We had an excellent discussion going regarding symbolism in Beloved, and I'm curious to know what you think of the symbols and motifs in Invisible Man. Some are listed that occur throughout the novel below, but feel free to comment on others that you've observed as well.
*Blindness (in general, and Bledsoe's glass eye later)
*Invisibility- why does the narrator continue to claim that he's invisible? Why do you think he remains unnamed to the reader throughout the novel? How is his "invisibility" related to his identity?
*the Liberty Paints Plant (and the way in which the Optic White paint is created, etc.)
*the Sambo doll
*the leg irons (contrast Bledsoe's with the one given to the narrator)
*the coin bank
*the taboo of interracial relationships
*masks
Other general questions to consider: Why is it significant that the narrator goes underground to steal "power" in the prologue? What political orientation/mode of thought does Bledsoe represent? Ras the Exhorter? the Brotherhood?
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Liberty Paints Optic White paint is supposed to symbolize the population of the United States of America. The narrator adds ten drops of black to a can of white paint and the minority in the can, the black has no effect on the white. The black in the paint is invisible. The black substance used to whiten the paint is equivalent to African-Americans being used to further the white population. The black people, represented in the paint, have no influence over the whites.
The Brotherhood in Invisible Man represents the Communist party. The Brotherhood tries to look like they have the good of everyone in mind while really the leaders are attempting to gain personal power. The Communists attempted to make everyone equal but a small group of leaders, like in the Brotherhood, took power and controlled countries. The Brotherhood is equal to the Communists by preying on the less intelligent.
The coin bank in Mary's house is symbolic of a stereotypical slave who is servile and is hungry for money, no matter how small of an amount and it disgusts the narrator. He is surprised it would be in a house of a women who supports black rights such as Mary, (and is similar to the slave figure Denver sees at the Bodwin's house in Beloved), and destroys it. However, he can not get rid of the pieces of the coinbank, despite several attempts to throw it away. This inability to get rid of the racist bank symbolizes his unsuccessful attempts to rid of the prejudice that follows him throughout the novel.
Ras the Exhorter represents the black nationalist movement which included men such as Malcolm X. Although the movement did not occur until 1960s, Ras has beliefs that are in accordance with this movement. He believes that blacks are superior to whites, and that the two races should be kept separate. Ras even believes that violence is justified at times, especially against whites, who he believes should be destroyed when neccessary. Although many blacks supported his beliefs, in a way they were very similar and just as deadly as beliefs of white supremacists, even if they are for different races.
The Sambo dolls that Clifton sells are a symbol in the novel. Similar to the coin bank in Mary's house, the dancing Sambo doll represents a stereotypical lazy slave who also serves as entertainment for white people. Because the person holding the doll is able to make it dance by pulling a string, the doll also shows how a stereotype is able to control a person's movements and actions.
Blindness repeatedly comes up throughought the novel. In the “battle royal”, the guys fighting are forced to wear blindfolds. Their blindness while fighting symbolizes how little power or force they have when it comes to being in the hands of the white people. They do not see or recognize anything that they can do to help themselves at the time. Later in the novel, Brother Jack's glass eye symbolizes how the narrator and other members of the brotherhood were blind to being used. The glass eye makes the narrator believe that Brother Jack never really sees anyone in the brotherhood for who they really are, but rather as how they can help the brotherhood or what they have to offer the brotherhood.
Blindness is obviously the most evident symbolism through out invisible man. Like marie said the black boys were forced to where blindfolds when they fought. This symbolizes that they are unable to recongnize that the blacks are powerless against the whites. there Also reverend Barbee is blind which symbolizes his inability to make the church a more bright and up beat place to worship. Lastly the founder's statue at the college is said to have empty eyes, which smybolize that the founder neglects the reality of racism.
The Optic White Paint is very similar to the society. By having the blacks produce the white paint, and saying how superior the paint is, the whites enforce the idea of white supremency. Also the factory claims that optic white can cover up any stain, implying again that the whites are superior and that the white population can cover up or mask the black population.
Invisibility is a major theme and topic in the novel. I think the narrator wants to remain nameless because he feels that noone every knew his true self and also cant judge him fairly beacuse of his race and color. I think the narrator wants to be invisible beasuse then its easier fo him to be himself and not be judged.
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