Invisible Man: Prologue and Epilogue

Because tomorrow we will be talking about the prologue and epilogue in Invisible Man, I figure it would be best to dish out my thoughts concerning the two sections, and their connection to meaning of the book as a whole. 

While reading both the prologue and epilogue, I came to realize that the narrator's story is much of a transition; almost a journey. The whole novel is basically a culmination of the narrator's journey - his attempt to escape the identity that people give him. I came to think of the idea that the narrator is perpetually running - both literally and metaphorically. This introduces the idea of a rabbit, both Brer the rabbit as a trickster archetype, but also actual rabbits that inhabit holes within the ground. Often, rabbits are actually considered prey to other animals - and this is why their holes in the ground are so vital to their survival. In the same way, the narrator is running all sorts of places and things that attempt to give him an identity. He runs from the coin bank that reminds him of the demeaning nature of the very roots he grew within. He runs from the Brotherhood when he realizes that it has indeed been using him for no greater reason than his race. This leads him to the man-hole - which interestingly is a place of darkness. I thought it very interesting that the narrator achieved true enlightenment ONLY when he reached first encountered true darkness. Through this, I think Ellison shows the need for one to be in true darkness before gaining enlightenment. 

Interestingly, I found a connection between the grandfather and the narrator as well. Earlier in the novel, the narrator tells us about his grandfather calling himself a traitor. Later in the novel, Ras the Exhorter calls the narrator a traitor as well. As I was reading, the question came into mind: Who are both these significant characters traitors to? Perhaps, these characters represent a challenge the simple system of society. The grandfather inwardly challenged his outer orders. In the same way, the narrator challenges the system - or perhaps we can say, the lack of system - present in the riots surrounding Harlem with Ras the Exhorter. When we think of Clifton's character in all of this context, I think Clifton represents a person that definitely recognized the predicament many blacks were in that time period. Clifton was intelligent enough to realize the demeaning nature of the sambo dolls - yet it seems as if Clifton recognized that the black individuals would never be able to rid of their roots, and the slavery that characterized their history. Thus he embraces the Sambo dolls almost as if he wants to sacrifice himself - as there is no other alternative. He does tell the audience that there is  a big show coming on - perhaps he serves as a Christ figure in the novel. 

I think that the prologue and epilogue are extremely important to tying the novel together - but it's interesting and significant to note that they spark as many questions as they may answer. Nevertheless, I look forward to our seminar tomorrow!