Synthesis: Chapters 8-15

The relationship between power and oratory in Invisible Man in our first synthesis post, from the prologue to Chapter Eight, has remained pretty much the same. Individuals giving the oratory are still usually the people holding the power in that moment. In the recent chapters, however, IM has grown much more comfortable with the power that he finds through his words. The best example of this is in chapter 13, when he is able to rally a black crowd against white police officers who are trying to evict a couple from their house. In this situation, he holds power not only over the community listening to him, but also over the white men.

Following the speech that IM gives in chapter 13, he is recruited by Brother Jack to be the spokesperson for an activist group, the Brotherhood. Brother Jack holds a lot of power over IM in this conversation; he references a famous African-American activist, Booker T. Washington, in order to instill a sense of responsibility in IM, as well as presents his argument so persuasively that he succeeds in convincing IM to reluctantly leave Miss Mary and her home.

In chapters 9-15, the Invisible Man himself seems to be more aware of the power of words than he was in chapters 1-8. On page 259, IM states “And the more resentful I became, the more my old urge to make speeches returned. While walking along the streets words would spill from my lips in a mumble over which I had little control. I became afraid of what I might do.” By saying that he is afraid of what his words might do, the IM is realizing the power that his speeches potentially possess. His words may cause him to get in trouble, they may cause a riot, or, as was the case, or they may cause a black crowd to take action against whites. The quote serves to foreshadow the upcoming events of chapter 13 where, as IM grew resentful, words did indeed “spill from his lips” and cause a powerful reaction. This introduces a contrast from the Battle Royal, where even though the IM was giving a speech, he had no power at all.

As an African American, IM steadily gains more power and influence over his community and others, and his words and speeches help him to do just this. The white men, including Brother Jack, feel threatened by his potential capabilities, just as Mr. Norton felt in the first section of the novel.