Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Invisible Man: Ellison's portrayal of African Americans as true humans
In class we focused a lot on Trueblood's story, and the white reaction to his actions. As I was reading the chapter in which we discover Trueblood's past, I could not help but notice how his own family and community reacted to him. I know we discussed a lot about how Trueblood verified the white vision of Blacks as filthy, immoral subordinates, but I also think Eliison makes a profound statement about the African American race through Trueblood's character. I think that while Ellison wishes to reveal that the white people wanted to secure Trueblood and his family into an inferior societal position, he also wishes to convey the humanity of the African-American Race. Through the reactions of Kate, Matty Lou, and the rest of the community, Ellison suggests that African Americans contain the same moral fiber as whites. In other words, Ellison reveals through their ethical boundaries that African Americans are humans too, and nothing less. For example, Trueblood's wife Kate, demeans her own husband when she says "Shut up, nigguh. You done fouled!" (62). In this quotation, her use of the n word immediately dehumanizes Trueblood, and deconstructs his character. The use of that word in this context, reminds me of the Youtube video we saw on African American lexicon. Like the narrator suggested, Kate has discredited her husband from being a "man" to a nobody, to filth. Kate's disgust in her own husband propels her to disrespect him. Her reaction verifies her humanity and rationality, because what Trueblood did violated all human standards, no matter what race. Trueblood's community also demonstrates this humanity and logic when they polarize and isolate him. The preacher deems Trueblood as "the most wicked man he's ever seen" (66). The preacher, as well as others view Trueblood's actions as inexcusable and inhumane. This perspective is shared with whites, however, the difference is that the whites perpetuate and wish to sustain it whereas the blacks repress it and attempt to escape the white vision of them. Elision reveals through Trueblood's story that although the white man is the dominant and powerful one, the black man will always remain fundamentally similar, because both races share an ideological and ethical part of their humanities.
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Great close reading. I agree that Trueblood's history does engender interesting responses from his family members that reveal insight into Ellison's perspective of the African American race. Another interesting fact is that while Kate is frustrated with her husband's actions, she uses the “n word” to condemn her husband. The use of such a strong word from the mouth of an African American casts Trueblood's actions in an even more ignominious light. The comment, however, also shows that African Americans are capable of hurting their own race just as Whites are. The struggle among African Americans themselves also appears when Dr. Bledsoe sends letters that condemn the narrator when he seeks a job in New York. I believe that one of Ellison's main themes throughout the novel is that African Americans are limited not only by Whites, but also by their own race. Ellison explores this theme with Kate's condemnation of Trueblood with the n word and Bledsoe's derogatory job letters for the narrator. Finally, I believe that Ellison's emphasis on the equality between white men and black men reveals his sympathy for the African American plight.
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