The amount of difference we see in the prologue/epilogue narrator from the chapter 1 narrator is
incredible. Having survived numerous traumatic experiences, he can now reflect on his life with a sense
of objectivity that he was unable to achieve before. Along with this, he has also achieved a clarity of
vision that enables him to see things from a different perspective.
incredible. Having survived numerous traumatic experiences, he can now reflect on his life with a sense
of objectivity that he was unable to achieve before. Along with this, he has also achieved a clarity of
vision that enables him to see things from a different perspective.
The narrator's remark regarding his "belated appreciation of the crude joke that had kept me running"
reveals his advanced emotional maturity. Despite the torture he was forced to endure, he is still alive. In
my opinion, this suggests that living in a world that denies an individual basic human rights is a fate
worse than death. He reiterates his stance, "I'm invisible, not blind."
reveals his advanced emotional maturity. Despite the torture he was forced to endure, he is still alive. In
my opinion, this suggests that living in a world that denies an individual basic human rights is a fate
worse than death. He reiterates his stance, "I'm invisible, not blind."
Concerning his reasons for writing down his story, the narrator realizes that the process of writing
helped him work through the pain, diffuse the hate, and regain his capacity to love. Once more, he
reflects on the experiences of his grandfather who, even as a slave, never doubted his humanity. In the
final analysis, the narrator suggests that even though his experiences as a black man in white America
are special, his experiences have much in common with the experiences of all human beings, thus the
last line of the novel.
After getting to know him on a more personal level as a unique individual instead of as a nameless
black man, the reasons behind his ramblings are understandable. Without this knowledge, labeling
him "crazy" and simply dismissing his remarks would make sense. Recalling the narrator's initial
encounter with the veterans at the Golden Day, in light of his own experiences he is likely to be more
sympathetic and understanding of their situation at this point in his life than he was as a naive young
college student. Now he is a veteran, a veteran of the race war.
helped him work through the pain, diffuse the hate, and regain his capacity to love. Once more, he
reflects on the experiences of his grandfather who, even as a slave, never doubted his humanity. In the
final analysis, the narrator suggests that even though his experiences as a black man in white America
are special, his experiences have much in common with the experiences of all human beings, thus the
last line of the novel.
After getting to know him on a more personal level as a unique individual instead of as a nameless
black man, the reasons behind his ramblings are understandable. Without this knowledge, labeling
him "crazy" and simply dismissing his remarks would make sense. Recalling the narrator's initial
encounter with the veterans at the Golden Day, in light of his own experiences he is likely to be more
sympathetic and understanding of their situation at this point in his life than he was as a naive young
college student. Now he is a veteran, a veteran of the race war.
I didn't think about how the intro/epilogue narrator would interact with the guys at the golden day. I also think that he'd understand what they were doing and would probably join in on the fun as well. We compared him to the veteran multiple times in our discussions, but now we can mostly agree that they are the same.
ReplyDeleteI remember at the beginning of the book, most of us thought the narrator was in fact crazy, but now that we know what he went through and experienced we can understand him more.
When I read books in the past, I skipped the prologue and went straight to Chapter One and I "finished" the book after reading the last chapter, not the epilogue. If I were to do this with Invisible Man, I would be left with so many questions. The prologue and the epilogue give a great amount of insight on why the narrator tells us his story. Specifically the epilogue helps us connect with the narrator because throughout the story it is hard to relate to a blindfold battle royal and a girl asking me to rape her. I also like your interpretation of his growth. You say that he is a veteran and a veteran of a race war. I love that analogy.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a unique take by Ralph Ellison to have the narrator change from the prologue to the epilogue. In terms of the narrative, the change in the narrator and how he thinks kind of reflects the way we should think as well. Even though we have never lived the experiences he did, I think the message and meaning behind them can be related to our lives. We can be more understanding of those supposedly "crazy people and some aspects of this craziness might be a part of our lives. As the narrator says, "Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you?"
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the epilogue, I honestly thought that the narrator was crazy. I had to slow down and reread lines because I didn't even understand what he was saying. However, as I progressed through the chapters, I understand how he has gotten to that point. I would think that his own reflection did diffuse his pain and anger. It might have been therapeutic for him especially what he had to go through.
ReplyDeleteI really like your analysis of the narrator as he got older and experience life more fully. The narrator was naive in the beginning and didn't wanted to see things for what they were. People saw the narrator with a veil and he saw the world within a veil, but as time went on, he was able to see things clearly. He has grown in the way that he knows that not only he is invisible, but everyone else is, but he can see them. Thus, he is able to relate to others and us.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely go as far as to say that the narrator in his current form is much like the vet. Possibly crazy, but certainly smart and with a lot to say. It's interesting, because of how dismissive he was of the vet at the Golden Day how he's basically turned into him.
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