Symbolism In Ellison's Invisible Man

In the novel Invisible Man the story is narrated by the protagonist himself, an unnamed African American man in the 1930s who considers himself socially invisible. He struggles to be "visible" in the racist American society. The protagonist's life experience in American society makes him feel that as a black in the white-dominated society, he is neglected and without any position. The white community turns a blind eye to everything happens to him, as if they could not see the black as a human being.He is an "invisible" man. "Invisible Man" the title gives a vivid description of the survival circumstances of the African American, which Ellison wants to express as the theme of this novel. This novel immediately has become the study object of many litterateurs and critics because of the author's delicate writing skills and predictable theme. Ellison's writing techniques and skills are characteristic, especially his successful use of symbolism. This thesis analyzes the writing skill of symbol in this novel systematically and then reveals the process of the hero'growth from naivety to maturity.Meanwhile, those symbols in the novel play a key role in revealing the theme, with reflecting the characters' emotions, promoting the development of the plots, and foreshadowing the future events. In the novel Invisible Man the story is narrated by the protagonist himself, an unnamed African American man in the 1930s who considers himself socially invisible. He struggles to be "visible" in the racist American society. The protagonist's life experience in American society makes him feel that as a black in the white-dominated society, he is neglected and without any position. The white community turns a blind eye to everything happens to him, as if they could not see the black as a human being.He is an "invisible" man."Invisible Man" the title gives a vivid description of the survival circumstances of the African American, which Ellison wants to express as the theme of this novel. This novel immediately has become the study object of many litterateurs and critics because of the author's delicate writing skills and predictable theme. Ellison's writing techniques and skills are characteristic, especially his successful use of symbolism. This thesis analyzes the writing skill of symbol in this novel systematically and then reveals the process of the hero' growth from naivety to maturity.Meanwhile, those symbols in the novel play a key role in revealing the theme, with reflecting the characters'emotions, promoting the development of the plots, and foreshadowing the future events.