Invisible Man Ch.3 & 4 Analysis PDF

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Chapter 3 P73 The narrator described that the school tried to make Golden Day respectable, but the local white men prevented them from doing so. This is another instance in which white people interfered to persist the chaotic side of black culture in an attempt to make them inferior. P76 Being unable to get the drink for Mr. Norton made the narrator “sick inside”, which proves that he is still eager to please the white man. Moreover, his unwillingness to bring Mr. Norton inside also testifies to how the narrator feels superior to the men in the bar and believes that they are not respectable enough for Mr. Norton to see. P77 One of the patients called Mr. Norton Thomas Jefferson, which contains some truth despite the apparent madness of the speaker. Similar to Jefferson, Norton is a founder that assumes a noble position. However, Norton also possesses an immoral desire towards his daughter, which mirrors Jefferson’s immoral possession of slaves. P84 The veterans beat up Supercargo as he yelled for order, which resembles a rebellion against oppression. Seeing the scene, the narrator “felt such an excitement that” he wanted to join them. This is an indication of the fact that the narrator subconsciously wants to rebel against the oppression he faces. P86 Even when Mr. Norton was unconscious, the narrator was still scared to be close to him. He described that Mr. Norton seemed like a “formless white death”, and he could not help but scream while being close to the white man. This shows how the narrator feels inferior to the whites even though they are just men. P89 When fetching things for a veteran that offered to help Mr. Norton, the narrator always made to return “swift with the speed of anxiety”. This showcases his distrust for the veteran despite his friendliness. This distrust showcases the narrator’s lack of sympathy as he cannot see the veterans as heroes of war but rather as unstable maniacs. Furthermore, the distrust can also be evidence of the narrator’s sense of superiority over the other black people. It also proves the lack of brotherhood between the black community as they are unwilling to trust each other and are instead more willing to please the white people. P93 When the veteran talked casually with Mr. Norton, the narrator commented that he was “acting

toward the white man with a freedom which could only bring on trouble”. This serves as evidence of the discrepancy between the statuses of the black and white as black people do not even have freedom when addressing the white. Moreover, the narrator’s urge to tell Mr. Norton that the vet is crazy further showcases his priorities -- he wants to please the white man at any cost and is willing to put down his people to achieve his goal. P93 The veteran talked about how he thought his medical skills would bring him dignity, but instead, he got beat up for trying to save a man’s life. His experience seemed to resemble that of the narrator, who believes that education would elevate his status. However, the vet’s experience is proof that the narrator’s beliefs are false. P94 The veteran commented that the narrator is a “mechanical” man that takes information but does not understand it. This parallels Norton describing that the narrator is a “defective cog” if he fails. The veteran sees the truth behind the narrator’s behavior -- his attempts to please the white man are only rendering himself into something that is less than a human. P99 Upon returning to the college, the narrator commented that the “grey highway with its white dividing line” appeared hostile. This can be interpreted as a reflection of the narrator’s fear. He is afraid that he will end up on the other side of the dividing line after today’s events, hence they appear hostile to them. P100 When thinking back on the day’s events, the narrator’s eyes’ filled with tears, which distorted his sight and turned the campus into “a world of whiteness”. It’s interesting that as the narrator thinks about ways to please the white man to secure his position, the world turns white to him. It’s as if he subconsciously realizes that by serving the white man, he is making the world the white man’s world. P102 When the narrator told Dr. Bledsoe that he drove Mr. Norton where he wanted to go, he looked at the narrator as though he “suddenly told him black was white”. This can be reflective of how the narrator’s behaviors to please the white man are almost his attempts to become whiter (he is following the white man’s will). P102 Before seeing Mr. Norton, Dr. Bledsoe made his face into “a bland mask”. He puts on a mask before seeing Mr. Norton as if he is trying to play a role that is more to the white man’s liking. While talking to the narrator, however, the Doctor was not afraid to talk of deceiving the white

man. P103 The portrait of the founder above Mr. Norton was sad and in that instant, “profoundly disillusioned”. It was likely the narrator’s own feelings that made him interpret the portrait that way. He probably felt like he had disappointed the founder because he could not please the white man -- it is also possible that he subconsciously realizes he did not play into the founder’s vision for the college’s students. P106 The narrator was confused after the doctor told him that they only show the white man what they want to see. He recalled the doctor acting humbly and pondered why he betrayed his teachings for the black people to live content in their lives. P108 Even after everything he went through that day, the narrator was still eager to please Mr. Norton, wanting to serve him the rest of the week to “win back his esteem”. Although the narrator was confused by the doctor’s words, he is unconsciously taking advantage of Mr. Norton as well, seeing him as a tool for him to achieve success....