Cure for Blindness - Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man Essay

Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man was a crucial literary tool in raising awareness of and forwarding the equal rights movement for African Americans when it reached readers of all races in the 1950s. The Cultural Contexts for Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man claims that the novel envisions nothing less than undoing African Americans cultural dispossession. Ellisons words are indeed an eloquent unraveling of social stereotypes and racisms. He employs allegorical conceptions of blindness and invisibility to dissect culturally ingrained prejudices and ignorance towards African Americans. Ellison also uses IMs settings and characters to reflect America and its stereotypes in order to achieve this goal. Throughout the novel there are†¦show more content†¦The white men attending the fight are also in a sense blinded by their perceptions of black people. The boys in the ring are reduced to bloodthirsty animals fighting for survival. This horrific, yet powerful depiction begs the reader to acknowledge such blinding prejudices that remain prevalent in American society. Later in the book, the narrator begins to remove this symbolic blindfold. As Ellison is calling for his audience to see clearly, the narrator addresses the dilemma at a Brotherhood rally: They think were blind--un-commonly blind. And I dont wonder. Think about it, theyve dispossessed us each of one eye from the day were born. So now we can only see in straight white lines. Were a nation of one-eyed mice-- Did you ever see such a sight in your life? Such an un-common sight! (Ellison, pp. 343) His speech attempts to enlighten those in attendance as well as the reader to the dispossession of black Americans. The complexity of this issue arises when the narrator finds himself blinded by the spotlight and ironically unable to clearly see his listeners. Without possessing sight of his own it would be impossible to lead others out of the darkness. Ellison seeks unity, however the truths of oppression must first be willingly seen and understood by all. The dispossession of one good eye is also further exemplified in the character of Brother Jack, who as a leader of the Brotherhood represents them