The Symbolic Lens In Foster's The Invisible Man

Within the first paragraphs of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”, the narrator, or more commonly known as the “invisible man” (3), invites us into his past, bracing us for the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime he has survived. However, we as readers quickly grasp the literary lens outlined by Thomas Foster’s “How to Read Literature like a Professor” within the story, creating an in depth tale of an oppressed man’s troubled life, rather than shallowly glancing at his existence like a stale article in a local newspaper. Themes such as location and vision, whether symbolic or literal, play substantial roles throughout the entirety of “The Invisible Man”, returning us to specific chapters in Foster’s book focusing on the quest, the geography, and the true vision. While reading the

In Chapter 25, Foster suggests us not to “read with our eyes”, but with a different perspective, allowing us to comprehend the appropriate time period or and issues that fall within that period (Foster - 232). Although his advice is seemingly meant only towards the general novel, the circulating idea of using our eyes comes into play when we are introduced with an abundant amount of references to vision and seeing both figuratively and literally. Liberty Paints plant’s trademark color of “Optic White” is only the beginning of allusions towards sight. The narrator himself is “invisible” to those around him, living in a basement with 1,369 light bulbs (7), and although he is physically in existence, not a soul surrounding him seems to be able to see him. Lack of sight is also prominent in this story, as the narrator was blindfolded and humiliated, reverend Barbee is blind (181), and Jack from the Brotherhood is missing one eye (474). Together, this reveals to us that not only does the lack of vision complicate and insinuate conflict, but the curse of having the ability to see also generates