Chapters 3,4,5,& 6

Chapter 3
Power:
In this chapter, the roles change from previous chapters and a black man, Halley, is in control. We are introduced to Halley as the owner of the Golden Day, the bar that IM takes Mr. Norton to in order to give him the whiskey he's asked for. Mr. Norton continues to have control over the IM since he is still very eager to keep him satisfied. Halley refuses to sell the IM whiskey to a man outside the bar; even when told he is sick, Halley responds “He can die!” (76) and stands his ground. Supercargo, the “white-uniformed attendant” (76), represents the white people’s power. Once attempting to keep order, he is immediately shut down and violently attacked by the bar patients. Neither the white man nor the man dressed in white could control the bar, only Halley could control the crowd to make way for Mr. Norton to leave. In the end, Halley has the most power, which is ironic since he is a black man with control over a white man.

Oratory:
While in the Golden Day, we meet a patient who offers to tend to Mr. Norton, since he is a former doctor who was a skilled brain surgeon in France. Mr. Norton is thoroughly surprised by the fact that a black man could be so talented and impressive. The IM is equally surprised by the careless language and tone with which the vet speaks to Mr. Norton. Being through with schooling, he has nothing to hold back and doesn’t fear any possible consequences from the white man involved with the school. “The vet exploded with laughter” (94) when Mr. Norton explains his thoughts on his destiny, offending him enough to make him leave. While the vet is speaking, he also mentions “invisibility” for the first time in the novel so far which leads us to assume that the IM will begin to reevaluate his current thoughts on himself and whites as a whole.

Chapter 4

Power:

Throughout chapter 3, the IM allowed Mr. Norton to have complete control over him, leading them to both Jim Trueblood's and the Golden Day. Once they returned to the campus and the furious Dr. Bledsoe, the IM attempts to explain himself and how he was simply following the white man’s orders. Shockingly, Dr. Bledsoe responds by saying “damn what he wants”, and “we take these white folks where we want them to go, we show them what we want them to see” (102). This makes us question how much power white people really do have, or rather, how much power they think they have. The IM is still vulnerable and his future depends on the words from Mr. Norton. Mr. Norton assures the IM that he “explained to Dr. Bledsoe” that he was “not at fault” and that he “believes he understands” (107). Mr. Norton and the IM’s fate seem to rely on each other by the end of the chapter, leaving some amount of power in both of their hands.

Oratory:

There was no evidence of oratory in this chapter.

Chapter 5

Power:
There was no evidence of power in this chapter.

Oratory:

“And your parents followed this remarkable man across this black sea of prejudice, safely out of the land of ignorance, through the storms of fear and anger, shouting, LET MY PEOPLE GO! when it was necessary, whispering it during those times when whispering was wisest. And he was heard" (120).

During this section of Chapter Five, Reverend Homer Barbee is speaking to students at the college. He is telling the story of how their founder rose out of slavery and established this college. His speech is important because he talks about the struggles that the founder went through, but also how he overcame those struggles and how important it is for them to work together to combat the racism they so often face and push through the barriers placed in their way.

Chapter 6

Power and Oratory:

In Chapter 6, oratory is seen through Dr. Bledsoe’s speech to the IM during their meeting. For the majority of the conversation, (which is not much of a conversation; Dr. Bledsoe was the only one to really speak) power is the topic of discussion. “I’s big and black and I say ‘Yes, Suh’ as loudly as any burrhead when it’s convenient, but I’m still the king down here” (142), he says. Through this statement, Dr. Bledsoe outright admits to wearing a mask─he admits that he puts on a front for white people when it is “convenient”, or when he needs to tell them what they want to hear. He goes on to explain that he’s earned his position of authority amidst the white power structure and is willing to “have every Negro in the country hanging on tree limbs if it means staying where I am” (143). Through this quote, Dr. Bledsoe’s true selfish and power-crazed character is revealed. He does not care to see the advancement of his race, in fact, he is willing to see his entire race lynched, if it means he himself will advance in his personal position of power.