Invisble Man by Ralph Ellison
1. The story is written in first person. The narrator is an African American man who thinks of himself as invisible. He reflects on his past and describes to the audience why he is living underground stealing electricity. He lives during the Great Depression so there is still segregation. He goes to Harlem where he finds a job at a paint company. On the job, he passes out and loses his memory. Once it is regained, he is offered to be a spokesman for the Brotherhood and quickly moves up and becomes in charge of all Brotherhood interests. The Brotherhood members send out people to beat him up and soon after all his running the threaten to have him lynched. While running from these men he falls down a manhole. He has been there ever since and is telling the story from that very spot. He then talks about how he wants to come out of the hole and back into the real world.
2. The theme is not to let racism hold you down.
3. The tone is up and down. It can go from very depressing to extremely optimistic.
"I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me"
"I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed"
"That invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact. A matter of the construction of their inner eyes, those eyes with which they look through their physical eyes upon reality."
4.
Point of View: The story is written in first person told by the narrator.
Symbols: The Sambo doll represents degrading black stereotypes.
Tone: Up and down; positive then negative
Theme: Don't let racism hold you down.
Metaphor: Live with your head in the lion's mouth.
