Early on in Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”, the story is kind of dark. The narrator introduces himself as the invisible man. “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me” (Ellison,1). In the first paragraph he kind of makes you wonder what he means by this, is it literal or figurative?
“Irresponsibility Is part of my invisibility; any way you face it, it is a denial” (Ellison,14). The man feels that since he has been perceived as invisible throughout his life by people up until this point, that he can continue to be in this state of denial that he is visible. “Whom can I be responsible, and why should I be, when you refuse to see me?” (Ellison,14), here again the man illustrates that since society refuses to see him as a person he shouldn’t be held responsible for his actions. “Responsibility rests upon recognition. Take the man who I almost killed: Who was responsible for that near Murder-I?? I don’t think so, and I refuse it.”(Ellison,14). Again, he believes that since the man bumped into him, and insulted him, the man should have recognized the invisible man’s “danger potential”.
“All dreamers and sleepwalkers must pay the price, and even the invisible victim is responsible for the fate of all” (Ellison,14). Towards the end, though, he feels a sense of accountability for the isolated life he’s been living and ultimately calls himself a coward. “But what did I do to be so blue?”
“Invisible Man” was one of my favorite readings not only because it had a deeper context of struggles between a black man and society, but also because it was contextually appealing. There is a feeling of isolation and denial as you said, but there is also an idea that life would be better if he was not seen. He doesn’t have to worry about mistakes and responsibility when no one sees him. That is also why he uses the power company to show his power without being seen. He loves light, which is ironic because he lives, figuratively, in complete darkness – in shadow.