Blog Post 4

In chapter 24, the narrator is trying to get information in the Brotherhood and decides to use Sybil. While in the process of doing that, he gets a call from the Brotherhood in Harlem, asking him to come as quick as possible. When he gets there, he runs into a group of rioters and wonders what started the riot, all of them giving different stories. The narrator then learns that Ras was the one who started the initial riot. As he runs away from a burning building, he comes to a looted building where he sees mannequins hanging from the ceiling. He then sees Ras, who orders his followers to lynch the narrator, because he was a traitor to the black community. As he runs from that situation, he encounters two police officers which puts him on the run again. He falls through an open manhole into a coal caller, and the police trap him underground by putting the manhole cover back in place. The epilogue is where the narrator reflects on what all has happened, noting that he hates himself the most when he was trying to be honest, and had the most love when he tried to confirm the poor beliefs of others. He then thinks about his grandfather, social behaviors, and an incident on the subway with Mr. Norton. Then decides to come up for breath. 

When the narrator tries to her information from Sybil, it shows how both of them are searching for individuality in society. The narrators commitment to the Brotherhood has caused him to fall into their plan to destroy him. Although he expects something is up, he remains loyal and even helps carry out some of the plans to destroy New York, making him a traitor that Ras correctly accused him of being. It is kind of ironic to think that the story begins and an ends in a similar setting of underground. Except now, the narrator is ready for a rebirth, stating that he is done with his hibernation.