Invisible Man

1. Themes

1.1. Racism- There is racial prejudice and the men are trying to find their own identity

1.2. Ideology- inner self complexity. The narrator realizes that the complexity of his inner self is limited not only by people’s racism but also by their more general ideologies.

1.3. Stereotypes- African American trying to escape prejudice.

2. Literary Elements

2.1. Symbolism- The coin bank in the shape of the grinning black man (Chapter 15) and Tod Clifton’s dancing Sambo doll (Chapter 20) serve similar purposes in the novel, each representing degrading black stereotypes and the damaging power of prejudice.

2.2. Imagery

2.3. Allegory

3. Characters

3.1. Main Character: The narrator- He is the protagonist and the "Invisible man". Is a gifted and intelligent man. However, he struggles to arrive at a conception of his identity that honors his complexity as an individual without sacrificing social responsibility.

3.2. Minor Character: Brother jack- The white and blindly loyal leader of the Brotherhood, a political organization that professes to defend the rights of the socially oppressed.

3.3. Minor Character: Tod Clifton- He is a black member of the Brotherhood and is handsome, intelligent, and articulate.

4. Plot

4.1. A man refuses other people to see him; hiding under a manhole Steals electricity underground The narrator was introduced into a brotherhood He meets the leader Tom Clifton After the explosion at the plant he loses his memory and ability to speak

5. Important Quotations

5.1. And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own. I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man.

6. Setting

6.1. In the 1930's and a black college in the South; New York City, especially Harlem