Ralph Ellison, "Invisible Man" pg 2298

I have to confess something. I bawled my eyes out with this story! The Prologue was what got me started. The feeling of loneliness and anger was so tangible that I felt and sympathized with every word. It was a relief though when he snuck in little hints of humor to lighten the mood. Like his comment about Poe when he referred to Poe’s mental health, how he was screwing the power company and how he was a ‘tinker thinker’.

For the most part, I could identify with this character on such a basic level during the Prologue that it was uncanny. It was like looking in a timeless mirror and seeing my own circumstances laid out in front of me, “You ache with the need to convince yourself that you do exist in the real world…I did not come alive until I discovered my invisibility.” The worth of one’s self comes from one’s self. But at what cost does it take to realize this?

Then, when the story actually started, I was taken in a different direction. To circumstances that I can not even put into perspective. To think that that kind of stuff really happed is just so unreal to me! How could anyone treat another human being in this way? To laugh and enjoy the pain and humility of another person is so inhumane.

I felt so bad for this character when all he could think about was going ahead and giving his speech he had prepared, even after what those men had done to him. I understand the time period, but even then, if it was me, I would have had a few not lady like words to say to them and possibly a few hand jesters to go along with them!

It wasn’t only the White people that did injustice to this young man. His own Grandfather did harm to him also! He did harm to the whole family for that matter! How dare he say the things he did on his death bed? Talk about laying a guilt trip! How could this boy go throughout life from then on without self hate. He was bound to be messed up when no matter what he did was wrong in someone’s eyes. “And whenever things went well for me I remember my grandfather and felt guilty and uncomfortable.” This character had no chance, and it was a shame. He got it from both directions just because of his skin color. There was one good thing though, his tenacity. I don’t think I could have been so tenacious.

I’m not sure how this story ends, but I hope Ellison lets this character have something good happen in his life, he deserves it. I am definitely going to have to get the full story and find out!