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Stereotypes In Invisible Man

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Jacob Kristensen Christopher Tracy ENG4U 26 May 2023 Invisible Man Throughout Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the narrator follows a journey not only geographically, but also follows a journey to find the truth about his people, who he is in society, and his own set of beliefs and morals. The narrator can find the truth about him and the stereotypes surrounding his race by realizing their installation in society, on both a civilian and government level. The narrator discovers his sense of self-identity and self-worth through his realization of the white gaze and how he is viewed by reflecting on it. Finally, the narrator finds his set of beliefs and morals, after his eventual realization his do not match other people which whom …show more content…

I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve.” Through this moment, the narrator reflects on the influence of stereotypes and preconceived opinions that shaped his understanding of who he was as a person. The narrator also expresses his opinion on his grandparents, as they had been slaves and he felt as though that defined who he was as a person and what he is capable of. The narrator says “I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed.” The narrator rejects the stereotype that associates shame with his family and their history as slaves. He resents the pressure …show more content…

The narrator discovers the white gaze allowing him to find identity in his “invisibility” as it allowed him to realize what his value and appearance was to other members of society; an invisible man. The narrator realizes there is no point in trying to make himself known, make himself be seen if no one will ever pay attention to him anyway. This is evident in the quote, “What does she think you are? A domesticated rapist, obviously, an expert on the woman question. Maybe that's what you are, house-broken and with a convenient verbal push-button arrangement for the ladies' pleasure.” The narrator reflects on the fact that Sybil only wants him as a way of fulfilling her gruesome fantasy. He realizes she was not showing interest back to him because of the content of his person, but rather only because he was a key piece in completing her puzzle of fantasy. Through this interaction with Sybil, the narrator reaffirms his feeling of invisibility as he realizes white people do not care for who he is as a person, and if they don’t want something from him, which most do not; he is valueless. Through this realization, the narrator finds his identity and place in

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