Epilogue post

Epilogue:

Oratory: There were no instances of oratory in the epilogue.

Power: “But my world has become one of infinite possibilities...I am invisible, not blind” (576).  Although it took the narrator quite a journey to come to this conclusion, he finally realized that being invisible presents him with endless opportunities. He can use it to his advantage in many ways, whether that be manipulating the Brotherhood to destroy them or manipulating a power company’s wires so that he can get free electricity. The IM not only recognizes that invisibility brings power, but also recognizes that because everyone else is blind to the fact, he is made all the more powerful.

Blog Mural Project

Blog Mural Project

Question: What is the purpose of the motifs power and oratory in “Invisible Man” in relation to Ellison’s depiction of racial stereotypes and tensions in the 1950s?

Thesis: Throughout the novel, the power and oratory motifs combine to both give and take power from African American characters, showing that any power that comes from words is only as strong as the audience's reaction, and reactions differ based on whether the orator has good or bad intentions regarding racial equality.

Synthesis: Chapters 16-25

As with our two earlier synthesis posts, the relationship between power and oratory has remained strong; the individual with the long instances of oratory are generally those with the most power in that moment. IM has realized that he can use his words to hold power over his audience and shift their way of thinking in a way that will benefit him, or at least not hurt him. For example, in chapter 16 during his speech at the Brotherhood rally, the IM was able to move the audience through speaking his mind about being blind and dispossessed.This is a contrast from chapter 1 at the Battle Royal when he accidentally spoke his mind saying “social equality” and incited anger amongst the crowd. The fact that the IM was able to deeply move the audience, despite the fact that he came up with it on the spot, shows how he has grown as an orator and become more comfortable with expressing his ideas to others. However, we have also noticed that speeches are not always the most effective way to get one’s point across- action is sometimes necessary and even more effective, yet also possibly dangerous. IM has been pushing for the people of Harlem to actually do something about the injustice following his speeches, rather than simply listen. This relates back to the advice the grandfather gives the IM. At last, by chapter 23, the Invisible Man is taking the action necessary to “agree em to death in destruction” by “launching his attack” on the Brotherhood.

Chapters 23,24,&25

Chapter 23:

Power was a very important motif in chapter 23, also a major turning point for IM. Immediately we become aware of the powerful influence that Rinehart has on the community- each of his identities. By IM taking on the identification of Rinehart he is embodying Rinehart’s power in himself. On page 501, IM attempts to discuss how he should help his district with Hambro, though the conversation doesn’t seem to go anywhere. In their conversation, Hambro explains that his “members will have to be sacrificed” and that “there’s nothing to be done about it that wouldn’t upset the larger plan”. He says this in an attempt to justify the Brotherhood’s new methods, but his words end up revealing just how little concern the Brotherhood actually has for its community. This triggers a new insight for IM reflecting his Grandfather’s advice: to yes the whites to death. This lets IM have power over the whites, especially in the Brotherhood, with the power of manipulation. His new motto is basically ‘keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer’, which we predict will work in his favor.

Chapter 24:

Oratory: There were no instances of oratory in this chapter.

Power: There were no instances of power in this chapter.

Chapter 25:

Oratory: The oratory in chapter 25 occurs mainly when Ras confronts the IM atop his horse in the streets. “Betrayer!” Ras proclaims on page 557, moving on to advocate that the IM be lynched for his association with the Brotherhood and their aims. In his defense, the IM states “They want this to happen...they planned it” (558). Here he is speaking to the black community as a whole, as he attempts to explain the setup they’re facing. They have been manipulated to turn against themselves, clearly illustrated by Ras’s plea for the IM’s death, which will keep the entire black community powerless and essentially trapped.

Power: “... then when you git ‘em out start splashing coal oil. Then when you git it splashed I’m going to holler, and when I holler three times I want you to light the matches and git” (546).

In this chapter, Dupre and Scofield are the characters holding a lot of power. They have set in place an entire plan to burn a building where lots of people are living. They instill fear in all of the residents and scoff at their requests to hold back from burning their house down. They have the ability to determine what these people’s lives will look like from here on out and this is one of the greatest powers you can have over someone, as being unable to determine how your own life will play out is an incredibly frightening thing.