotypes that he already has attached to him?
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