What elements of symbolism and motifs surround Ellison’s Invisible Man?
Throughout Ellison’s novel, there are many instances of symbolism dealing with the theme of equality, as well as . The first example of this, is the paper; representing the narrator’s next move. In the beginning of the novel, the narrator delivers a speech after the battle royal and is presented with a scholarship for college. The next instance of this, is when the narrator is given job recommendation letters from Bledsoe, having been expelled from college. In chapter thirteen, the narrator is given a number by a supportive white man, inspired by the speech he heard the narrator give when he came upon an old couple being forcefully evicted, who hopes to have the narrator deliver speeches in his organization. However, the narrator is reluctant at first, despite that the man “…can see that you have been well trained” (Ellison, 225), and buys the narrator cheesecake and coffee. This combination may also be symbolic and a motif (food and drink) to racial coexistence- the delicate cheesecake as the well to do white man, above and desired then most other kind of foods, and the coffee the black man with a harsher life and wanted by those with a common, more bitter taste.
Another element of symbolism in the novel are the yams. One day, when the narrator becomes famished while walking in the streets, he passes by a yam street vendor, but hesitates to buy them as they are a traditional “niger food”. Out of famished hunger, the narrator buys one and walks always. However, shortly afterwards, he comes back after recalling the yams he ate in his youth, and buys more-having had accepted his black identity he repressed for so long ( “I yam what I yam”). It is also around this time that his interest in making public speeches again begins to eat at him.
AutumnViolet 