Betrayal of Self in Ellisons Invisible Man Essay

Betrayal of Self in Ellisons Invisible Man In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man, the nameless narrator is betrayed by a handful of different characters--for this reason his life remains in a constant state of upheaval throughout the novel. Confusion and a lack of personal vision cause the Invisible Man to trust many characters whose designs for him are less than virtuous. Oftentimes these characters betray the Invisible Man, whose reactions to said betrayals form the greater part of the novel. The narrators deference to others wishes and ideals impels his hapless existence. Essentially, betrayal of relationship necessitates the Invisible Mans mobility and movement because of his continual deference to others.†¦show more content†¦Also the aforementioned dream sequence exemplifies a small act of deference, a trait that ultimately contributes to the narrators undoing. In this case, the narrator blindly follows his grandfathers orders to open the briefcase and the envelopes therein--apparently he defers he in dr eams. Invisible Man never questions his grandfathers motives in having him open these articles just as he never questions anyones motives in having him do anything until its far too late. Throughout the novel other characters control him like a puppet and just as the dream prophesizes he always keeps running. The Invisible Mans pattern of deference, betrayal, and then movement (or some variation thereof) begins with the event to which I alluded earlier. Before he dreams of his grandfather and the briefcase, the narrator acquires that briefcase by participating in a dubious battle royal. A group of white men betray him after inviting him to speak at their Mens Club; this invitation causes the narrator to feel honored, however his feelings soon turn to shock once he realizes that the men desire for him to participate in a demeaning spectacle--without regard for his self-respect he defers to their wishes and participates. They lead him to a boxing ring filled with many other young black men, blindfold him, and then tell him to fight. Hereafter Invisible Man endures several otherShow MoreRelatedEssay on Search for Identity in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man2669 Words   |  11 PagesAmerica. Oppressed by white society and overwhelmed by its control, they often endured countless betrayals and indignities simply for acknowledgment of their existence. In spite of suffering so much, however, many blacks lost more than they had hoped to gain, including their humanity and identity. 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