symbolic objects

Throughout the journey that Invisible man had been through from chapter 1 when he got into college to chapter 9 after he got kicked out of college, the usage of symbolic objects demonstrate the development of the role and identity he holds as a black individual within a society that is dominated heavily by white power. Throughout his journey, we were able to see how the narrator's goal in life is to fit in and be accepted by the higher powers in his life such as Mr.Norton and Dr.Bledsoe. Symbolic objects are used to reveal his emotions, his goals, and objects that interfere him from accomplishing his goals. By using symbolic objects, we can see how his identity is changing as he is faced with challenges that prevents him move forwards to be the self- sufficient man that he is in prologue(after everything happened) The Blindfold from chapter 1 is an example of Invisible man experiencing limitation when he was trying to fulfill his goal of impressing the white elites that he is try

the symbolic object in chapter 9 is grits - it challenges Tim to remember his heritage. He refused them so people won't view him as a southern black boy he feels ashamed. "could everyone see that I was southern? "ill have orange juice, toast and coffee." "I would have sworn you were a pork chop man" (pg 178) -The context is when Tim is in the diner and refuses to eat grits, pork chop etc because he doesn't want to look southern.

The Bible " I was so far away from home, yet there was nothing familiar in my surroundings. Except the Bible; I picked it up and sat back on the bed, allowing its blood-red-edged pages to ripple beneath my thumb...I turned to the book of Genesis but could not read." TIM has just arrived in Harlem and he is sitting in his hotel room reminiscing on his life back home. TIM’s allusion to Genesis, the creation story, is symbolic of his beginning in Harlem. He was excited to get to Harlem but that he’s there he’s lonely and hasn’t done anything towards making a new beginning to himself, it’s as if he “could not read” his creation.

Chapter 5 Quote :  "Around me the students move with faces frozen in solemn masks , and I seem to hear already the voices mechanically raised in the songs the visitors loved."  Content :  The invisible man entered the chapel on founders day after the car ride and the whole situation between him and Dr.Bledsoe.  Explanation :  TIM noticed how the students were only robots for the white people. They are like machines who are there to work for the white people.  Chapter 6 Quote :  “Suddenly he reached for something beneath a pile of papers, an old leg shackle from slavery which he profoundly called a ‘symbol of our progress’.”   Content : The narrator is in Dr.Bledsoe's office talking to him before Dr.Bledsoe kicked him out of the university.  Explanation :  Dr. Bledsoe believes that the old shackle is a symbol of progress the black people made since slavery. Bledsoe is proud of the leg shackle and  shows it to the narrator with much pride. However, others