Thoughts on "The Invisible Man"

     While I was reading The Invisible Man I was shocked at the rapid change in events starting with the youth's arrival at the hotel and ending with him receiving a scholarship to the black college. Now, this type of literature is not something I would prefer to read for fun but I still believe it contains some of the best examples of literary devices that make it a smooth flowing story. The ability of the author to transition between mini-scenes and change the pace of action was what kept this story moving until the denouement and final resolution.
     I believe there is a decent example of foreshadowing present before the narrator moves deeper into the hotel. This occurs when he is inopportunely forced to join the ranks of his fighting schoolmates despite his scheduled intellectual engagement (speech delivery). By joining a fighting brigade the narrator elicits a future brawl. There is also an excellent example of antithesis between the woman and the narrator. While both are similar in that they are mistreated by the rich, white male populace, their gender and race are different: Caucasian woman---African American man. The sexual dancing of the woman and the brutal fight of the narrator show how two people of completely different cultural and gender backgrounds are still viewed as inferior to white men. Finally, a literary device known as "Chekhov's gun" is used which presents material previously thought irrelevant that is later deemed important. This refers to the deathbed words of the narrator's grandfather whose knowledge does not directly apply until the story's end where the narrator receives the diploma from the white men. When the narrator hears the "laughter" of his grandfather in his head it symbolizes how the narrator has won the approval of the rich white men, people he should not associate with. Thus, his grandfather's unheeded wisdom haunts him and earns its relevance in the story.
     Of course, the literary devices were used astoundingly well but the true flavor of the story came from the authors use of description and sentence structure. In the first paragraph, the phrase "invisible man" is used indicating the title is more than just a colorful representation---for the narrator it is reality. This is followed up quickly by the wisdom from the narrator's grandfather, setting the scene and showing the reader the current situation of the narrator. From there the story takes off, one moment the youthful narrator is fantasizing about his speech, next he being bloodied in a boxing ring. Here Ralph Ellison easily transitions from one mini-scene to the next, keeping the reader interested in what's going on. Ellison continues, describing the duel between the narrator and Tatlock following with vivid descriptions of the electrified mat. The story gradually slows after the narrator walks away with his "golden" coins. However, the movement picks up again when the youth learns his speech is ready to be heard. Soon, the story reaches a climatic event when the narrator, chided by the wealthy white men around him, accidentally says "social equality" instead of "social responsibility." This mini-scene is important because it gives a verbal representation of racism rather than the previous methods of physical humiliation. It shows how the narrator is simply another form of entertainment and the white men do not care for his philosophical dialect. The final paragraphs in the text describe how the narrator receives a scholarship to an esteemed black college, his "reward" for associating with white men and the realization that his grandfather was right.
     In conclusion, I do think this story contains definite literary merit. True, some parts are fairly unnecessary such as the character's refection of his grandfather's words prior to arriving at the hotel, but these are trivial complaints. The ability of Ellison to craft his character's motives and further his plot are what makes this piece of literature remarkable and unique. For those who attempt to write narratives I would recommend Ellison's style among many other forms.