In my novel, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, he time period is going through racist relations which makes everything more complicated. I can relate to this novel because some of the same stereotypical events have happened to me. Even though today is passed those times everyone, not only African Americans, have been through some type of racial problem.
Throughout the entire novel the narrator finds it hard to establish who he really is. He sees black on the outside but wants to know his true identity. Furthermore he wants to figure out his purpose in life known as a black man in society. In my opinion the reason why he is called “narrator” instead of a name is because of his missing identity. Eventually he finds a type of rebirth and joins a “brotherhood”, which makes him feel as though he’s apart of something where he belongs. Later on the narrator finds out that white cops had murdered an African male which was the start of stirring up problems between the two races. This angers him and he decides to get his community together to act upon the racial situations that were going on. The crazy part is that the “brotherhood” that he was supposedly in turned their back on him because of him trying to act alone. One of the main problems in this novel is people fighting stereotypes with stereotypes. For example when the narrator tried to get in to the brotherhood they questioned if he was black enough. How are you supposed to be a certain type of race? Now a days there is so many different categories under one race it doesn’t make any sense. The authors point was it doesn’t matter what race you are, you can be who ever and whatever you want to be and not have to be impacted or persuaded by anyone else but yourself. Also not to go against a certain race just because they don’t act like the stereotypical person you think they should be.
I haven't read Invisible Man, but it sounds like a book with a lot of deep content. Do you think that at the end of the book the narrator will find himself and his name will be revealed? I found it interesting when you pointed out that he is called the "narrator" instead of his name because he lacks an identity. It seems like the "brotherhood" sort of lacks an identity too and that is why it is just simply the "brotherhood."
ReplyDelete-Aimee E.
Lol I was about to read this book but then I realized that I download the wrong version of Invisible Man on iBook... oh well :p
ReplyDeleteYour review on the book does seem very interesting. There is also one similarity between the Invisible Man I read and yours, like both of the protagonists did not reveal their names in the beginning of the story. But yea, I will definitely want to read the one by Ellison in the future :D
I. Yeh
I like how you saw the racial stereotype from every angle and not just African Americans.
ReplyDelete-Jonathan S
I think it is important that you noted that stereotypes still occur in today's society. Unfortunately, discrimination is still around and may never completely fade. The fact that so many people can relate to the book makes it one that won't be forgotten.
ReplyDelete-Tyler A.
I extremely agree with this! It is important that we realize that stereotypes happen in all ethnicities and even in today's society. I think that is something that will never truly go away.
Delete-Secada C.
I'm actually impressed with the idea that racial stereotyping causes him to feel a lack of identity, and that lack of identity is seen in details even as minute as his name (which is unknown to us).
ReplyDelete-Yahya H.
If you have read the novel "Native Son", can you draw any parallels between the two?
ReplyDeleteJonathan S.
I think it's great that not only did you acknowledge stereotypes occurring in today's society as well, but you brought up the fact that stereotypes happen to every ethnicity. Fantastic review!
ReplyDelete-Secada C.