I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids - and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, because people refuse to see me.

I’m a sucker for good openings. If an author gives me a great opening line or paragraph, I’ll likely stick with the story to the end, even if the magic dissipates after the first few pages. This is the main reason I finished this book. I understand that I’m in the minority here. Don’t get me wrong, I can see why it’s a classic and I’m glad I can now say that I read it. But, to me, those first few lines were magic that never quite reasserted itself in the rest of Ellison’s work.

The novel started out strong. Really strong. Our nameless narrator was striving to make the best life for himself that a black man could at that time, and he tried to utilize his powerful oration to assist his fellow man. For the first third of the novel, I was completely engrossed in his life, my heart heavy with sympathy and guilt for the sins of my forefathers. But after the narrator was basically given an electrical lobotomy to erase his memory, the book began to unravel for me. There were still moments of beauty and moments of heartache. Mary was a wonderful character, and I smiled whenever she was in a scene. But the further I read, the more disjointed the book seemed to be. I don’t know if this was intentional, to demonstrate how damaged the narrator was from the spoiler above, or if it was just in the way I read, but I lost my connection to the narrator. I felt disconnected from about the middle of the book until the epilogue, where our nameless narrator is once more his present self. Here I reconnected, right before Ellison wrapped up his tale.

Overall, I am glad that I read Invisible Man. I went into it knowing that it wouldn’t be an enjoyable read. How could it be, given the subject matter? But it was a thought-provoking read. I hate that I couldn’t maintain my involvement with the story all the way through the novel, but I don’t blame Mr. Ellison for that. It was an important story, poetically told.

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” (243)

I first read Invisible Man several years ago. My recollection of it was that it was a nightmarish journey. In fact, I vividly remember having nightmares related to it while reading (though I was also in a strange phase of life at that time). I had no intention of revisiting it soon. However, other readings I've done this year have made me think about it anew. Reading more recent tales of arduous odysseys such as Homegoing, The Underground Railroad, and Americanah, I often thought, “This reminds me of Invisible Man, but I think Invisible Man was better.” So, after a while, I decided to reread it and find out: Is it truly that good, or is it just because it came first?

It turns out that it really is that good.

It's so outstanding that it makes me appreciate those more recent novels a little less. Ralph Ellison has one of the most confident and bold writing styles I've ever encountered. Right from the start, the words are challenging, beautiful, and courageous, and he maintains this intensity throughout the novel, right up to the final line where the unnamed narrator holds a mirror up to us.

I'm certain that a great deal has already been written about Invisible Man by people far more perceptive and intelligent than I am. So, I'll just jot down a couple of things that I'll want to remember from this reading. The first is how prophetic some of the story's events have become. I think everyone should read chapter 22, if nothing else from the book. It seems like a news report from last week, not something written over 60 years ago. There's a sadness in reading from the past and realizing, once again, that humans haven't really changed that much. We face the same struggles, over and over. I know that's the nature of life, but I wish this particular struggle could be resolved.

I also want to remember how adept Ellison is at highlighting the different personal struggles a person endures at various stages of life. The first half of the book flawlessly captures the challenge of transitioning from naïve, youthful idealism to a more realistic understanding of the behind-the-scenes workings of a person's world. And then he progresses to the daily drudgery of work that initially seems meaningful but ultimately feels fruitless:

All our work had been very little, no great change had been made. And it was all my fault. I’d been so fascinated by the motion that I’d forgotten to measure what it was bringing forth. I’d been asleep, dreaming. (444)

Invisible Man is a book about a specific time in history and a particular story within that time; yet, it's also a story that holds true across different eras and individuals.

With this reading, I definitely found Invisible Man to be nightmarish once more – that memory was accurate. I also discovered it to be a classic exploration of identity, hope, and disillusionment, and of growing up in a complex, sometimes deliberately cruel, world. And, of course, it serves as a stark reminder that despite the progress we've made in civil rights in America, we still have a long way to go.

“Look at me! Look at me,” I said. “Everywhere I’ve turned somebody has wanted to sacrifice me for my good—only they were the ones who benefited. And now we start on the old sacrificial merry-go-round. At what point do we stop? Is this the new definition, is Brotherhood a matter of sacrificing the weak? If so, at what point do we stop?”
\\tHambro looked as though I were not there. (505)

It started out as a book with a truly promising premise.

Here was a man who was invisible to a society that he deeply disdained. He was a complex character, violent, self-righteous, and mysterious, seemingly introducing a world filled with complicated struggles against ignorance. Or so it seemed.

But then the story actually begins. What follows is a long-winded narration of how this man has come to be invisible. And yet, with less than 100 pages remaining in this plodding 500-page-plus tome, there are still only hints of this "how."

It's a story of a man becoming jaded, told from the perspective of the jaded "invisible man" he has become. The violence and injustice are described with such blatant disdain for humanity that it's difficult to truly register them as such. Maybe that's the point, but it certainly doesn't make for engaging reading.

Moreover, it casts doubt on the narrator's reliability, considering he claims to have been recruited for his speech-making abilities. The speech that gets him into college is somewhat insightful and passionate, but then the rallying speeches just keep coming. Maybe it's because they're embedded in a narration that shares the same voice and sentiments, but they simply don't have any real impact. Or perhaps it's just a demonstration of his waning passion and his struggle to express his place in a world for which he feels only a growing sense of alienation.

This all sounds far more interesting than it actually is. In reality, it's boring, rambling, and kind of depressing. It's hard not to put down. Definitely not a fun read.

I don't know if it is the "ultimate Afro-American myth", but it is definitely the most comprehensive one that - at least for me - I have read regarding what it means to be a black man in the 1950s.

Since I cannot pretend that I understand and share from the... throne of my house the racism problems that are the original sin of the USA, I necessarily stand on the literary value of the text.

As such, I think it is of excellent quality, having deliberately avoided the one-sided realistic-naturalistic description of the reality that the hero experiences. The technique it uses to achieve this is to sometimes move in a surreal world, in the form of a dream, helping in the distancing of the reader.

The result, as those who have come into contact with the work of Ellison well know, is the emotional "isolation" that allows the mental/intellectual involvement of the reader - something necessary, since the goal is the active participation of thought and not the passive consumption of happy, submissive emotions by the writer. And in this Ellison succeeds perfectly.

Obviously, the talented writer does not reinvent the wheel, and over the years his magnum opus, at least for me, does not cause surprise or admiration, but after all, how many literary works (except... Spartans) achieve this?

In conclusion: Good quality, but not essential!

Ah yes, the book that truly put me through 4 mental breakdowns within the span of just 2 weeks. It was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. Every page seemed to bring a new challenge, a new twist that would send my mind reeling. I found myself completely immersed in the story, but not in a good way. The plot was so intense and convoluted that it was almost too much to handle.

The rating has nothing to do with this book. I just had a really bad reading experience. It's not that the book was poorly written or had no merit. In fact, I could see the talent and effort that went into it. But for some reason, it just didn't click with me. Maybe it was the subject matter, or maybe it was the way the story was told. Whatever the reason, it left me feeling drained and frustrated.

Despite my negative experience, I'm sure there are many people out there who would love this book. It just wasn't for me. And that's okay. Reading is a personal experience, and what works for one person may not work for another. I'll just have to move on and find a book that speaks to me in a more positive way.

I've read the prologue and the first chapter of this book.

After going through these initial parts, I am certain that I will never return to it.

The writing style simply doesn't resonate with me. It feels either too complex or too simplistic, lacking the kind of flow and charm that would keep me engaged.

Moreover, the story itself doesn't seem to be my cup of tea. The plot doesn't grip me, and the characters don't seem to have that spark that would make me want to follow their journey.

Every reader has their own preferences when it comes to literature, and unfortunately, this particular work doesn't align with mine.

So, I'll be moving on to other books that I hope will offer a more fulfilling reading experience.

Perhaps someone else will find this book to be a masterpiece, but for me, it's just not the right fit.

Wow - this is a truly surreal, frantic, vivid, and incredibly rich read.

It takes the reader on a journey that is both captivating and thought-provoking. The context in which the story is set feels particularly of its time and place, adding an extra layer of authenticity and depth to the narrative.

The writing style is incantatory, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are under a spell. The words seem to flow effortlessly, creating a rhythm and cadence that enhances the overall reading experience.

Moreover, the politics explored within the pages are deeply resonant, touching on issues that are still relevant today. It makes the reader question their own beliefs and perspectives, and encourages them to engage in meaningful discussions about the world around them.

Overall, this is a book that is not to be missed. It is a masterpiece of literature that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who has the pleasure of reading it.

Abandoned at 25%.

Nothing about this work managed to hold my interest. In fact, right from the opening lines, my heart sank. The author throws the reader into what is, to begin with, a rather weak and poorly disguised metaphor.

  "I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me."

I very seldom abandon books. However, after reading a quarter of this one, there was still no real story. Instead, there were just a series of symbolic "scenes" presented in verbose and plodding writing that was full of overt misogyny. I had already half-decided to give it up after the chapter at the bar. When my eyes completely glazed over while reading the long-winded sermon in the following chapter, the decision was final. Every minute I spent reading this felt like a burdensome task.

I am aware that this is regarded as a classic of African American literature. But I think I'll just stick to the works of Toni Morrison and James Baldwin.

"Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison is a remarkable piece of literature. The Prologue by Jeff Wall, available in MoMA's Online Collection, sets the stage for this engaging work. "Homem Invisível" is the debut and only novel published during the lifetime of the African-American writer Ralph Ellison. Published in 1952, it is widely regarded as a masterpiece, winning the National Book Award in 1953 and featuring on the list of the unexpected English newspaper "The Guardian" as one of the best 100 books of all time.

I purchased this novel in 2006/2007, but for some inexplicable reason, it remained forgotten on a shelf filled with many other books. Narrated in the first person, we follow a young African-American in the southern United States in the 1920s and 1930s. He is the "victim" of his grandfather's curse upon his death. Against all odds, he enters the university, but a fortuitous event turns into a punishment that culminates in his expulsion.

On his journey to the North, specifically to New York and Harlem, armed with seven letters of recommendation written by the despicable university director Dr. Bledsoe to secure him a job, he discovers the true nature of these letters, which reveal a sickening and humiliating cynicism. The narrator refers to himself as "an invisible man," but it is through the power of words and orality that he constructs a story in which the themes remain more relevant than ever. Segregation, conflicts between whites and blacks, police arbitrariness, politicized behaviors due to love and hate relationships, ideological repression, gratuitous violence, philosophical and dogmatic "preachers" - all are perfectly conjugated in the different narrative episodes that oscillate between grotesque and ironic situations, between the rough and the erotic, or between the melodramatic and irrational violence.

"Homem Invisível" is a novel with an unquestionably poetic narrative, a brilliant emotional unity, and is filled with symbolism and unforgettable characters. It is one of the best works I have read within this theme.

After "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison, the Prologue by Jeff Wall - in MoMA’s Online Collection

Ralph Ellison (1914-1994)

A masterpiece indeed! There is so much within these pages that I long to quote. And here, I will share even more. I have already filled my Facebook wall with numerous quotes from this remarkable novel. It remains as relevant today as it was when it was first written. It is truly a strange and wonderful thing that a mixed culture Canadian white woman in the 21st century can find such a deep connection to the struggle of a black man in the America of the 1940s. But I firmly believe that this is a factor of what is known as “the human condition”. We all share common experiences, emotions, and desires, regardless of our race, gender, or time period. The words of Ralph Ellison in “Invisible Man” speak to the universal themes of identity, belonging, and the search for self. They remind us that we are all part of something much larger, and that our individual stories are intertwined with the stories of those who came before us and those who will come after.

\\n  “I was pulled this way and that for longer than I can remember. And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone's way but my own. I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man.”\\n
— Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

I realized that I couldn't go back to any part of my past life. I couldn't approach it except from the outside, and I was invisible to Mary as I was to the university, or to the brothers, or to my family. I had no choice but to move forward or stay here, under the ground. So I will stay here until the search for me begins. Here, at least, I can turn my thoughts to things in peace, or, if not in peace, then in tranquility. I will live under the ground. The end had been in the beginning.

If there is an existence of the term (*parody) in the novel as there is in poetry; we can say that the novel of the Invisible Man is nothing but an excellent and profound parody of the novel (In the Underground / Notes from Underground: Dostoyevsky). Through my reading of the works, I can see the extension of the threads of ideas and actions, their encounter and connection, not to mention the great similarity between the heroes of the two novels in terms of suffering, the psychological construction of the two personalities, the life experiences - from innocence, trust in life and people, and the desire for change, to the life of the underground! - in addition to this可怕的ability - which is characteristic of Ellison - to switch, describe, and depict the dark emotions and ideas that control the human soul and its actions in their most precise details, which we only find in Dostoyevsky.

I am an invisible man, no, I am not a shade of those ghosts that inhabit the cellars of the building. I am a tangible man, of flesh and bones, tissues and fluids. I have a mind. I am invisible simply because people refuse to see me... When they approach me, they only see what surrounds me, that is, themselves, or parts of their imagination - in fact, they see everything and anything except me.

With this Dostoyevskian introduction, Ellison immerses us inside the head of his invisible hero, to see how he was before he became invisible! Starting from when he was a young man aspiring to a university degree, then moving to the United States to work and earn money, then working as a speaker for the Black - the brothers - movement to mobilize for their popular demonstrations, and finally ending up in his underground! Through the course of events and the movement from place to place, and from one job to another, we notice the formation of the hero's consciousness and personality, and we notice the role that the place plays in the changes of his ideas. And as he immerses himself in the work of the organization, the veil is lifted for him, and the true role that he was playing is revealed, and that he was nothing but a (platform machine) that they used for the work that suited them. "We were many names written on sheets of worthless paper, used by them for what suited them and when they didn't need them, they put them aside." Gradually, he sees the truth that the acceptance of others for him lies in the denial of himself and the submission to their opinions.

I was existent and yet invisible, that was the basic contradiction. I was existent and invisible. It was something可怕and I was sitting and as I was like this, I felt the existence of another可怕world of possibilities. That I could agree with Jack without an agreement existing. And I could ask the people of Harlem to hold on to hope where there is no hope. And perhaps I could ask them to hold on to hope until I find a true basis, a solid basis for action that will lead them to an easy history. But until that time, it will be necessary for me to influence them without being influenced... I must play the role of Reinhardt.

When I discover who I am, I will be free.

The Invisible Man: A unique novel, revolving around the search for identity, freedom, independence, self-awareness, and meaning. A novel that deals with the racial issues in the United States in the middle of the twentieth century against black people, and Ellison does not content himself with documenting the oppression against blacks only, but also documents the forms of oppression in which whites and blacks, and blacks against their black brothers, until the hero of the novel himself finds himself at the end of the road oppressed by everyone! A wonderful novel, and the translation is of the utmost elegance. #Completed

I have a long and profound history with Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man.

For my high school AP English class, we were assigned to read Ellison's magnum opus over the summer and annotate each chapter. Then, in the fall, we re-read the entire thing as a class.

Last winter, The Huntington Theatre in Boston staged the novel as a play, which was both faithful to Ellison's vision and filled with life and violent energy.

Violence is a crucial element of the novel, which has a kind of beautiful horror to it. It is also important to the time and struggle of which it is a moving story.

Despite its deep allegorical roots in the history of the Afro-American struggle for equality, Invisible Man is as deeply moving in the struggle of an individual as it is of a race.

The themes of race and inequality, of white male hegemony, prejudice, and persecution, are powerful throughout. However, Ellison's overwhelming concern is identity and what it means to be without it.

The story of our unnamed narrator is the bildungsroman of a young black boy from the South, illusioned by his grandfather and by society. He is the very paragon of passivity and compliance.

This novel is a treatise against passivity, no matter what the cause. As modern readers, we are moved by the man's struggle against a world that seems set against his success, a world that is deceptively scheming and horribly violent.

His reality is a terrible one, an oppressive one, and at times a nearly fatal one. This is the struggle of the majority of his race.

Despite the obvious racial overtones, this book is not a call to arms. It does not champion unity or even raise equality as a goal or vision of freedom from suffering.

It is a book that stirs you deep inside, makes you wonder, makes you cringe at human horrors, and makes you consider who you are or who you are trying to be.

What Ellison has created is an epic in the vein of The Odyssey or perhaps more fittingly, the bellicose epic of The Iliad.

At every turn, our narrator is met with violence - physical, emotional, spiritual, for survival, and for death.

Yet, the main struggle remains within him. He is unnamed because he has yet to identify himself.

It is his struggle for self-awareness that is the focus of Invisible Man. At the end of the story, his retreat into the underground signifies not the fruition of his self-awareness but the awareness of his true enemy: himself.

He is invisible because he has been invisible even to himself. He cannot see others for what they are because he cannot see himself for what he is.

It is not until he approaches the apotheosis of his own identity that he can condemn the'sleepwalkers' - the men who walk about unknowing and uncurious to know.

The invisible narrator tries to band his brothers together, comply with the system, be the best man he can, and find his place in society, but to no avail.

He ultimately retreats into a self-imposed exile underground. This is not a story of the struggle for equality but for the gasping for self-awareness.

We live in a still confused world, but we owe it to ourselves to know ourselves with certainty, with passion, and with pride.