Invisible man is in all of us...

Invisible Man is a good novel. As an avid reader, I can clearly see why this novel has won much prestige. Ellison uses lively imagery and creative characters to add to the mystic of the Invisible Man. I felt a real connection with the novel. I was skeptical about the novel, however, the moment I began reading the prologue I became fixated with Invisible Man. The first chapter disturbed me, and at the same time, I was oddly excited. I indulged much of my leisure moments reading the book. It did not take me long to complete my reading of the Invisible Man. The book was hard to set down because the different people, places, and events that the narrator encountered intrigued me.

Although I consider the Invisible Man to be a Black novel, its theme of invisibility is a universal aspect we can all relate to. This novel is a historical fiction, which adds even more character and interest to the novel. During my reading experience, I remember moments where I felt so much emotional turmoil. The novel opened my mind to presence of invisibility in my own life. Much like the narrator, I too was seen only along the lines of stereotypes. I recall my childhood experience of living in a Black populated “ghetto” and seen as the timid “chink” that uses chopsticks and excels academically. As with the invisible man, I found myself putting on different identities according to the expectations of my family, friends, and teachers. At home, I played the role of the “good daughter” and put aside my extroverted personality. With peers, I was expected to be independent and chaotic. At school, teachers expected me comply with the expectations of being an ‘Asian’ student.

I highly recommend others to read the Invisible Man. The novel is entertaining because of the many diverse events that take place in the narrator’s life. Furthermore, the concept of invisibility needs to be interpreted and understood. Perhaps, the comprehension of the Invisible Man can be the first stepping stone to a world redefined, not by the blindness of stereotypes, but by the capabilities of others to learn to accept and embrace one’s individuality.
I would like to end this epinion by including one of my favorite quotes from the Invisible Man: “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me,” (Ellison 3).