Throughout this
weeks reading, we have seen the narrator progress more and more towards the
version of him we see in the prologue. Many times before we have noticed a
significant event or moment that impacts the narrator and leaves him changed,
for example when he reads the letter Bledsoe sent to his “Acquaintances” in
Harlem or during the operation in the paint factory hospital. In Chapter 23,
the narrator discovers Rineheart and his many identities as well as the idea of
invisibility and the “power it holds.” Ellison explicitly depicts the
narrator’s epiphany about invisibility occurring and makes it seem as though it
was something right in front of him the whole time. While we discussed the idea
of this scene as a fundamental turning point for the narrators character, I
also want to explore a scene one chapter back that I think is also important
and leads up to this discovery.
At the end of
Chapter 22, the narrator has just ended the meeting with Jack and the
Brotherhood committee, which focused on the events that happened during
Clifton’s murder and funeral. As we know, the Brotherhood is angry with the
narrator and decides he must be disciplined. The idea of discipline is
ridiculous to the narrator and he is appalled at their decision. Near the end
of the meeting, the narrator begins to realize that he is actually invisible to
Jack and the other members: “So that is the meaning of discipline, I thought,
sacrifice, … yes, and blindness; he doesn’t see me. He doesn’t even see me.”
Here we see the continuous theme of invisibility prevalent throughout the story
but now, the narrator fully acknowledges its presence. After the meeting has
adjourned the narrator realizes that although the he is not quite sure what to
do about his findings, he knows things will be different from then on: “I would
never be the same. Never. After tonight I wouldn’t ever look the same, or feel
the same.” The narrator’s thoughts about invisibility further support the
dynamic nature of his character and give yet another example of a changing
moment in his life. This scene of realization leads to the discovery of
Rineheart and the narrator ultimately confronting the idea of invisibility and
fully “committing” to it.
The narrator has become increasingly close to the character we see in the prologue, but in my perspective, he hasn’t reached him quite yet. The character in the prologue has no ties to the brotherhood, or anyone for that matter, and lives how he likes, not caring for the cause he once fought for. After chapters 22 and 23, although the narrator is straying from the Brotherhood and its ideals, he hasn’t physically left, and he still believes he should make a difference in the Harlem community and make a difference in the world. While we can see major changes in the narrator’s character caused by the events of the meeting, and a fundamental change in the narrator’s perspective, I think there is still change to be made before the narrator can become “fully invisible,” as we seem him in the prologue.
The narrator has become increasingly close to the character we see in the prologue, but in my perspective, he hasn’t reached him quite yet. The character in the prologue has no ties to the brotherhood, or anyone for that matter, and lives how he likes, not caring for the cause he once fought for. After chapters 22 and 23, although the narrator is straying from the Brotherhood and its ideals, he hasn’t physically left, and he still believes he should make a difference in the Harlem community and make a difference in the world. While we can see major changes in the narrator’s character caused by the events of the meeting, and a fundamental change in the narrator’s perspective, I think there is still change to be made before the narrator can become “fully invisible,” as we seem him in the prologue.
Good observation, his realization of becoming invisible is definitely gradual. I think this is especially true when it comes to the Brotherhood. The narrator gradually found out that the brotherhood is blind to his character starting when they kick him out and ask him to talk about the women question, because he was getting too popular, and then he later realized that it was part of their plan and constantly argues with them, an example being in the scene you described.
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ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that basically every single chapter in the novel shapes the narrator in some way or another. As a whole, all the people who have been blind to the narrator and all the times the narrator has been blind lead up to the final scene where he goes into the hole, and the epilogue where he finally decides to come out. Though this is the case, i definitely agree that the scene you described is a pivotal point for the narrator. When he finally sees that the only thing left that he had faith in doesn't actually see him, it causes him to realize that he is invisible. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a great point, that the narrator we see in the prologue is very different from the narrator we see at the end of the book. However, I disagree with you, I don't think that the latter narrator has not reached the prologue narrator. I think that he has gone beyond the prologue narrator, and is more developed in his thinking and is infinitely more self aware. He achieves this by going through his life up until then, and by doing so he surpasses his identity before.
ReplyDeleteLike Yamini said, at the end of every chapter we have a new Narrator. (The same person, but he's at a different point in his life and belief in his visibility (ability to make a change as the person that he is.)) I wonder now that you've finished the novel what the specific moment is that gets this Narrator you previously described as "almost there" to the Narrator in the prologue. Is the ending what you expected?
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