In the crazy and somewhat comedic
scene at the Golden Day, an ex-doctor and vet takes care of Mr. Norton as he
passes out many times. The vet tells the narrator and Mr. Norton some
insightful and maybe insulting things. He says the narrator is a “mechanical
man (94).” Prior to that the vet says the narrator does not truly understand
anything. Later he explicates the reality of Mr. Norton and the narrator and
states they do not see each other for who they are for but for what they want.
Mr. Norton only sees invisible man as his destiny and accomplishment and
invisible man only sees Mr. Norton as someone more powerful. Neither of them
see the other as a person.
The
vet says earlier about the invisible man: “Already he’s learned to repress not
only his emotions but his humanity. He’s invisible, a walking personification
of the Negative, the most perfect achievement of your dreams, sir! (94)” This
portrays the narrator as his grandfather’s last words. The narrator succumbs to
the white man and will do anything to be seen as important in the white man’s
eyes. The emotion is gone and so is the humanity. The narrator gives himself up
and becomes Mr. Norton’s destiny of a successful school. As mentioned earlier
the vet then says “The mechanical man! (94)” This phrase expands on the idea of
succumbing to a power because it’s like saying the narrator is just following
any orders given just so he can impress. Therefore the narrator may not see Mr.
Norton as a person but just as a higher power he must take care of to be
well-regarded. The vet is also saying Mr. Norton just sees the narrator as
another achievement.
This scene is just another example of the chain command during this time period. It's good that you pointed out the "mechanical man" because it shows that their feelings aren't human- if they have "feelings" at all. They have somewhat robotic features aka a lack of humanity. The younger black boy is at the foot of the older white man. Never do they see each other as equals.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that the vet labeled the narrator as invisible so early in the novel. The vet is able to see the narrator for what he truly is: a follower. He calls the narrator a traitor and tells him he is exactly what the white race wants blacks to be. The narrator disregards the statements because he does not want to face the truth behind them.
ReplyDeleteYour perspective on the scene at the Golden Day is very insightful. The vet called the relationship between Norton and the narrator exactly how he sees it- a black man wilingly accepting orders from an affluent white man. In a way, Norton and the narrator serve as invisible men to each other. They acknowledge each other according to their social status rather then their personalities. It's a very superficial relationship, alsmost to the point to where it seems forced.
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