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Oppression In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

917 Words4 Pages

Oppression surrounds everyone everyday, oppression does not define the person but the reaction to the oppression defines the strength and personality of that person. Invisibility does not derive from oppression itself but from the lack of courage to challenge the oppression. The invisible man in the novel faces oppression and falls to the oppression unknowingly. Throughout his life, he complies with the oppression he faces. Throughout Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man, the protagonist journeys through life displaying signs of Stockholm syndrome as a result of his acceptance of the white oppression he encounters. His compliance towards his oppression leads to the confusion of his identity.
The invisible man falls victim to the Stockholm …show more content…

The invisible man idolized Dr. Bledsoe and dreamed to become like him one day. Dr. Bledsoe is the president of the school that the invisible man studied at. Br. Bledsoe is the perfect example of white oppression. Bledsoe, in that time, would considered to be very close to the white man's` level due to Bledsoe's wealth and popularity. Bledsoe had this demeanor towards the invisible man that he was better than him. The invisible man had so much respect and for Bledsoe that even when Bledsoe kicked him out of school, he still had faith in that Bledsoe knew what he was doing and Bledsoe had his best interest in mind. Bledsoe gave the invisible man a letter warning employers to not hire him and even after the Invisible man found out, he still believed in Bledsoe and though that it was just a mistake. Even when an employer was trying to help the invisible man out, he declined help because he had so much faith in Bledsoe and trusted in what he was …show more content…

The Norrmalmstorg Bank robbery was were hostages in the bank began to sympathize with their captors. Also they were hostile towards police that tried to help them out of the situation. The invisible man was like the hostages that were blind to see the true intentions of their captor which in the invisible man case it would be Bledsoe. Since the invisible man was blind to this oppression, he is indirectly allowing it to continue. The invisible man was allowing the oppression he was under to dictate his life which eventually will lead to confusion in

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