Ellison's "The Invisible Man"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses that the character Rinehart represents chaos in the novel, "The Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison, because of what he represents and how he influences the Invisible Man. This paper author states that the first chapter sets the stage for the entire novel, and intensifies the narrator's experience of Rinehart, a strong black man who manipulates people just the way the white people did. This paper author believes that Ellison's graphic portrayal of prejudice and evil is extremely disturbing because, while intellectually the reader might know things like this occurred in the South, it is difficult emotionally to see the reaction of the boys.

From the Paper:

"The main character of "The Invisible Man" is a young black man, who in the first chapter, undergoes violent "hazing" to win a scholarship to a Black university. He must fight other boys blindfolded in a ring, and then, the drunken "upstanding men of the community" give the boys their reward, useless golden tokens spread out on an electrified rug. "A hot, violent force tore through my body, shaking me like a wet rat. The rug was electrified. The hair bristled up on my head as I shook myself free". Not only is it humiliating, it is stark hatred and prejudice in the form of "philanthropy"."

More papers on Ellison's "The Invisible Man":

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