The Invisible Man by Ellison, Ralph
This novel was published by Ralph Ellison in 1952.
The invisible man is a story about a man in New York who grew and lives as a model black citizen.
He decides to live in the underground hole and believes that American society cannot see him.
The narrator assures the reader that the invisible man Griffin is referred to that since people do not see him the way he is. They have different perceptions and attitudes.
The invisibility of the main character shows how people are construed by others with various stereotypes and generalisation. People like to judge others as a group rather than see their capabilities.
Ellison portrays invisibility as failure and ignorance of the society to open up their eyes and recognise individual potentialities.
The invisible man tries to be someone else and creates a different identity to become a man without a soul.
Ellison points out the theme of disillusionment as every time the culture, communal and national identity is used to judge people in various perspectives.
Ellison comes to terms that everyone must find their true identity within themselves and not within others.
The concepts enlighten the society that different people have different talents and abilities that need to be utilised.
Societal stereotypes in this sense blind people not to see what they are culpable of to determine their destiny.
Human beings, therefore, are not wholly complete and require guidance from society norms and culture.
The journey to overcome disillusionment will wipe away concerns about racism and other discriminatory treatments that subject American citizens to suffering.