The Analysis of the Protagonist’s Pursuit of Self-identity in Invisible Man

◆Abstract：In Invisible Man，the protagonist identity is distorted，which was formed by the his education and fathers misleading image.Although he lost his identity，he tried his best to pursue his self-identity in the white dominated society.

◆Key Words：Invisible Man;Self-identity;Black man

1 The Analysis of the Protagonists Pursuit of Self-identity

1.1 Distorted Self-identity

When the protagonist wanted to pursue his self-identity，he had a distorted self-identity which was shaped by his education and wrong father image.

1.1.1 The Protagonists Education

When the protagonist was young，he was taught to regard Booker T.Washington as his idol，and believe American dream.This dream did not benefit him except to paralyze him.Before he was awoken，this dream kept him in a blindfolded disadvantage.Moreover，he was harmed by the college education.No one dared to expose social reality to students.At the same time，those in power tried their best to control students，to reshape their values.

The protagonist was like other students in this environment，and he was deeply controlled and misled as well as lost his personality.

1.1.2 Fathers Misleading Image

In the process of exploring the protagonists self-identity，it is sad that the people of the same nation can not see their identity （Han Xiu，153）.One of the representative was Principal Bredsoe.He was a so-called “great educationalist and leader”，and he gained the blacks trust and respect.When the protagonist went to the college，he decided to follow Pincipal Bredsoes step.

However，the protagonist did not know Bledsoes evil and hypocritical nature.Bledsoe sacrificed other blacks for his own sake.In order to preserve his position，he would like to let all the black people in the country hang in the same tree.Bledsoe was a false fathers image，so the protagonist lost his direction，gained false self-image.

1.2 Self-identity Pursuit

After a series of difficulties and hardships when pursuing self-identity，the protagonist gradually realized the importance of pursuit of self-identity in white-dominated society.

1.2.1 Loss of Self-identity

From the protagonists point of view，the way in which he shaped himself was the same as that of other black people.They all lived according to the value of the white.

After the protagonist was deceived by seven letters of the Principal Bledsoe，he found a job mixing paint in the paint factory.However，he was often criticized by the black boss.Whats more，when he was sent to the basement of the factory，Brockway told him that the black people were real machine.As for the black themselves，they had to live in the industrial society governed by the white people.Loss of identity is an inevitable phenomenon（Tao Yongju，220）

1.2.2 Pursuit of Self-identity

In the process of pursuing self-identity，it was very meaningful for the protagonist to join the Brotherhood.The protagonist believed that he gained the freedom of identity.However，his hard work did not get respect by the members in Brotherhood.On the contraty，he was against by them.Finally，he realized that he was just a chess piece in Brotherhood.

In one escape，he disguised himself，but was mistaken for Reinhardt.It was this experience that made the protagonist actually began to think about his lost-identity.Failure made by him serves as another piece of evidence to show that no one could change his past （Du Juan ，156）.

2 Conclusion

Invisible Man is a classic novel concerned with the situation of black Americans and the pursuit of their self-identity.

Ralph Ellison attempted to reveal the importance of the identity.The novel warned people that only people face up to their culture and history，can they face up to themselves，respect themselves，realize the value and significance of their own survival as well.

Reference

[1]Du Juan.“A Man Who Cannot See Himself：Invisibility Caused by The Protagonists Weakness in Invisible Man[J].”Overseas English，2014：153-160.

[2]Han Xiu.“Individual Identity and Collective Identity in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man[J].”Overseas English，2015：153-155.

[3]Tao YongJu.“Identity in Invisible man-from the clue of words by grandfather[J].”Overseas English，2014：210-211.

作者簡介

趙萌（1996—），女，寧夏人，寧夏大學本科生。