The Voice From The Margin

The publication of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man quickly catches attention at home and abroad. Critics have interpreted the novel from different perspectives. They comment on its craft, structure, complex themes and rich cultural sources, etc. The diverse approaches and pluralistic perspectives of criticism reflect the inclusive nature of the novel itself. Although many critics have made attempts to touch the folk cultural forms such as blues, jazz and folklores in the novel, there are few essays which link the protagonist's search of identity with the artistic presentations of music and folklores in it.This thesis makes such a try. It mainly discusses blues, jazz, myths and folklores as presentation and probes the theme implied in the forms: An individual's pursuit of identity can be accomplished when he recognizes and accepts the folk culture. This thesis consists of an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion. The introduction gives a brief survey to the writer's profound knowledge about music and the researches on the application of blues, jazz, myths and folklores in the novel home and abroad. The author of this thesis points out that the protagonist's pursuit of self-realization which alsa represents that of his race is finally met by his acceptance of the folk culture. Chapter One probes into the texture of the novel. The Afro-American musical forms: blues and jazz permeate through the lines in the novel;the readers can find blues lyrics here and there in the novel. In addition, they are not only utilized as artistic presentation to portray the characters and deepen the themes, but as metaphors, variations of the themes. It is implied that the blacks can affirm their Afro-American identity by interfusing into the American culture. This is Ellison's ideal or we can say the blueprint he designs for his people. Chapter Two gives an analysis of the applicationof the folklore Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear. The ambivalence and absurdity are reflected in the roles the narrator plays. In different senses, he resembles both the stupid Bear and cunning Rabbit. As a presentation, folklores add density to the art of literature. While from cultural perspective, the folklores illustrate the blacks' wisdom and wishes to escape the whites' exploitation and suppression. Chapter Three deals with the central theme: the seeking of identity. The narrator's successive failures awake his exploration of his existential values. His gradual discovery can only be achieved through his recognition of the blacks' history and culture. The conclusion sums up the major points of the thesis and points out that a study of Ellison's application of the folk cultural forms in Invisible Man, which are transmitted mainly in verbal forms, helps the readers to fully understand the profound black culture. These two cultural forms themselves typically reveal the traits of the Afro-American culture, therefore themselves represent the externalized cultural identities of the people. Following the blues and folklores, the protagonist manages to discover his identity.