| This study's objective was to determine the elements of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man that contributed to its staying power and sustained significance. The need for this study was twofold. First, the importance of understanding where one came from in order to know where one is going never diminishes. Second, this knowledge is especially poignant because of the recently-celebrated 50th anniversary of the first publication of Invisible Man. To achieve this objective, the writer examined three specific components of the novel: Ellison's influences, his use of folklore, and the historical references in the novel. The writer concluded that Ellison's frequent allusions to the literary classics help Ellison keep the reader connected to the text, and the historical and folkloric references facilitate the novel's universality. Each reader of Invisible Man will take something different and lasting away from the novel, and one can conclude that Ellison's intent was to make this very transmission possible. Invisible Man 's story, its importance, and its relevance will endure with each new reader. |
