The Ugliness Of Racism In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

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Writers are gifted with the ability to see things from a different viewpoint. What may seem like pure madness and craziness to someone may totally be interpreted differently through a writer 's angle. They could often write in order to express their point of view: especially one that may not be accepted in their society. Emily Dickinson clearly shows her perception on maddness by stating it must be seen with a “discerning Eye.” As an African American, Ralph Ellison, the author of Invisible Man, experienced the ugliness of racism. These two authors both compliment each other with their viewpoints with madness. Because the characters, such as the war veterans, the protagonist and Mr. Norton, in Invisible Man may seem mad to some they play an …show more content…

These men who fought in World War I previously had respectable jobs as “doctors, lawyers teachers, [and] Civil Service workers” but now were seen as “nutty” men (74). The loud and obnoxious veterans in the Golden Day seem completely mad in the narrator’s eyes but his disillusion and misconception of their madness is revealed to have some truth. The school boy does not “grasp” the real reason for their actions (74). When they fought in France they experienced true equality between whites and blacks. However, when they returned to the United States they were shocked at the abundance of racism. Overtime they became invisible in the racist society which lead to their insanity. The Golden Day is an outlet for the veterans to speak their mind and it shows the main character what the real world is like. One of the veterans who helps out Mr. Norton expresses his story and it comes as a complete blatant shock to the narrator and Mr. Norton. He tauntes them for their beliefs regarding races relations. The communication between races is long gone and the lead character “understands the vet’s words but not what they conveyed,” which makes the vet upset (92). As he keeps talking, he becomes more and more agitated when the two characters do not comprehend what he is trying to say. The school boy keeps his innocence regarding the reality of racism, still sees everything around him as complete madness and does not see the trueness in the vets

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