Invisible Man Literary Analysis

Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, despite following the racial and sexual struggles of a black protagonist, has multiple references to Greek mythology. Most of these references are literary allusions, meaning they hold a cultural significance that Ellison includes to enhance the understanding of events and emotions. Interestingly, the references often relate to either the Brotherhood or the context in which the Brotherhood becomes attractive to the narrator. The purpose of this, however, is not revealed. Due to a lack of scholarly discussion beyond acknowledging the references, this essay investigates the question: what is the purpose of ancient-Greek references in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man in context of the Brotherhood? In setting up the

Mr. Norton, as the narrator drives him around the campus, tells the narrator about his daughter, saying: “‘She was a being more rare, more beautiful, purer, more perfect and more delicate than the wildest dream of a poet. I could never believe her to be my own flesh and blood. [...] I found it difficult to believe her my own . . .’” (34). The romantic diction and detail Norton uses remind the narrator of her purity and beauty in a fashion that sits on the border between daughter and love-interest. The repetition of disbelief in lineage distances Norton from his paternal ties with her. Thus, it is clear that he does not view her as simply his daughter, but that he harbors sexual and romantic feelings for her. For this reason, Trueblood’s story of his sexual encounter with his own daughter consumes Norton (48), serving as a reverse-Oedipal situation in which a black man sleeps with his daughter instead of Oedipus sleeping with his mother. Norton secretly wanted to do the same with his own daughter, but, either because she dies too soon or because he believes he is too civilized, he is unable to do so. As a result, he uses Trueblood’s story as an opportunity to experience a depraved sexual fantasy without the social repercussions. The audience at the Battle Royal have a similar goal, where

Ellison’s reason for this is perhaps to show that the Brotherhood, despite claims to the contrary, actively oppresses both groups they “fight” for: women, by sexual suppression, and African-Americans, through using them as pawns in their attempt at gaining power. Whether it is by exploiting the narrator, keeping their intentions hidden, or outright admittance to wanting Harlem to conform to their ideology, the Brotherhood proves to be a discontenting organization. Historically, many such organizations cropped up during the Civil Rights movement and immediately before, and likely behaved in similar ways. Ellison therefore potentially includes these Grecian references to criticize their methods. The question then is, why Greek mythology? A possible answer is that these references serve to demonstrate the narrator’s education and to communicate the social complexities of the various situations that befall the narrator. This answer is surface-level, so a further analysis is needed to suggest the true