Will the IM ever be able to remove his invisibility so that the community of Harlem will finally be able to recognize the IM for what and who he truly is? And do you think that Ralph Ellison hid the IM's real name from readers because it truly reveals the answer to why the narrator is invisible?
How much affect did the relationships between IM and white people, have on IM's perspective on races coming together to cooperate and/or build friendships? Did his relationship with Brother Jack and Mr.Norton change his outlook on white people and how they can interact with one another?
Talking to IM on page 504, Hambro says, "'We judge through cultivating scientific objectivity,' he said with a voice that had a smile in it, and suddenly I saw the hospital machine, felt as though locked in again". Does IM expect the same results from this conversation as from the lobotomy? Or why does he feel the hospital machine suddenly locked in?
On page 528, IM asks, "Why should I worry over bureaucrats, blind men? I am invisible." At this point in the novel IM can finally come to terms with his invisibility. Does IM believe that sometimes it pays to be "invisible" or that "invisibility" is sometimes a burden?
What is the significance of the shoes? Are the shoes a symbol of his life? Does the fact that they go from being a comfortable wear to a painful burden, making his journey uncomfortable, an allegory to his confusing shifts in the story? How can a pair of shoes that were described so fondly moments ago, become so awful seconds later? Could the answer to that question also be an answer to IM life?
Why does IM decide to stay and do a Rinehart rather than leaving when he feels that the brotherhood is betraying him, harlem, and the black community in general. At this point in the story Harlem would suffer a great deal without a leader and it seems that IM would have a bigger impact going that route rather than staying and playing the Rinehart-float-along-and-say-yes game right?
What is the significance of the scene with Sybil? How are the two characters' similarly presented in this scene? Explain.
ReplyDeleteWill the IM ever be able to remove his invisibility so that the community of Harlem will finally be able to recognize the IM for what and who he truly is? And do you think that Ralph Ellison hid the IM's real name from readers because it truly reveals the answer to why the narrator is invisible?
ReplyDeleteHow much affect did the relationships between IM and white people, have on IM's perspective on races coming together to cooperate and/or build friendships? Did his relationship with Brother Jack and Mr.Norton change his outlook on white people and how they can interact with one another?
ReplyDeleteTalking to IM on page 504, Hambro says, "'We judge through cultivating scientific objectivity,' he said with a voice that had a smile in it, and suddenly I saw the hospital machine, felt as though locked in again". Does IM expect the same results from this conversation as from the lobotomy? Or why does he feel the hospital machine suddenly locked in?
ReplyDeleteOn page 528, IM asks, "Why should I worry over bureaucrats, blind men? I am invisible." At this point in the novel IM can finally come to terms with his invisibility. Does IM believe that sometimes it pays to be "invisible" or that "invisibility" is sometimes a burden?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of the shoes? Are the shoes a symbol of his life? Does the fact that they go from being a comfortable wear to a painful burden, making his journey uncomfortable, an allegory to his confusing shifts in the story? How can a pair of shoes that were described so fondly moments ago, become so awful seconds later? Could the answer to that question also be an answer to IM life?
ReplyDeleteWhy does IM decide to stay and do a Rinehart rather than leaving when he feels that the brotherhood is betraying him, harlem, and the black community in general. At this point in the story Harlem would suffer a great deal without a leader and it seems that IM would have a bigger impact going that route rather than staying and playing the Rinehart-float-along-and-say-yes game right?
ReplyDeleteWhy does IM decides to follow his grandfather's advice after leaving Hambro's apartment?
ReplyDelete