In the society which the Invisible Man lived, he had to deal with people who were racist, who hated him just because of his skin color. He, like other African Americans were looked down upon and unaccepted. However, he was very influenced by the people around him and what they were telling him. There was one man, Dr. Bledsoe, who did have the respect of others, though only through fear. He seemed to play a role in the Invisible Man’s quest to seek an identity by saying, “Power do

Another person who influences his rebirth is a man who was in the brotherhood, named Clifton. Clifton was betrayed by the Brotherhood and is found selling puppets. These puppets are symbolic of society trying to control you like a puppet. They decide your every move and dangle you by a string which they control the actions of. Clifton left the brotherhood because they were no different from the society they claim to rebel against. In fighting for what he believes in, he is shot and made into a martyr. The Invisible Man sees that Clifton has sacrificed his life for his beliefs, and has a lot of respect for that. “Only after his showdown with the Brotherhood, and even then incompletely, does the hero become aware that he has been performing all along as if he were, in life size, the dancing puppet” (Baumbauch 24).

The Invisible Man’s grandfather also plays a large role in how he has accepted life’s tragedies and given him expectations for disappointment. His grandfather tells him, “I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction, let ‘em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open” (Ellison 16). This is saying to basically allow others to do what they want and eventually life will bring about some nice circumstances on the way. For a while, he follows the advice of his grandfather, but then he realizes that this only worsens the situation. He is “absorbing the conqueror in order to keep one’s own identity” (Reilly 81). He needs to rise above the bitterness he feels towards the society which has been so cruel in order to bring justice. He does this through the Brotherhood by making speeches for African Americans and other groups not given equality.

The character which probably has the largest effect on the Invisible Man’s life and leads him towards his rebirth is Mary Rambo. Her name in itself, suggests that it is

identity” (Reilly 85). From there, he falls into a manhole and is unable to escape. He burns the papers of his past, symbolic of leaving his past in living this new life. “His victimization transcended, his guilt perhaps purged, his soul redeemed” (Baumbach 26). After he rids of his painful past memories, he feels that he needs light. As Christ said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follo

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