An Analysis of the American Identity in the Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

In the novel Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison weaves an allegorical story about a man who discovers the very essence of the American identity and his role within it. This tale is narrated through the eyes of a nameless Southern black man who claims to be invisible. From his beginnings as a black educated fool (pg. 143) to his present stage of invisibility, the speaker had many conflicts in which he gained a lot of wisdom. Towards the end of his travels, the invisible man has an epiphany where he finally discovers not only his own identity, but also that of the country. The narrator realizes that though the United States is an extremely diverse society, everybody is intertwined. He also believes in the American Dream: the fact that people can rise to any level through continued effort despite overwhelming adversity. Through various conflicts, the narrator discovers that Americanness is a national identity that transcends racial, financial and regional boundaries in order to connect all people who fearlessly strive to reach the unreachable goal.

The invisible man wasn t always so enlightened. In fact, until the fateful day when he took Mr. Norton on a tour, the narrator was just a very na ve student who tried to please everybody. However, the chain of events that are initiated by Jim Trueblood causes the narrator to be ejected from his idealistic dream world and onto the path to finding his true identity. Before that day, the narrator would never have even dreamed of associating with social reject because his automatic reaction to the man was that of his college: hate. He never saw the poor black farmer as an individual person with feelings and values. However, after Norton s strange request, the narrator haplessly encountered the interaction between Norton and Trueblood. One of Norton s first statements is You have looked upon chaos and are not destroyed! (pg. 51) Indeed it is amazing that Trueblood was able to survive the consequences of his deplorable act of incest. What is even more amazing, however, is the farmer s determination to stand up for himself when the other blacks try to evict him. The effects of this encounter can be seen when the narrator stated that humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat. (pg.577) Though the narrator was not inspired at first, Jim Trueblood s example displayed the true meaning of moving on despite overwhelming opposition.

After being expelled from college, the narrator started working at Liberty Paints, where he learned yet another invaluable lesson. Up to that point in his life, the narrator had always subconsciously believed that whites were superior to blacks; it was an almost innate concept in Southern blacks. Indeed, with such patronizing figures as Norton and the men at the Battle Royal, it was hard to think otherwise. For example, during his speech after the Battle Royal, the narrator had to immediately apologize for accidentally uttering the words social equality. At Liberty Paints, the narrator is first assigned to put dope in the paint. What is significant about this task is the fact that the black dope makes the Optic White paint whiter. In a sense, this could symbolize how whites are not only dependent on blacks to maintain their current standard of living, but their society is also enhanced by the efforts of African Americans. Anyhow, the narrator is soon demoted down to the basement, where he is put under the charge of Lucius Brockway. There, he discovers that this eccentric black man is possibly the most important individual that works for the company. In his words, caint a single doggone drop of paint move out of the factory lessen it comes through Lucius Brockway s hands. (pg. 215) It is an incredible revelation for the still na ve narrator to realize that a black man is that essential. This eventually leads him to say that Thus one of the greatest jokes in the world is the spectacle of the whites busy escaping blackness and becoming blacker every day, and the blacks striving toward whiteness, becoming quite dull and gray. (pg.577) He realized that the blacks and whites are intertwined in a great mesh of cultures known as the United States of America. Thus, it only makes sense that this identity transcend races because both blacks and whites shared it. Living in New York City furthered his perspective on the large diversity of this country, as evidenced by the quote America is woven of many strands, (pg.577)

Americanness is essentially the identity that all people striving for the American Dream share. It is above and beyond any difference in races, classes and regions. Ralph Ellison displays the United States as an enormous magic carpet: an almost magical creature made up of a colorful array of threads that strives to reach its destination. Everything within the carpet is connected, and though the strings may not know it, they are all moving in the same direction. Despite rain, snow or winds, the carpet will keep on flying. Americanness is the union of many different people who collectively reach for the unattainable American Dream.

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