论文总字数：25631字

摘 要

拉尔夫·埃里森是美国当代著名的黑人作家，其代表作《看不见的人》塑造了一个具有现代思想意识的黑人形象。本文通过借鉴前人学者的思想方法和研究成果，结合时代背景，分别分析隐形人在实现自我之前顺从的形象和实现自我之后的独立的形象及其产生的原因。同时，本文还分析了隐形人最终成为独立个体对社会带来的影响。

关键词：拉尔夫·埃里森；《隐形人》；自我身份；成长

Contents

1.Introduction 1

2.LiteratureReview……………………………………………………..............2

3.The Images of the Invisible Man 3

3.1 Submissive Image of Invisible Man 3

3.2 Reasons for Submissive Image of Invisible Man 4

3.3 Independent Image of Invisible Man 5

3.4 Reasons for Independent Image of Invisible Man 6

4.The Social Significance of Independent Image of Invisible Man 7

4.1 The Impact of Independent Image of Invisible Man on the Black..................7

4.2 The Impact of Independent Image of Invisible Man on Modern People.........8

5. Conclusion 9

Works Cited ..11

1. Introduction

Invisible Man was written in the United States in the 20th century, when the United States is in a continuous growth and development stage. The most important literary inspiration was the development of turbulence and change society’s ideological movement, and social thought of literature has been laid a solid foundation. In the 20th-century American society, the status of the disparity between the white and the black, many whites discriminated against the black, leading to the phenomenon that many blacks are not treated equally, and at the time of European intellectual movement, the whole idea of Europe being in its infancy, many people begin to learn and accept Enlightenment ideas. The black position suffered racial discrimination in American society which has been an important issue in American society. It has also been proved to be a underlying theme of African American literature. Although African-Americans, the status of the black is equal access to the white people, such as in the early Civil War in the 20th century. Suffering from the phenomenon of racial discrimination, African-Americans have been greatly reduced. But racial discrimination is a complex social cultural which is also one of the psychological problems. It is not relying on government decrees that can be completely solved. Enlightenment has a great impact on the traditional system of American society at that time. For African-Americans, the economic independence does not mean that the ethnic and cultural been recognized. They believed that all men should be created equally. Every individual is the social legitimate citizen, and they should enjoy legal equality, rather than trample the dignity of others. This particular social environment provides realistic materials for Ellison to create his novel Invisible Man, and Ellison is in this particular social environment, his lives and grows deeply influenced by society. His protagonist’s image in the novel is combined with the era background and his own suffering.

Ralph Ellison is an American novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ellison is well known for his novel Invisible Man which won the National Book Award in 1953. After his fourth year, Ellison moved to New York City to study the visual arts (sculpture and photography). There, he made the acquaintance of the artist Romare Bearden. Perhaps Ellison’s most important contact would be with the author Richard Wright, with whom he would have a long and complicated relationship. After Ellison wrote a book review for Wright, Wright encouraged Ellison to pursue a career in writing, specifically fiction. Ellison works very hard and he wants through his own efforts to change the family conditions, but because of racial discrimination in society at that time, blacks could not enjoy basic civil rights, their lives are very inferior. Ellison is addicted in literature, film and theater, and so has a keen interest, and in 1933 won a scholarship to enter the Tuskegee Institute to study music and sculpture, there are literary commentaries “shadow and behavior” and other masterpieces . The Invisible Man is a great novel that takes seven years to have completed, and it is also the only novel of Ralph Ellison. The two main fuse of this novel is that, the young blacks lost himself after suffering from unfair treatment. During the time of self-esteem, he moved towards self-awakening gradually and explored the relationship between individual and society, human and environment in the process of establishing self. Finally, he figured out many principles and found the true life. In the novel, Ellison explores the contrasts between the northern and southern varieties of their dissimilation and racism. The protagonist is “invisible” in a figurative sense, but the true meaning is that people refuse to see him.

Through referencing the thinking and research results of previous scholars and combined with the background of the times, this paper analyzes the submissive image before self-realization and independent image after self-realization and the reasons. At the same time, this paper analyzes the impact of invisible man as the independent individual on the society.

2. Literature Review

The Invisible Man is the portion controversial works. It has come to get a high rating and also been criticized. The critic Irving Howe who good at analyzing Marxist theory thinks that the description in the Invisible Man about the United States in Harlem Communist Party (the Brotherhood in the novel) is not real enough. It is too wicked and stupid (Hoos, 1974: 38). Howe accused Ellison “abandoned black writers’ task while did not inherit the tradition which is a typical of Wright’s Native Son” (Hoos, 1974: 58-59).

Some black readers are also discontented with Ellison, they blame him for negating all the black nationalists in the novel. But, more critics pay attention to the novel’s artistic value. They emphasize that the novel successfully demonstrated beyond racial significance. The Robert Bone commentary said “Invisible Man is the most outstanding works written by an Afro-Americans probably, this is the best American novel since the Second World War.”(Bone, 1958: 212) Nathan A Scott also said: “The reputation of Invisible Man has not diminished in recent years, moreover it is recognized as a classic work of modern American literature.” (Hoffman, 1979: 295)

No matter what differences in the evaluation of the novel, it’s certain that the Invisible Man is different from the previous black fiction. It has made an important contribution to the development of black fiction, also had a negligible impact on the American literature. Ellison told a story on the eve of Civil War about the growth course of a black young man who became independent and conscious from bigotry and sleeping that was quite similar to the figure named Bigger from Native Son whose author is Richard Wright, a representative writer of Harlem Renaissance, Bigger fought for his rights by means of forces.

3.The Images of the Invisible Man

3.1 Submissive Image of Invisible Man

The grandfather of the invisible man was a former slave who was modest in life. He was respected among the blacks and won the recognition of the whites. Under the impact of his grandfather since he was a child, the invisible man got the respect from others by humility and submission. He shaped himself according to the values taught in school. In the club of whites, he participated in the fight among the blacks and grabbed the coins by crossing the charged blanket in order to make a speech. He tolerated the pain and swallowed the blood in his stomach to recite the prepared speech word by word. In order to get the recognition of the whites, he changed the “equality” to “obligation”. As a reward, he got a briefcase and scholarship of black college. He dreamed to get the social recognition by hard work, modesty and submission.

A wealthy white trustee of the college Mr. Norton visited the campus once, and the invisible man was sent to take the guest to visit the campus by the black president Bledsoe. The protagonist took the guest to the home of Trueblood. A scandal once took place in the poor black family— the incest between Trueblood and his daughter was well known in the local area. And the invisible man made a big mistake to take the guest to such a black family. Later, they went to a hotel where the underclass blacks and blacks in a madhouse frequently went. It made the situation worse. As the invisible man took the noble white trustee of the college to see the black side of black community, the president of the college Bledsoe became furious. Invisible man defended himself by saying that he was follow the command of Mr. Norton with full of grievances. Bledsoe angrily said: “Command you? He commanded you? Damn it! Whites always like to command. They have got used to it. Why not find an excuse to avoid it? My God, boy! You’re a black and live in the South, do not you understand?”(Ellison, 2008: 102) The invisible man did not understand the blame of the president. When he was a child, his grandfather always taught him that he should follow every order to whites. At this time, he was confused. He just followed the order of the whites and did nothing wrong. But he still made a huge mistake.

The invisible man always lives and shapes himself by following the values of whites just like the puppets in the club and submissive blacks without their own thoughts but only submission.

3.2 Reasons for Submissive Image of Invisible Man

At the beginning of the novel, it is said that “It goes a long way back, some twenty years. All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naive. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: That I am nobody but myself.” (Ellison, 2008: 14) It was a flashback, directly points out the theme of the novel, to realizes that “I was myself” is a difficult process, because “I” have been with white set standard to request oneself, “I” wants to become the eyes of the white man. “About 85 years ago, people announced that they were free. They accept as true, jubilant. They know one’s place, the industrious work, foster my father to grow up, educate them to like the ancestry live ” (Ellison, 2008: 15) The invisible man is a young black who is born in the southern United States, in the American society of survival is very difficult. In the white mainstream society, the white ignores the black community intentionally or unintentionally. The blacks are invisible in the eyes of the whites who do not want to see them. That is to say, the whites are not willing to get to know the blacks, and recognize their existence. Although the “freedom” and “equality” and “the pursuit of happiness” have been written into the Constitution of United States for a long time. “All men are created equal” is the privilege of the white. The young blacks of Invisible Man in his dilemma of realizing on identity. He is in the whites world suffered serious race discrimination, the blacks completely without any status, the blacks are always neglected, even go out on the same bus with the whites, the blacks cannot sit, they only can stand. White dominated world had no place in black.

In the 1850s in the United States, blacks won the identity of “free man” after the Civil War. But the freedom on the surface failed to make blacks free from realistic aspect. Blacks still could not get rid of social oppression and discrimination. The physical torture was replaced by mental abuse, and such an invisible oppression permeated every aspect of life. The story of Invisible Man took place in Southern America. The long-term oppression and discrimination made the blacks get used to submission and gaining a foothold by catering to the tastes of the whites. Historically, the black ancestors who left their hometown in Africa were sold to the original habitat of America. The blacks following the traditional family guidance-- shaping themselves at any time according to the values of the whites always in accordance with the values of the whites shape their own, abiding by law and behave themselves.

The blind submission of the leading character in the novel of Invisible Man was because of the fact of being a black, but the story happened before ending of the Second World War whose lethality made people disillutionize to human culture and self-identification. The uncertainty under the society was far beyond the bearing of people, the appeal and effort made by whom was insignificant. Only by adjusting and completing social system could the ordinary people realize truly independence both physical and spiritual.

3.3 Independent Image of Invisible Man

After the invisible man undergoing a series of tribulations, he intends to think that who is he, why he lives in this world. The real world is unable to satisfy the invisible man’s pursuing to the status. The black member Cliff of the brotherhood is shot by the white policeman for no reason when he sold Sambo Doll in the street. Thus causes the great chaotic in Harlem area. The invisible man organized a large-scale funeral successfully. But because of this funeral, the invisible man was charged with a series of crimes. When the invisible man knew the news and escaped Russ’s kill, he got into the roadside’s pipeline. In the dark basement, the invisible man burned about his identity documents and briefcase. In pipeline’s basement, the invisible man felt peaceful, the leading character became an “invisible man”, and started thinking deeply about his own life. He thought day and nights, and began to realize that his all pursues before is the white’s value of their life, which imposed on the black. Through putting on the electric wire and light bulb in the basement, it became brightly. It was only a small event, but also indicated the invisible man’s change. The invisible man changed a lot, which is enough to see the transformation of invisible man’s image.

At the end of the novel, the invisible man’s identity is still very confused, but he decides to respect his complex character, respect himself as an individual responsibility to society. Before making contributions to society, he should let others without any prejudice to admit his existence, his faith and his behavior. In the end, the article has such a few words “My problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own, I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled.”(Ellison, 2008: 584) The invisible man really found his identity and began to realize his significance and value of existence. Although he was “invisible”, he could see his inner thoughts at least and began to think about his own life by giving up everything. It means that the invisible man has found his own identity of black. He began to have a deeper understanding of himself: he realized his own identity was the significance of life and he could realize his own values by walking his own way. Even if an invisible man has his own social responsibilities, he should give play to his social role. Therefore, he decided to walk out of the dark cellar and end the hibernation. He decided to abandon the past imposed on him by others, make his own voice and do not be an invisible man any longer. He began to refuse to follow the ideas of others and pursue and realize the real self. He began to realize that he should accept his identity of black spiritually, recognize his national culture and dare to say “no” to whites. It means he is independent spiritually.

3.4 Reasons for Independent Image of Invisible Man

When the invisible man hid in the basement, he began to think, “What have I done? Why everything is dark around me? Why am I so sad?”(Ellison, 2008: 7) Because similar to most of people in this country, he was very optimistic at the beginning and believed in hard word, progress and actions. But when he went through “supporting” the society and “opposing” the society, he no longer claimed for social status or limited himself. He began to realize that his world was full of possibility. Finally, he decided that “dormant period is over and I have to shed and have a good breath on the ground.” (Ellison, 2008: 535) Thus, he saw the hope and decided not to escape or follow the life values of others blindly but realized that an invisible man could play an important role in the society. He began to fight. Perhaps all the blacks hold the complaints of many years. Once they are awakened, they will fight and try to find their black identity and culture.

As many things has happened to the invisible man, he began to think about previous experience in life finding that the society won’t change for anyone. He gradually realized that he must work hard to adapt himself to social life to survive in stead of giving negative response. He increasingly understood the value of life to live a good life and contribute to society after questing himself. In the course of self-exploration, he thought of the relations between person and history, society and got to know that he must take the responsibility as a member of social life even if you were treated unfairly, and adapt himself to whatever the society brought since from which one could not get away. The significance of self-exploration was that he found the relations with the society, which you could not hide yourself from the reality although it’s tough and unfair, and if you did so, you would be a real “invisible man”, self-conscious in mind and hard working could realize your value of being a person.

4. Social Significance of Independent Image of Invisible Man

4.1 The Impact of Independent Image of Invisible Man on the Black

The invisible man in the novel is a representative figure. The American blacks in the late 20th century were familiar with his various experiences as the fate of invisible man is the real presentation of the life of American blacks at that time. American blacks did not get real freedom after the Civil War. Later, the apartheid eliminated the equality on the surface and left them the blank check of law. Only the mental independence can make them realize their situation and the blacks take measures to fight for their own rights. Invisible man’s image has changed from blind obedience to independent consciousness, which have a positive effect on black community to seeking self-identity. It is a good model for blacks to seeking self and recognizing national culture. To some extent, it can improve blacks’ self-esteem. Invisible man’s self-realization can help blacks find the value of their own existence, help them correct understanding of the relationship between themselves and society, help them better integration into the community. It also can remind the black that they should have a positive attitude to face the social injustice. Otherwise, it is impossible for the black to understand the value of self-existence, moreover enable to find the value of themselves. The right awareness of black group of their own identities is helpful for the development of American society and enriches American culture.

4.2 The Impact of Independent Image of Invisible Man on Modern People

The realization of the independent image of the invisible man have a profound significance on modern people. The awareness of independence means that people realize we should control our own behavior and get rid of dependence on others. We should present our awareness of self in life and economy. We should desire to overcome the external resistance and temptation independently and achieve continuous development and self-improvement. With the development of modern science and technology, people become more and more dependent on the external things. We are likely to lose ourselves without developing independent personality if we develop like this for a long term. The independent image of the invisible man is very helpful for people who gets lost in the modern culture to get rid of the confused condition, especially for the young generation who is easily confused by the reality of the society. To define ourselves correctly and find the right position in the society are the main task during our lifetime. The independent image of the invisible man also tells us that we should cultivate our awareness of independence, do our own things by ourselves and actively think about solutions rather than avoid the difficulty. People can establish confidence, recognize themselves correctly and achieve self-actualization with the awareness of independence. After realizing of our independent thought, we should arrive at a conception of our identity that honors our complexity as an individual without sacrificing social responsibility.

5. Conclusion

Invisible Man is one of the most influential American novels in the 1960 s and it also was Ralph Ellison’s famous masterpiece, in the novel “lost oneself” and “find oneself” two themes once became the focus of world attention and discussion in the United States.

As a masterpiece in American history, the invisible man, after experiencing a series of setbacks, he finds his own ground for his identity and he begins to fight against the white authorities, aiming to get rid of their control. The invisible man’s have changed a lot, from blindness to consciousness, from darkness to lighting. Finally, he takes on his social and racial responsibilities and successfully gains the mental independence. The image of invisible man shifts from the submissive “good slave” to independent individual with his own ideas, which deeply reflects the survival status of American blacks at that time. The white culture was prevalent during the conflicts between the blacks and the whites and dominated the American society, which became one of the reasons that invisible man became submissive blindly. But the real reason for the image change of invisible man is his own awareness. The invisible man finally achieved self-realization and became the independent individual due to the ideological awakening. It also tells modern people that only by independent consciousness can we get rid of manipulation and achieve self-realization.

Works Cited

[1] Danie, Hoffman. Harvard guide to Contemporary American Writing. Massachusetts, 1979: 295.

[2] E1lison, Ralph. Shadow and Act. New York: Vintage International, 1995.

[3] Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Random House. 1952.

[4] John, Hoos. Ralph Ellison—A Collection of Critical Essays. New Jersey, 1974: 38.

[5] Robert, Bone. The Negro Novel in America. New Haven, 1958: 212.

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[10] 拉尔夫·埃里森著, 任绍曾等译. 《看不见的人》. 南京: 译林出版社, 2008: 7、14-15、102、535、584.

[11] 史志康. 《美国文学背景概观》. 上海: 上海外语教育出版社, 2000.

[12] 易立君, 杨红. 寻找迷失的自我——论《看不见的人》的身份追寻. 常熟理工学院学报, 2007, （05）.

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