The novel deftly talks about certain social issues predominantly reigning during those times. Thus, this paper will discuss about the racial oppression and exploitation during the 50's that led to a struggle with identity and acceptance of the Black culture. Society has often dictated identities. It keeps mankind within its circle, let them be acquainted with its stark lines, and warn them not to cross them. It has kept mankind boxed in its "possibilities", undermining their potentials, all the while letting it define the entirety of their individuality. Society has led individuals to be confused of the roles and identity it assigns to them. To support this claim, Ralph Ellison, the author, described the protagonist of the novel as a man wrought invisible by the people around him. The novel has the title "Invisible Man" for the exact same purpose in which it represents. It does not mean of a biological mishap or a science experiment gone array but it means that there are certain sociological and cultural biases present in our society that makes us render an individual, worthless and insignificant. This is the sentiment of the protagonist in the novel, in which he narrates: "I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids-and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me." (p.3) All throughout the novel, it is very interesting to note that Ellison has never mentioned the protagonist's name, but instead the readers are guided by the narrative and informed that he is given a new name as the plot develops, and intriguingly, the protagonist adapts to each of the name that was given to him. When Mr. Norton refers to him, "as part of my fate" and by the end of the chapter we see him very enthusiastic about answering Mr.
