Invisble Man

            Invisible Man displays the life of a young African American male living in the 1950's. The main character narrates the story and describes for the reader his life as he is led through a series of events. His blindness and innocence causes him to be used or betrayed by people he admires, or by people whom he considers are fighting for the same cause. The narrator's name is never mentioned throughout the novel which ties into him being invisible- not being seen as a person, but used as a "thing-. He tries to live by his grandfathers words to conform to the white mans wishes, while keeping alive his own ambitions. He has to find an identity but realizes his current course is not taking him there. In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, change is an essential theme as the narrator's attitude on how and why things are done, his outlook on life, and his perception of other's thought, undergo a major reconstruction.
             In the beginning of the novel the narrator is very nave. He never asks the question why. Why is he being put through what he is? He accepts too much and never stands up for himself. He seems to be haunted by his grandfather's dream that causes him to be unreasonable. At the battle royal, he is so gullible he never asks why he was forced to fight. Even after he hears the white men verbally abuse him. "Let me at those black sonabitches- (21). He hears this along other racist comments and never stops to think is it worth the physical abuse. He leaves everything as is without speaking up and defending himself. For instance, while giving his speech he says social equality, showing signs that he can think. The white men become angry so he told them it slipped out. "I was afraid. I wanted to leave but I wanted also to speak and I was afraid they'd snatch me down- (31). He still gives his speech knowing the men do not care about a word he is really saying. Nevertheless the narrator accepts a scholarship from the white men without passing judgment on their behavior.