Symbols
The Briefcase
The briefcase is a powerful symbol that encapsulates themes of identity, invisibility, and the struggle for recognition in a racially stratified society. Throughout the novel, the narrator carries the briefcase with him, and its symbolism evolves as the narrative progresses. Initially, the briefcase symbolizes the narrator’s aspirations for success and acceptance within the white-dominated world. It contains the scholarship he receives to attend a prestigious college, representing his hopes for upward mobility and the promise of a brighter future.
However, as the story progresses, the briefcase takes on deeper layers of meaning. The briefcase becomes a repository for the narrator’s identity and history. It contains the anonymous letters of recommendation that reduce him to a stereotype, reinforcing his invisibility as an individual. It serves as a reminder of the limitations placed on him by societal expectations and the pervasive racism that defines his existence.
However, the briefcase also becomes a source of empowerment for the protagonist. Finally, in the novel’s climax, the narrator burns the briefcase’s contents to create light and escape the darkness of the underground. This act signifies a symbolic shedding of the past, societal expectations, and the burden of prescribed identities. He recognizes the need to move beyond seeking validation from external sources and forge his own path. While the charred briefcase remains, it no longer holds power over him.
The Sambo Doll
The Sambo doll, a grotesque caricature of blackness, embodies the demeaning and belittling portrayals perpetuated by white society, reducing black individuals to objects of ridicule and scorn. It is first gifted to the narrator by the white trustees of his college, symbolizing the patronizing attitudes and expectations imposed upon him by those in positions of power. It represents the ways in which black individuals are objectified and commodified, stripped of their humanity, and reduced to mere stereotypes for the amusement and exploitation of others.
However, later in the novel, when the narrator finds Clifton selling the dolls, the symbolism gets further complicated. This act of selling the dolls is defiance against the Brotherhood. Additionally, there seems to be an invisible string controlling the dolls that Clifton is selling, suggesting that he has more control than is actually apparent.
The Coin Bank
Similar to the Sambo doll, the coin bank, in the shape of a grinning black man who eats coins, is another object that symbolizes racial stereotypes. This is the figure of an obsequious slave who is always eager to serve the white master in exchange for trivial rewards. This is a stereotype that also haunts the narrator. For instance, when he breaks the coin bank and tries to dispose of the pieces, numerous people come back to give him the paper that the pieces were wrapped around. Also, the consumption of the coin by the figure parallels the “battle royal” episode where black men fought with each other to gather coins from an electrified carpet on the white man’s command, reinforcing the prevailing white stereotype portraying blacks as submissive and deferential.
The Liberty Paints Plant
The plant’s core product, “Optic White” paint, serves as an ironic symbol, highlighting the societal desire to erase or “paint over” black identity. Notably, the process of creating “Optic White” involves adding a minuscule amount of black pigment to a base white paint, implying that even the purest “whiteness” relies on the invisible presence of black contribution. This mirrors the societal tendency to erase black achievements while benefiting from their labor and contributions.
The narrator is initially offered a seemingly prestigious job at the plant, leading him to believe he is included in the system. However, his work quickly becomes dehumanizing, as he is tasked with mixing the paint, a process that renders him indistinguishable from the white paint itself. This symbolizes the false promise of inclusion offered by white society, where blacks are often expected to conform and suppress their identities to fit the mold.
The plant’s employees are instructed to wear white uniforms, further emphasizing the pressure to conform. Additionally, the company slogan, “Keep America Pure with Liberty Paints,” implies a direct connection between racial purity and patriotism, further manipulating the perception of what it means to be American and effectively excluding those who do not conform to this narrow definition. The narrator’s eventual disillusionment with the plant stems from his discovery of the exploitative nature of his work, which reveals the broader societal exploitation of black labor and the systemic inequalities that perpetuate the cycle of invisibility and marginalization.
The Dark-Lensed Glasses
The dark-lensed glasses worn by the narrator initially provide him with safety as he tries to disguise himself in order to escape Ras’s men. However, the glasses’ symbolic significance takes a deeper turn when people mistake him for Rinehart. This mistaken identity underscores the fluidity of identity, particularly for people who are forced to navigate a society that seeks to render them invisible. The glasses become a catalyst for the narrator to embrace the “Rinehart” persona, stepping outside of his prescribed identity and exploring the possibility of constructing a new self.
