Identity in Invisible Man

One of the key themes in Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is identity. Acting may be a way of gaining power over oppression by taking an art form that is generally based in strict role playing and turning it into a form individual expression. While most types of acting have to do with conforming to certain roles, African culture emphasizes improvisation and the freedom of choice. Ellison stresses that in order for the true self to be created the socially constructed self must be destroyed. When the Invisible Man is giving his speeches, even though they are always influenced by his oppressors in his current situation, the unique way he orates his speeches allows him to take the first step on his journey towards a new identity by taking a tool used for oppression and turning it into a tool for self-expression. Most of the environments in the novel are controlled in the same way his speeches are, by the values, beliefs, and ideologies of society. When he is at the university and the Brotherhood, he becomes trapped in an environment that is detrimental towards his search for self-identity, due to the fact that these environments place a pre-constructed self on him instead of allowing him to create his identity. Although Clifton left the Brotherhood in pursuit of his own identity, he was unable to create an identity of his own. When Tod confronts the stereotypes that are placed on him he allows them to gain power over him and is unable to construct his own identity. “It was Clifton, riding easily back and forth in his knees, flexing his legs without shifting his feet, his right shoulder raised at an angle and his arm pointing stiffly at the bouncing doll as he spieled from the corner of his mouth” (Ellison 433). Clifton has himself become the stereotype instead of forming a new identity. Seeing this causes the Invisible Man to become upset due to the fact that Tod was a projection of his desire for his own identity and upon seeing this realizes this could be his fate. At the end of the novel the Invisible Man follows the example that Tod left by going underground and becoming invisible, a necessary step to creating an identity. This act of going underground allows him to subvert the society above him and create an environment that is free from the social constructs of society. When the Invisible Man enters the dark hole at the end of the novel he brings out the symbols from the briefcase that he deemed important from his life. By burning the papers he is destroying the roles that had been placed on him by others and allows the chance for him to form his own identity. An identity is something that a person must make for themselves in order to assert their place in the world around them. By making an identity they are allowing themselves the opportunity to think for themselves and do what they believe should actually be done.