Jazz in "Invisible Man"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man", placed within the broad historical context of ethnicity in twentieth century United States, emphasizes the unique character of jazz as a black and American form of expression. The author points out that jazz, blues, spirituals and black folk religion have been powerful forces within the black American community; however, as Ellison approached it, the problem was that these aspects of American life were routinely rejected, hidden or suppressed by the dominant culture. The paper relates that it is significant that the narrator spends his time writing his story and listening to Louis Armstrong's "What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue" because jazz provides a sense of individuality, enabling him to create his own identity through the words as he listens to music.

From the Paper:

"Overall, the narrator has trouble shaping an identity for himself in a society that wants to continually fit him into a prescribed role of a black man in a white man's world. In theory, the misconceptions of others should not centrally alter who the narrator is able to become; however, he finds that the prejudiced visions of others work to limit the courses of action that he is able to take. Since he cannot act as he wishes, he cannot be the person that he might otherwise have become. Precisely what is required, accordingly, is a choice: either the narrator--or black Americans in general--can choose to embrace their invisibility within the racialized setting of the United States, or he can choose to chart a new course in an attempt to contribute their own distinctive personal gifts to society."

More papers on Jazz in "Invisible Man":

• Book Review # 91734 : "Ralph Ellison's "The Invisible Man"
• Book Review # 95058 : "The Invisible Man"
• Analytical Essay # 61988 : "The Invisible Man"

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