Assumptions And Alienations In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

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In the novel Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, the unnamed narrator struggles through his life discovering his place and purpose as an alienated member of society. During the time period the novel takes place, society viewed African Americans as second-class citizens and made unfair assumptions about them as a whole. Due to society’s assumptions, the invisible man (IM) views himself in a negative light. However, towards the end of the novel he uses these assumptions and alienation to reveal that he is better than the judgment placed upon him. He takes the unfair treatment he has faced throughout his life and uses it to come to the realization that it is these prejudices that have helped him define himself by realizing he is above what society thinks of him. …show more content…
By separating black and white students, society’s lack of moral values and unjustified judgments are depicted. Dr. Bledsoe becomes concerned when the IM takes Mr. Norton to Jim Trueblood’s and the Golden Day because he does not want him to see that particular aspect of black society and make unfair judgments about all blacks. However, it is later revealed that Dr. Bledsoe is not concerned with how Mr. Norton views all blacks, but rather wants to protect his own legacy. Dr. Bledsoe forces the IM to move to New York because he feels as though the IM does not fit the mold of the ideal “black student” that Dr. Bledsoe has created. This places the IM into an even darker and more confused place because he feels he cannot even fit in with his own
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