Existentialistic Tendency In Invisible Man

Invisible Man is Ralph Waldo Ellison's masterpiece which achieved not only critical acclaim but also popular success. In this marvelous novel, Ellison portrays a black American individual searching for his true identity and freedom in a chaotic and absurd society.This thesis, approaching from the perspective of Existentialism, attempts to explore the existentialistic tendency in the novel.Existentialism is a philosophical movement developed from the end of the nineteenth century to the twentieth century. It explores the existence of the human being, emphasizing the lack of meaning and purpose of life, and the solitude of human existence. However, Existentialism is not depressing, for it attaches great importance to people's pursuit for freedom.Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man reveals his existentialistic tendency. In the novel, the protagonist suffers in a chaotic and absurd society where nothing is what it seems to be. He feels frustrated and angry about it and descents to a hole. However, in this hole he receives a rebirth and attempts to come out and take his responsibility. These thoughts are similar to those of Existentialism. Though Ralph Ellison is not directly related to the existentialistic movement. We can see that his thoughts do share some affinities with thoughts of existentialism.My thesis consists of five parts.Introduction gives a simple introduction of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and the main thoughts of Existentialism, and it mentions that the following three chapters will explore Invisible Man from the three main aspects of Existentialistic thoughts, namely, absurdity, anxiety, and freedom.Chapter one deals with the first existentialistic thought showed in Invisible Man, absurdity in the world. And for it, the thesis interprets from two aspects---chaos of the society and alienation between people.