Invisible Man

The major themes in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man are the following:

Race and Racism: This is the most central theme. The unnamed narrator’s experiences constantly make him confront the realities of racism in America. He encounters different racist ideologies and expectations, leaving him unsure of his place in society. This constant barrage of racial prejudice shapes his identity and triggers his search for self-understanding.

Identity and Invisibility: The title itself indicates how invisibility is a central theme. The narrator feels invisible not because he is literally unseen but because society refuses to acknowledge him as an individual. He is defined by his race rather than his own merits. This invisibility creates a crisis of identity for him, where he cannot define himself in a world that denies him his individuality.

Ambition and Disillusionment: The narrator’s journey is filled with shattered dreams and broken promises. From the expectations placed on him at his Southern college to the hypocrisy of the Brotherhood organization, he is constantly disillusioned. These experiences force him to confront the deceptions present in both white and black communities, leaving him cynical and unsure of whom to trust.

Although Ellison doesn’t provide specific dates, literary analysis suggests that the novel is set in the late 1920s and 1930s. This is assumed based on two factors. Firstly, the novel depicts a struggling Harlem, mirroring the social and economic decline that followed the Harlem Renaissance’s peak in the 1920s. The hardships faced by the characters mirror the realities of the Great Depression that marked the 1930s. Secondly, the narrative offers subtle hints, such as the mention of a lecture by a prominent communist figure, potentially a reference to figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois or Angelo Herndon, who were active during that time.

Both blues and jazz are deeply rooted in African-American culture, serving as a form of storytelling and expression. The blues, with its origins in the African-American experience of slavery and oppression, embodies themes of sorrow, longing, and resilience. Jazz, on the other hand, represents improvisation, innovation, and freedom—a form of musical expression that defies conventional boundaries and challenges societal norms. The narrator, who is partial toward Louis Armstrong, experiences blues and jazz in various forms, from the lively performances at the Golden Day to the haunting melodies of Rinehart’s harmonica. By incorporating these musical forms, Ellison imbues the novel with a distinct cultural identity, highlighting the narrator’s heritage and its role in shaping his perspective.

While on his deathbed, the narrator’s grandfather delivers a cryptic and powerful message: “I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction.” These words offer a survival strategy for all blacks—appear compliant in front of the whites to avoid conflict in a racially prejudiced society. This also highlights the internalized oppression black Americans face, where they are forced to hide their true selves to navigate a society denying them agency. However, there is also a suggestion of subversive resistance, where “agreeing ‘em to death” could subtly undermine the oppressive system. The narrator’s parents warn him to forget his words. However, the words remain with the narrator, and he sometimes feels this is like a curse.

The fictionalized founder of the unnamed black college, the Founder has some similarities with the real-life Booker T. Washington, the African-American educator. Reverend Barbee elevates the Founder into a nearly religious figure, a man who impacted the lives of thousands, saved the black community from hardship, and showed them the path toward freedom. In the novel, Barbee indicates that now Dr Bledso carries his legacy forward.