Chapter 17 & 18

Presentation by Cathlin O'Reilly

The invisible man is chosen as the “chief spokesperson of the Harlem district”(Ellison 369). His studies with Hambro have progressed well, but brother Jack advises him to “say what the people want to hear, but say it in such a way that they’ll do what we wish”(Ellison 359). This is ironic because the brotherhood has been successful at getting the invisible man to do what they want. The invisible man is blinded by their manipulation. Brother Jack informs the invisible man that he “will have freedom of action—and [he] will be under strict discipline to the committee” (Ellison 360). This contradictory statement says that the narrator is both free and subject to the commands of the committee.

The next morning, at the Brotherhood meeting, we encounter Tod Clifton, an important figure who serves as the youth leader in the Harlem district. Since the narrator just got appointed as the spokesman of the Harlem district, he initially sees Clifton as “a possible rival” (Ellison 363), but end up working very well together. They discuss innovative strategies for working with the Harlem community as well as explain the concern for Ras the Exhorter, a black nationalist who opposes cooperation between races. Sure enough, during the narrator’s speech, Ras and his followers interrupt, transforming it into a street fight. Another inconsistent statement of the brotherhood is displayed in their meeting when the brothers stress that they will not act with “any aggressive violence” (Ellison 365), but end up in an intense fight between the groups.

Black Nationalist Flag

The diction and language that Ellison uses for Ras makes him seem as if he has a Jamaican accent. (i.e. “mahn”, “understahnding”(Ellison372)). These characteristics resemble a real life historic individual, Marcus Garvey, who pushed for black rights more than anything.

The next day at the office, Brother Tarp gives a portrait of Frederick Douglas to the narrator and tells him to “look at him once in a while” (Ellison 378). The narrator and Frederick Douglass show distinct similarities in the fact that they both experienced sudden rise to importance. They also used their power in speeches by moving the audience with their brilliant oratory skills.

The invisible man’s grandfather is a constant figure in most of his dreams. The narrator remembers his grandfather’s words about transformation, which are “you start up Saul and end up Paul…When you’re a youngun, you Saul, but let life whup your head a bit and you starts to trying to be Paul—though you still Sauls around on the side”(Ellison 381). His grandfather compares one’s conversion to a man in the bible. Saul started off as a young and naïve individual, but eventually became a wise apostle of Jesus and changed his name to Paul. The narrator’s experiences helped shape and change into his new identity. He is not the same man as he was in college, but he still holds similar characteristics.

The invisible man receives a mysterious letter warning him to “not go too fast” (Ellison 383) and that “this is a white man’s world” (383). The Invisible man is very puzzled and goes to Brother Tarp for help on identifying the unknown source but Brother Tarp tells him not to worry. Brother Tarp talks about his past and gives the narrator part of his chain link when he was imprisoned. The link reminds him of one on Bledsoe’s desk, except Tarp’s is one “made by the blade of a hatchet” (Ellison 389). The worn and rough chain resembles the hardships and unfairness that he has encountered.

In the encounter with Brother Wrestrum, he tells the narrator that he has enemies both in and out of the brotherhood. Wrestrum says that some are “just in it to use it for their own ends” (Ellison 393). A magazine editor calls the narrator for an interview and he repeatedly declines recommending Clifton for the interview. A couple weeks later, the invisible mans is charged by “using the Brotherhood movement to advance his own selfish interest”(Ellison 400). This is an ironic because Brother Wrestrum acts as an enemy by making a false accusation against the narrator. In reality brother Wrestrum tries to advance his own power because he thinks his position is being threatened. The narrator is then given a choice to leave the organization or lecture on the “Woman Question”.

Questions

1. Why do we still not know the Invisible man’s name after his new identity?

2. Who do you think wrote the letter to the Invisible man?

3. Do the grandfather and Mr. Norton resemble Brother Tarp in any way? What are their similarities and differences?