Almost everyone fights against the idea that, despite their best efforts, the things they do remain overlooked by others. They feel invisible, like they belong in a story where they are just background characters. Or rather, some people don't care about their impact, just wanting the world to notice and recognize them for who they really are, rather than what they seem from afar, or even then. Universally, people feel invisible on some level. In his novel Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison explores this idea of ​​invisibility and how it shapes the actions, thoughts, and motivations of his characters. This notion of invisibility spurs the narrator on many occasions in the book, allowing him to move forward and do whatever he can to be seen by the white man, but it also leads to some of his biggest pitfalls and holds him back by creating a false identity in him. His choice to model himself on the world of white men often hurts him, and he only becomes enlightened when he truly recognizes that the only way to be visible, to exist, is to remain true to oneself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The story begins simply with an introduction from the narrator. He explains here, in his own words, that he is invisible. Of course, he doesn't mean that literally. Instead, he suggests that the fault does not lie with him for any deformity or defect; instead, it is with the people of society looking at him with a blind eye. “I am invisible, understand, quite simply because people refuse to see me” (3). They view the world differently than he does, refusing to look beyond what society suggests a black person should be. He suggests that there are certain advantages to being hidden from the world; however, this subject will have to wait until later, when a more precise idea of ​​the narrator's situation can be known. Continuing his prologue, the narrator clarifies that his goal in writing is to explain to the reader his struggle with the idea of ​​invisibility and what led not only to this place, but also to the state of mind in which he is currently located. Wishing to shed deeper light on his situation, the narrator promises to tell the reader about his experience, starting at the very beginning of his journey. This is how our story begins. The narrator introduces us to a black man who has attracted the attention of some important white men, notably his manager, through a pleasant speech he gave. Here the first glimpse of invisibility directed at the narrator is shown. Seeming to receive a great honor, the narrator is asked to recite his speech in front of a group of white men. This delights the narrator because it seems for the first time that he is being seen and noticed. Unfortunately, the night turns out quite differently than the narrator expects. Instead of simply reading his speech, he is forced into a violent spectacle with other black men. Then they still want the narrator to speak, and through mouthfuls of blood, the narrator delivers his speech to a crowd who clearly don't seem to care. Once finished, he receives a scholarship and, again, the narrator feels visible. He thinks he accomplished this on his own: to have deserved it, he must have been seen by the white public. In reality (the idea itself is invisible to the narrator), the whites did not award the scholarship because they saw his talent and thought he deserved praise. Instead, they forced him to have a horrible day for their amusement and only rewarded him at the end sothat they can leave happy to have helped a black boy. They saw him simply as a black person in need of help, nothing more. Still, it allows the story to progress and places the reader in the future, where the narrator is attending his freshman year of college. The narrator's thoughts on invisibility here are simple: act as the white man wishes and you will please white society. He remembers and tries to follow the instructions his grandfather left him: "Defeat them with yeses, undermine them with smiles, accept them to die and destroy them, let them swell you up until they vomit or burst in a big way” (16). Essentially, his grandfather was saying that it's better to smile and treat white men the way they want rather than bring up the possibility of making them angry and getting hurt for it. The narrator's own hope becomes that one day he will obtain a position of power, such as the presidency of the college he attends. He admires Dr. Bledsoe, the current president of the college, and assumes that because of Bledsoe's authority and title, Bledsoe is considered conspicuous. During his university stay, the narrator seeks to please white men and act correctly in order to gain visibility. This point is emphasized when he speaks with Dr. Bledsoe at the end of his time at the college. After listening to Mr. Norton, a white administrator, and taking him to see a spectacle that rather shocked and offended this visitor, the narrator is fired. Confused, the narrator asks Dr. Bledsoe what he did wrong. He did exactly what was asked of him, he acted correctly and did what could be expected of a black man like him. Dr. Bledsoe explains that it is necessary to direct the white man's thoughts: black men should only show or say things that please white men and should divert their attention from things that will not please white men. Dr. Bledsoe says, "It's my life, telling white people how to think about the things I know... It's a bad business and I don't always like it myself... But I've made my way to it and I’ll have every black person in the country hanging from tree branches in the morning if it means staying where I am” (140-141). In other words, he asserts that it is possible to achieve great things by submitting to the demands of white people, even if it means betraying one's own ideal ethics. This point directly contrasts with the narrator's future visions of invisibility and is a stunning reflection of how the narrator is transforming into the man he will become in the future. After being expelled, the narrator goes to Harlem. He hopes that after enough time and if he earns enough money, he will be able to return to college and continue on the path he was pursuing. Even after this enormous obstacle, the narrator continues to believe that in order to be visible, he must become someone important, someone in a high position. Although he continues to work on his goal for the next few chapters, the narrator is confronted with new visual manifestations of invisibility. He is shocked not only by the large numbers of blacks gathering in the North, but also by the interactions he sees between the races. After accidentally bumping into a white woman, he is surprised when she apologizes. On many occasions he saw white people acting much nicer than in the South. Yet these events cannot be considered true signs of progress for black people: they were still perceived only by the color of their skin, and not as individuals. The Northerners simply acted more compassionately, an idea the narrator wrongly assumes is a sign that his race is morevisible. The narrator searches and searches for employment, sending letters addressed to Dr. Bledsoe's important contacts, with words of recommendation. . Time passes until he finally has only one letter left and, knowing this is his last chance, heads to Mr. Emerson's office. Here he speaks to a man, later revealed to be Mr. Emerson's son, who reveals a huge secret. The letter, intended to help the narrator, asked the businessmen to turn the narrator away because he had committed a terrible crime against the school. Each document explains that the narrator should not know about it, because his chances of returning to the college were impossible, and the college did not want to deal with the backlash if he knew about it. This is a key point for the narrator, because he now knows that he has no chance of returning to college and realizing his dream of being an educator or reaching a high position there. Ellison introduces something in this chapter that the narrator is unaware of. Until now, no one has really seen the narrator for who he was. Throughout his story, contrary to what he might believe, he is invisible. Only now, with young Mr. Emerson, does he show his situation in its true light. Mr. Emerson does not see him as a black man in need of a job: he speaks honestly to the narrator, without any gain for himself. They speak from person to person, without preconception or blindness to them. In order to help the narrator, young Emerson offers him a job in a paint factory. It is here that the narrator receives the injury that sends him to the hospital. When he comes out of treatment, it's almost like he's a new person. This is when his definition of invisibility changes. He no longer believes that pandering to white men is the right way to go. Instead, he must do what he wants; he will make himself visible in another way. “I am what I am!” he said to himself (266). Upon witnessing the eviction of an older black couple, the narrator becomes inflamed and gives an impromptu speech to a crowd. It was after this event that he finally discovered a way to become truly visible by joining a group called The Brotherhood after being approached by an impressed member. The Brotherhood is a group that advocates for black rights and attempts to create better race relations between whites and blacks. The narrator agrees to join the group and, although initially skeptical, quickly becomes happy that by giving these speeches and making a difference, he will force white people to see him. It will be visible to everyone. However, things don't go exactly as he plans. Throughout his time with the Brotherhood, he believes that defending his people and speaking publicly, where everyone will see him, will make him more and more visible. He couldn't see that he was being used as an icon or for black people rather than being valued for who he is. He himself was not important: the brotherhood just needed a black man who could speak. For example, when it is seen that he will be giving speeches, one woman wonders if he is "dark enough" to be a representative speaker. Brotherhood members also criticize the narrator when he tries to speak outside of what the Brotherhood wants. He has no real voice for himself. In a sense, he is just a puppet of the Brotherhood. In all stories, invisible. Things reach a turning point when one day the narrator assumes the identity of a man named Rinehart. It's clear that Rinehart is his own man, and it seems like he's not playing any role other than his own and having a great time with him. This man assumes multiple different roles in society: pimp, corrupter, priest. “His world was possible and he knew it” (498). Rinehart,.