Non-African Prose: The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - SS1 Literature Past Questions and Answers - page 1

The major characters in Invisible Man represent the different ways that black people have responded to racism in America. Dr. Bledsoe represents the accommodationist approach, Brother Jack represents the radical approach, and Ras the Exhorter represents the separatist approach. The narrator ultimately rejects all of these ideologies and chooses to define himself on his own terms.

The narrator's invisibility changes over the course of the novel. At first, he is invisible to white society because they do not see him as a fully human being. However, he eventually comes to realize that he is also invisible to himself. He has lost his sense of identity due to the effects of racism and discrimination. By the end of the novel, the narrator has come to accept his invisibility, but he has also learned to define himself on his own terms.

The setting of Invisible Man is significant because it represents the different challenges faced by black people in America. The novel is set in the early 20th century, during a time of widespread racism and discrimination. The narrator's journey from the South to Harlem represents the journey that many black people made during this time in search of a better life.

The relationship between the narrator and Mary Rambo is significant because it represents the possibility of love and acceptance across racial lines. Mary Rambo is a blind white woman who falls in love with the narrator. She does not see him as invisible, and she accepts him for who he is. However, their relationship is ultimately doomed because of the racism of the society in which they live.

The narrator's grandfather and Rinehart are two contrasting characters. The grandfather is a wise and compassionate man who teaches the narrator the importance of self-respect and dignity. Rinehart is a con artist who takes advantage of people for his own personal gain. The grandfather represents the best of black culture, while Rinehart represents the negative aspects of black culture