How can a mundane object like food imply such profound meanings? How is it possible to incorporate food-related symbols into a novel about personal identity and invisibility? Ralph Ellison's novel, Invisible Man, manages not only to integrate food symbols into the plot, but also to infuse them with meaningful connotations. An obvious symbol represents the narrator's acceptance of his southern heritage. Another type of food represents the impoverished conditions of many African Americans of the time. The drinks complement the importance of the food in portraying others' views of black people. In this novel, food symbolizes many things, including the narrator's acceptance of his heritage, the poverty of the black community, and the secret racism of the Brotherhood. The yams purchased by the narrator symbolize his acceptance of his southern heritage. For example, when the narrator bites into the yam, he is “overwhelmed by such homesickness that he turns away to maintain control” (264). Although the narrator has given a facade by acting as if he is irritated by anything related to the South, this display of emotion proves otherwise. He unconsciously neglected the more pleasant aspects of the South because the negative aspects, such as racial prejudice, overshadowed them. Furthermore, the narrator shows his recognition of his history when, referring to the yams, he exclaims: "It is my birthmark, I am what I am" (266)2E The narrator has finally accepted his heritage southerner and openly accepts it. The narrator's period of contempt for the racist mores of the South is over, thus causing his personality to evolve. Although plump, succulent yams do not appear very often in the novel, their significance is essential to the narrator's development.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Cabbage preserves the same implication of poverty throughout the novel. For example, the narrator describes cabbage as “a depressing reminder of the most difficult years of [his] childhood” (296). Not only does the cabbage remind him of his childhood in the South, but it also rejuvenates his memories of deprivation. This provides insight into the narrator's ambiguous past as well as his current conditions, both filled with poverty. Additionally, at Clifton's funeral, the "stench of rotten cabbage" depicts the state of poverty of the black community (460). This area, inhabited mainly by African-Americans, is in an extremely terrible state, as evidenced by the fetid stench and the sale of rotten food. The Muslim Brotherhood, which promotes equality on all fronts, has clearly made little or no effort to improve the situation of Harlem residents. Racism, whether blatant or covert, has produced the poverty of the black community, which the cabbage symbolizes. Drinks, especially translucent liquids, demonstrate the hidden racism of the Muslim Brotherhood. For example, Emma pours "about an inch of clear liquid" onto each brother, causing the narrator to feel, "Things burned, which made me lower my head to hide the tears that were streaming from my eyes" ( 310). The lowering of the narrator's head depicts the image of inferiority since people generally lower their heads when in the presence of their superiors. This strong drink illustrates the hidden racism within the Brotherhood and should serve as a warning of things to come for the narrator. Additionally, when the narrator is at the committee meeting, he is stunned when he "stares into the glass, seeing.