1. What is so attractive about Bledsoe and the founder for IM? What does the IM want out of life at this point?
2. Why is IM surprised by Bledsoe’s attitude toward Norton? See 102-3 and 105-6. What does he expect?
3. How does Mr. Norton feel about IM after all is said and done? Why do his eyes keep narrowing on 108?
4. Is the school really a product of combined southern black agency and northern white generosity or a more complicated relationship between races and regions? Are blacks really given everything by the whites as IM originally figures (112) or does something much more complicated underlie Barbee’s speech? Recall Norton’s admission that he “know[s his] life rather well” (38) but admits he is unsure whether the vision for the school was only the founder’s or also his own (39)?
5. Do you think that the IM is to blame for his actions or do you think that he is just incredibly naive and sometimes thinks too late (if at all)? Recall the vet's observation about the IM on 94 -- "'He registers with his senses but short-circuits his brain. Nothing has meaning. He takes it in but he doesn't digest it. Already he is -- well, bless my soul! Behold! a walking zombie!...The mechanical man!'"
6. Why do you think the IM so attached to the school? As you know, he keeps thinking about it and wanting to go back no matter where life leads him.
Blacks are not given everything by whites but everything the whites think they need. Whites supported the school for African-American to learn trades but not to become intellectually stimulated. Its founder’s white philanthropist supporters under these certain conditions funded this institute. The school is very similar to Tuskegee institute founded by Booker T. Washington. The Founder “was born a slave and a son of slaves, knowing only his mother” (Ellison 116). Barbee goes on to say that the Founder “...worked noontime, nights and mornings for the privilege of studying” (Ellison 117). The Reverend Barbee describes the Founder as humble and patient “moving slowly as he surmounts each and every opposition. Rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, yes; but steadfastly seeking for you that bright horizon which you now enjoy...” (Ellison 117). The Founder, like Washington, solicits donations from wealthy businessmen. Invisible Man describes how every year on Founders Day the millionaires would arrive to make speeches and leave a big check (Ellison 36). It seems as if the school is for the founder, which alludes to Booker T. Washington.
ReplyDelete2) Invisible Man is initially surprised by Bledsoe's attitude towards Norton because IM is under the impression that Dr. Bledsoe is always willing to serve the rich white people who visit the school. He remembers how Dr. Bledsoe would wait until all the white people would finish eating before he would even enter the dining room and even then he would only stand. Invisible Man sees Dr. Bledsoe acting subservient to white people. When IM tries to explain that he was only doing what Norton wished, Bledsoe responds "Damn what he wants"(102) and angrily explains to IM that "we take these white folks where we want them to go, we show them what we want them to see. Don't you know that? I thought you had some sense" (102). IM is boomeranged again in this section because he was attempting to do the "right" thing by catering to Norton. However Bledsoe takes the attitude that by taking control of what the white man sees it will lead to taking control of the black communities place in society. Bledsoe's strong statements are particularly surprising to IM because at this point he is stuck on his grandfathers words and still extremely idealistic about higher education. IM even reflects that Bledsoe "had no right to talk to a white man as he had" (105) which illuminates how IM regards white people as superior to him.
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ReplyDeleteBy: Valencia Price
In my opinion, IM is incredibly naïve and does not think at all. He especially does not pay attention to his surroundings and the people around him. IM seems to live in his own world and chooses not to see beyond this world. He sees and listens to what is going on, but does not truly understand what he sees and hears. Like the vet mentions on page 94, “He takes it in but he doesn’t digest it.” It seems as if he does not want to fully understand, but instead is pleased with living in ignorance. He has the knowledge and the intellect to understand which should make it easier for him to recognize what is happening. He puts too much trust into what he is told instead of seeing and experiencing life for himself. Although he is naïve, he should be blamed for his actions because he has the tools needed to not end up in the predicaments he gets in, but he chooses not to use them.
When the Invisible Man takes Mr. Norton (a White millionaire trustee of the college the IM is aspired by) on a driving tour around the college, he regretfully ends up showing him rough and hard areas of the college. They both seemed to encounter a couple of traumatic events during their visit as well (which includes the incident of Jim Trueblood impregnating his own daughter due to a horrid dream he experienced, and visiting a brothel to obtain whiskey for Mr. Norton to become conscious again). After returning to the the college Mr. Norton requests for Dr. Bledsoe (The college's president who happens to be black). Infuriated with the IM, Dr. Bledsoe tells the IM the he should only show the white man what they want to see. IM suddenly starts to realize slowly that Dr. Bledsoe seems to be a corrupted black man fully addicted to elite power and wealth that he's completely oblivious to the well being and come up of his own race and that he keeps a "mask of meek" to obtain what he desires, even if that means he must step on his own race to get even more power, wealth and status to his name. When the IM visits Rev. Barbee's chapel service, he's informed and educated about the history of The Founder of the college and that he was a black man who grew up in the struggles of slavery that after nearly experience death, was committed and devoted to be educated, teaching himself how to read, and escaping the clutches of slavery on his own to then return to his aspiring college to build the foundation that is hidden from the public. Once the IM is aware of the true story of the founder and his dramatic untold and unacknowledged accomplishments, he then becomes motivated to make a difference at the college and it's program. Tragically, the IM will continue to fall under the hands of Dr. Bledsoe because he believes that may be the best decision.
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