Invisible Man
Chapter 14
In this chapter the narrator first meets with the Brotherhood at the Chthonian Hotel. He is somewhat surprised, or maybe it’s just that he doesn’t know what to expect. At one point he says, “It was as though they hadn’t seen me.”
Why do they call each other “Brother”?
How do the Brotherhood convince the narrator to work for them? (Who’s keeping whom running here?)
Once again he is given a new name. Discuss.
This chapter has some foreshadowing that hints at a less-than-perfect match between the narrator and the Brotherhood….
Chapter 15
Perhaps the most important thing about this chapter is the image/symbol of the cast-iron Negro bank. Think about its significance, and notice these things, too:
-it is owned by Mary
-he has a hard time getting rid of it (even mentioning that the cops might be called)
-he does finally manage to put it somewhere (where?)
At one point, a lady tells the narrator, “I’m sick and tired of having you southern Negroes mess up things for the rest of us” (p.328). A little while later a man calls him a New York Negro (p. 330). Comment on this distinction. Notice that, as we have said, the race issue is quite a bit more complicated than black-vs-white. Is the narrator more a southern Negro or a New York Negro?
Chapter 16
Here the narrator makes his first professional speech for the Brotherhood. Notice the following interesting things (p. 334):
-the speech is given at a boxing ring (the site of a “crooked fight”)
-the boxer in the photo was “beaten blind”
-when the narrator begins to speak he is blinded by the spotlight
-his speech mentions blindness
Note also that the narrator tells us “I was becoming someone else.”
He gives what would seem to be a very successful speech. But many of the Brotherhood are not happy with it. Why not? Respond....
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well...see what happened was... i wrote a really great and in depth review of the bank in chapter 15 but the stupid internet wouldn't let me post it! therefore, i will explain it to you in person and post this complaint instead! this is exactly the reason we students should not blog you teachers!
ReplyDeleteChap.15: Personally, I don't think that he is either classification of Negro. The Southern Negroes seem to be viewed as rascals who disrespect the way of the Northeners, and who are of a lower class of Negroes and think that they can do as they please. Northern Negroes seem to be viewed as more high class beings of the race who have moved furhter away from their pasts in slavery however, they seem to be much more forward with their beliefs and they have drugs. The narrator doesn't fit in with either of these because he tries his hardest to please everyone, not himself, and he is still connected strongly to his past. At this point he hasn't participated in any gang relations and he doesn't take part in drug use or trade. He isn't high class, but he does all he can to provide for himself and stay out of poverty. For these reasons, the narrator is a class of Negro all on his own.
ReplyDeleteChap.16: I especially like the parralelism of the boxing rings. His first speech in one began his college career and his second began his "Brother" career. Then the fact that the poster showed a man that had been beaten to the point of blindess, portrays a forebording implication that the Brotherhood may not be quite as they seem. They may, in fact, not be for the black race at all, but instead to manipulate them into working for them, they will beat them with words until they can see nothing but what the Brotherhood shows them. The fact that the narrator is blinded during his speech, shows that the Brotherhood is pulling the veil over his eyes and hiding their true motives.
ReplyDeleteCh 14 Q1:
ReplyDeleteI think the simple use of "brother" terms is just to make the point that they are all "brothers" of the same (black) race. It distinguishes them in the fact that they wouldn't refer to the average white man as their "brother". I think it's purpose is to make the men within the bbrotherhood, and mainly newcomers such as the narrator, feel as if they are a part of a family. It gives him a sense of belonging, at least belonging to something. If he can't belong to himself or the city or anything/anywhere else, there is the idea that at least he can belong to this elite circle of his "brothers".
Ch 16 Q1:
ReplyDeleteI love all the correlations between this speech and earlier occurences in the novel. The boxing ring, as Brook mentioned, goes back to the earliest chapters when the narrator was just a boy in the scene of the fight within the boxing ring. The blindness is a relation to Homer Barbee's actual blindness and yet his awareness of the world and powerful speech. I like the idea of the narrator being "blinded by the spotlight". Spotlights are designed for the purpose of drawing attention to someone and to make them noticed. Mainly, it is to make the narrator VISIBLE! So, with all his claims of being an invisible, I love how he is "blinded" with being visible, as if he cannot see the meaning in all of it. The message of the boxer in the photo being beaten blind is perhaps a subliminal warning. I like the idea of how it sort of conveys the idea that, with the power a boxer possesses in the ring, there is always that high risk of being beaten at what you do best. Similarly, the narrator is beast at giving speeches and it's like he is in the boxing ring with his talent; he must face the possibility of not "winning" as the Brotherhood analyzes and criticizes his performance.
Ch 16 Q2:
ReplyDeleteI like the indications of how he made a great speech but they do not like it. Rather, it is not "acceptable" for them and i think in time the narrator will realize things must be done only a certain way for the Brotherhood. To me, it seems that this will end up driving him to rebel against the Brotherhood when he realizes that no matter what he does or how great of a speech he is able to produce, there will always be some backlash from the brothers. Who knows what effect this will have on him? It is said that the reason the Brotherhood doesn't like the speech is because it is not "scientifical". Instead it is too spontaneous. I find this ironic because the whole point of the brotherhood is to stand up for their cause. To do this, one motivation should most often be passion. With spontaneity there definitely is a wind of passion, so why doesn't the Brotherhood use this tactic? Instead, they opt for "scientifical" speech making, which seems to be the opposite of what they need. When something is planned ahead and rehearsed it leaves no room for realistic passion and the ability to build up excitement in the listeners/audience.
Chapter 14.
ReplyDeleteI think they call each other Brother because they are like brothers. Their group the "BROTHERhood" symoblizes their own family. They all act alike, think alike, and do everything together. In the BROTHERhood they have a unique bond and a type of protection plan. When the narrator arrives at the hotel he definitley had no idea what to expect. He was curious of how they could afford a place like that and anxious to say the least. I think he was just trying to digest it all without appearing dumb and disillusioned to the others.
Chapter 15.
I agree with Brook that he is of neither classification but disagree on the qualities of each type. I think the "Southern Negroes" are those who have actually had to work everyday of their lives to get anything. They have manners and are extrememly respectable individuals. Southern Negroes do not take much for granted and are very family oriented people. New York Negroes are the complete opposite. They are loud, rambuncious drunks. Since they all escaped their unsuccessful tries at philanthropy in the South, they have no family in the North and are very much alone. They think they are better than Southerners because they can get rich quick without being subservient to whites in the South. When in reality they are, it's just not as evident.
Chapter 16.
I agree with Brook & Sam. The BLINDNESS that re-occurs relates to several other things. For example, the reverend was blind, how beat up some guys got earlier in that first boxing match, and also how the narrator is blinded by the spotlight. There is a direct correlation to Booker T, the narrator, and the Brotherhood. What Brook is saying makes sense. The Brotherhood is not really what is seems. He has grown accustomed to them and their ways and he thinks so highly of them that he cannot see the organization for what it really represents. The narrator does give a wonderful "eye opening"(ha!) speech, but it is rejected by the Brotherhood's members. WHy? I think because in a way the narrator was coming into his own. He was speaking from the heart and his ideals and not saying what was expected from him. In doing this he upset the members. Oh well, they can get over it.
Ch14 Q2
ReplyDeleteThe Brotherhood's use of the word "Brother" is like the Bolsheviks and the communist use of the word "Comrade". Both are Marxist groups and use the word to create a sense of equality when in reality it is the complete opposite.
Ch14 Q3
ReplyDeleteThe Brotherhood convinces the narrator to work for them by convincing him they believe in equality and that he can help them moblize support in Harlem. Again the narrator is being used by the whites for selfish reasons and counter to what the residents of Harlem really needed.
Ch16 Q3
ReplyDeleteThe Brotherhood doesn't like the narrator's speech because they see it as a speech on race and the leaders of the Botherhood don't like to talk about race. While the support racial equality, they don't like talking about race. It looks like they are hiding their real beliefs on equality. I think they only what to use blacks for political reasons and don't care about their situation.
The narrator is having a very tough time fitting in. He is more educated then some of the other brothers but is still not treated the same way the white are. He is stuck in the middle like...what's the word?....A mohito? Haha. ANYWAYS...the blindness that the book refers to is very evident. The narrator seems to be confused on where he belongs. He gets so use to the way the brotherhood acts that he doesn't see their true character. The narrators speech is refeared to be eye opening but the brotherhood doesn't accept it...another thing leading up the blindness is the novel AND it shows that the narrator really isnt accepted.
ReplyDeleteSo, the "Brotherhood" are basically Communists, right?
ReplyDeleteRemember we read a little of "Black Boy" by Richard Wright? In that book (nonfiction), he goes to Chicago and joins up with a group of Communists, as well.
Chapter 14 Response:
ReplyDeleteThe BROTHERhood kind of bothers me. They claim to be just that, brothers. Near the beginning of the chapter, the narrator talks about the car he, jack, and the others are riding in, but last time he was talking about being in a car, he was driving it with Norton. The first sight of the brotherhood sort of reminds me of when the auto owners went to ask for the bail-out. They pulled up to a nice hotel, nicely dressed, in a nice car, and were trying to "help" people that were "dispossessed of their heritage".I think they're ridiculous. Brothers first of all do NOT act like they do, and if they do, you need to look into removing yourself from that family tree. This is also a moment in the book where the narrator receives yet another new name, it's as if everywhere he goes, his past wasn't good enough so he is altogether "reborn" to fit in.
Chapter 15 Response:
ReplyDeleteThe whole coin bank incident is very ironic. It's a black man, COME ON! You can't get much literal than that! To the narrator the bank was "a self-mocking" image. Apparently Mary had a different view on this or else she would not keep it around. I also find it ironic how the narrator describes the bank as "very dark" but he is referred to as "not dark enough" by Emma. Also the fact that he can't seem to get rid of his self-mockery is slightly comical. A woman tells him to get "the trash out of her can", just the fact that she chooses those words is ironic. A man also gives the narrator the pieces that he dropped. He can't seem to get away from the thing he hates so much.
Chapter 16 Response:
ReplyDeleteThis chapter is just overflowing with imagery.
1. The speech is given in a boxing ring.
-Ok, so wow. The first chapter was in a boxing ring and he was fighting a fight that could not be won, he's once again in a ring fighting a fight that can't be won.
2. The boxer in the photo was beaten blind.
-I don't think you can get anymore blut than this. The narrator is once again fighting and in the first chapter he complains about how his eye has "popped" maybe he was foreshadowing? This is just fantastic imagery.
3. This whole chapter is over flowing with blind references. He speaks of how he cannot see his audience...well ladies and gentlemen of the jury, NEITHER COULD BARBEE!!!
ch. 14:
ReplyDeleteOHMYGOD! so this brotherhood seems like a bunch of pretentious rich people filled with self-importance who think that just becuase they have money and went to college for some crap liberal arts degree that they are qualified to solve all the world's problems. And they feel like they can sympathize with the "common man's" problems. pppssshhawww!
They're communists. I can feel it. That's whats up with all the "brother" crap. (which is wayyyy creepy by the way)
And Brother Jack? He's the head crazy on that crazy train heading towards crazy commi town. That guy's like one "demonstration" away from bombing some office building. excuse me i mean "capitalist pig headquarters" =P
Chapter 14:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katy G! These guys are definately communists. They try and act like they are fighting for equality, but when the narrator gives a moving speach about blacks and whites they don't approve. I have a feeling that the narrator won't stay with these guys for too long. The fact that they give him a new name shows that they want to change him into someone that he isn't.
Chapter 15:
ReplyDeleteIt’s interesting that everyone wants to put the narrator in a certain category. Some see him as a southern negro and others call him a New York negro, but he doesn't fit into either group. I guess that people see southern blacks as a group of people that have to work hard and are submissive to white people. On the other hand, NY blacks are more independent individuals who feel that they have found equality, but they are actually just as controlled by the whites as the southern blacks.
Chapter 16:
ReplyDeleteThe brotherhood doesn’t like his speech because it moved the people. They claim that it should have been “scientific”, which I found weird because you would think that they would want the crowd of people to want to take action. I get the feeling that they really didn’t like his speech because it was about race. The brotherhood claims to be all about equality, but I think that they just want to brainwash the narrator. The fact that they criticized his speech was ironic because his graduation speech to the white townspeople was also criticized.
ch. 15:
ReplyDeleteI think that the "Negro bank" represents his past. Like his past, he tries extremely hard to get rid of it and just forget about it, but no matter what he does he can't manage to throw it away. He ends up putting the package in his briefcase that the white men gave him at the smoker- which is a whole bunch of irony all in itself.
Personally, I'd rather stick with a piggy bank. Little figures and statues like that creep me out..
ch.16:
ReplyDeleteThe many references to blindness in this chapter all sort of represent how the Brotherhood operates. They blind recruits with ideology and push it on them until they believe it. It you say something enough times it becomes true. This Brother Hambro that the narrator is being sent to is going to do just that, brainwash the narrator into believing the their "scientific facts" so that he will do their biding.
I think that the Brothers did not like his speech for valid reasons. It was all passion and no facts. Which is extremely effective at exciting people and getting them enthusiastic about a cause. But it is also effective at inciting a mob and the Brothers have a healthy fear of mobs and obviously have a better understanding of mob mentality than the narrator and maybe even Brother Jack. Although, Jack probably knows what could happen from speeches like that but doesn't care.
I kind of agree with Katherine and Heather about the Brotherhood being a communist group. The fact that they try to change him from who he is, giving him a new name, not liking his speech that came from his heart, makes me think they're a cult-like group. Calling everyone "brother" or "sister" is similar to the whole "comrade" thing in Russia. I don't like it at all because it actually makes them lose their individuality. Being that the narrator has felt so separated from his surroundings, it's not surprising to me that he jumps on the bandwagon when these "brothers" want him to join them. I just hope he figures out who they are before he completely changes who he is.
ReplyDeleteI think the Negro bank is a pretty awesome symbol in the novel. I mean first of all it looks like someone the narrator has tried not to be his entire life, a helpless little black man who does whatever he's told. Although he's been trying to escape this for his future, he's actually running to it because he keeps giving in to the people around him, especially the Brotherhood. The fact that he smashes it on the ground, yet the pieces are still there is pretty cool too. He tries to get rid of the bank, a.k.a. the image of Southern blacks, but he can't get rid of it and is even called out for trying to get rid of it. Also, the bank is full of coins that could be of great value. I think this could represent that the Southern blacks have more value than the whites will give them credit for, their good qualities are simply hiding beneath the surface.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator's speech is pretty strange. It takes place in an old boxing ring, which reminds me of the first speech he gave when he had to fight to be able to give it. The fact that his first speech and his first professional speech are given in similar environments seems like it's really important, but I guess I'm not really sure why. The blind boxer he sees in the picture kind of relates back to how he was blindfolded in the very first chapter of the novel. This boxer was "beaten blind" which seems to represent how difficult life was and still is for the blacks around the country. I think there is a strong focus on blindness in this chapter because the narrator is blinded by the people around him as to what is truly going on. He sees the Brotherhood as a well-paying job that allows him to give speeches, while truly they're trying to brainwash him into their beliefs. It seems like there's probably a bigger blindness that the text is refering to but I'm not exactly sure what it is. Maybe they're talking about how blacks are blind to how whites try to manipulate them or how whites are blind to how much they are truly like blacks. I'm not sure, but I know the blindness is very important to the novel.
ReplyDeleteChapter 14: The brotherhood seems to be an underground group that’s main purpose is to cause rebellions between the people and the government. They call each other brother because keeping their true identities would cause a risk of getting caught, or snitched on by other brothers. It also shows that they come together for a common cause…yet they don’t really know each other so how can their be trust? The narrator is given a new name, which shows that he truly doesn’t know who he is to become so he lets other people define him.
ReplyDeleteChapter 15: The narrator is caught between southern and northern Negroes. Even when it comes to race the narrator has no clear definitions and allows others to chose it for him. Just a few chapters ago though, the narrator decided that he was proud of his southern roots (the yams incident.) The narrator seems to constantly allow others to choose his identification. The narrator is slowly allowing himself to become an invisible man.
ReplyDeleteChapter 16: The setting in this scene is a boxing ring, the same place that the narrator gave his first speech at the beginning of the book. The narrator goes into the speech blind, not knowing what he’s going to talk about. But during the words seem to flow with him. Even though the brotherhood doesn’t like his speech, I believe that even after his lessons he will not be able to control what he says. He has a gift that comes from his heart, not his mind. During the speech the narrator talks about how he is becoming someone else, again we see the narrator’s identity changing and becoming something new. Who will he be in the end?
ReplyDeleteBy the Brotherhood changing the main character's name shows that the he doesn't have a true identity. This young man is still looking for himself. Also this bring in the part when he meets the Brotherhood he feels as if no one sees himn, which brings in the invisiblity thing again.
ReplyDeleteThe main character doesn't fit in either catergory of southern negro or New York Negro. This shows that the main character is kind of invisiblity and that people don't recognize his personality. Also it shows that the main character doesn't mix well with others and he is just a loner that refuses to join a group.
ReplyDeleteTHe fisrt speech that he did with the Brotherhood was in a boxing ring, which was liek the speech he did after highschool. Also the main character talks about blindeness in his speech during his very first speech he was very blind about what he was doing. Also I like what Jessica said,but I think eventually he will end lossing some of his identity. Through loosing his identity he will do what the Brotherhood want him to do.
ReplyDeleteok...i read most of the comments but skipped a few. so i believe these guys are commies and thats not because it said so on the back, thats my gut instinct. his recieving of a new name is his further loss of identity and the ability for him to lose himself and become invisible as who he really is.
ReplyDeleteThe first speech was given in a boxing ring and, like Big Momma B said, this is like the one in the very beginning. The image of blindness is reacurring throughout this part. The boxer was blinded in the dirty fight and he is blinded by the light(good song). This shows how things arent how they appear and he is blind to the truth
ReplyDeleterandom comment, but the hotel looks like a typo- chthalsdkj...close enough. but the use of the term "brother" makes them one massive group and deters individuality. Also, the brotherhood is taking him away from one of the best things he had goin for him and that was Mary. she was sweet and didnt expect anything from him.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if the Brotherhood gives him a new name because he is invisible with his old name. This is like an insult to the narrator, although he may not see it. They are acknowledging his invisibility by giving him a new name, a name they chose. Also, they are telling him where to live, what to read, and toward the end of chapter 16, what to say. Basically they are making who they want out of him using his color and eloquence to their benefit. What the narrator can't see is that the Brotherhood is out for itself and are almost taking advantage of him, all this beginning with a name change. I feel like soon the narrator won't even know who he is, which identity he is. He may feel like he is making a name for himself, but it is not His name, or the name he really wants when he is going by the rules and readings the Brotherhood gives him. They have the power to make him what they want, and aren't afraid to be cruel when they don't like his speech, like they act toward the end of chapter 16. I predict that this job will be nice for the narrator at first but will cause turmoil in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe boxing ring where the narrator makes his speech makes me think of his first speech from chapter one which was also in a boxing ring. That might be the place where the narrator first became "blind" to the way he acted around the white people, etc. That speech in the boxing ring began his speeches, but that speech gave into the blindness that time, and now, as he enters another boxing ring, he is preaching about blindness and it's evils. The other mentions of blindness during this chapter reinforces the different forms of blindness found in this novel, such as an individual's blindness against his own actions and prejudices or an indiviual's blindness to actions of others.
ReplyDeleteI think the narrator is caught somewhere between a southern and northern negro. It appears that he is confused about his identity, what he believes, and what he wants. This is just another representation of his blindness. Now the narrator has characteristics of a northern negro and a southern negro, feelings of conflicting beliefs (about obeying white people's wishes and revolting with power), and wants to be home and others to be in New York. I think a lot of the reason the people call the narrator "northern"or "southern" is because they see what they want to see in the narrator and other black people. I don't completely understand what the author is trying to convey with the racism in New York, but I personally believe that the racism revolves around opinionated stereotypes of people in general, not just black people, but also people below others on the social status. New York has such a variety of people, people who move from other places, immigrants, southerners, etc. Therefore a variety of opinions is expected, creating racism and resentment toward all people, but particularly black people on this situation. As for whether the narrator is more of a southern or northern negro, I think that he doesn't even know himself. Recently, he traveled back to the south with the incident about the yams, yet he is becoming a speaker about black rights, which would be dangerous to do in the south. The comment those two people made about the narrator being a northern and southern negro is a symbol of the narrator's lack of identity in the north and in the south.
ReplyDeleteOnce the narrator enters the brotherhood he is given a new name. This means a new identity which means a loss of his old and original identity. It seems like the brotherhood will be good for him because he can maybe make something of his self, but the fact that the brotherhood is changing everything about him does or sound like a good thing. I think that even though the brotherhood sounds good, this organization will lead to the narrator's further loss of identity.
ReplyDeleteI think that the two different people on the street telling the narrator what he was also contributes to his loss of identity. The narrator was born and came from the south, but he seems to fit in better in the north and things seem to be going way better for him there. I think he fits in better in the north and that he will do better in the north. But it almost seems like the black and white people up there are different races from the white and black people from the south. Its not just because the narrator is black that some people don't like him, it's because he's a southern black man. It's the same thing when the northern white man came down and spoke with the narrator in the beginning. The narrator didn't just feel wary because he was a white man but because he was a northern white man. The north is supposed to be a place where anyone can do anything no matter what their race but it seems like they can help the people of different races, but not from the south. Seems a little strange to me.
ReplyDeleteI find it ironic and a little funny where he ends up giving his speech because he gave his first speech at a boxing ring. But the brotherhood definitely isn't everything that is seems. I think the blindness that the narrator mentions a feels (even though he's literally blinded for a moment) shows that he's blind to what and who he's working for. I think the narrator has the potential to do great things but the brotherhood has other plans. They mention making the crowd do what they want them to do by telling them what to do in a way that they will like to hear. Why would they want to deceive their followers if their intentions were purely as good as they wanted people to believe?
ReplyDeleteI agree. The level of irony in this chapter was unreal. I think that the narrator wants rights for his people, and the Brotherhood wants something totally different. I think that the narrator is indeed blind to who he is working for. Note that the prizefighter died in a home for the blind. Who is to say that e narrator won't wind up somewhere, scared and alone, to die because of his "blindness.". I personally do not understand exactly why the Brotherhood disliked his speech. I'm concerned that they want the narrator to change his own beliefs. This would not be a surprise, considering they have already made him completely change who he is.
DeleteI think they call each other brother because they are all part of an organization which has secret plan that only the brothers know about.
ReplyDeleteThey ask the narrator if he would like to be the next Booker T. Washington. The Brotherhood is keeping the narrator running by convincing him to do their deeds.
The fact that he is given a new name just shows that the narrator is just being pushed around again.
The bank being owned by Mary is ironic because Mary is kind toward blacks.
ReplyDeleteThe bank represents what the narrator really is and he isn’t able to get rid of part of himself so he must accept this and live with it.
He puts it in his brief case which is ironic because the brief case represents his false image.
The narrator doesn’t seem to fit in either category of Negros because he isn’t exactly a southern negro who obeys his master and he isn’t exactly a northern negro who is more independent.
The fact that the speech is given at a boxing ring is ironic because the narrator first gave a speech at a boxing rink in chapter 1.
ReplyDeleteI think the references to blindness represent the idea that the narrator doesn’t see the truth behind his actions and he is blind to the brotherhood’s intentions.
The brotherhood doesn’t like that he showed so much emotion and didn’t follow the technical aspects of his speech. The brotherhood wants the narrator to follow their ideology and not to show emotion.
This brotherhood is very suspicious. It seems as if they are transforming the narrator out of his previous life without his consent. This is a dramatic change for the narrator. From being in poverty for a very long time then going to riches is very abnormal. They seem very skilled at manipulating people, which may foreshadow a potential mishap for the narrator. In all honesty, the brotherhood seems communist. They seek equality for all people's, not just blacks, whites, or women. I'm curious to see how this new association pans out for the narrator.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 15, the narrator seems to suffer more for not telling Mary about the broken coin bank. I believe that since he did not tell Mary about the coin bank, he was punished in another way. No matter how hard he tried to get rid of it, he could not. This may symbolize his guilt for what he did to Mary, taking from her and then winding up leaving without explaining himself. I agree with Victoria's comment that the reference to his being a New York Negro as well as a southern one reflects his new identity. Although southern born, he is characteristic of a New Yorker. Wraps this combination of attributes is what makes the narrator different from the other black men and woman in his society. That, with his intelligence, is what allows him to experience things and speak to people as he does. It also seems like the tension between the north and south from the Civil War still exists. The two forms of negro previously mentioned could mean that that tension is still there. This would prove that this novel is about more than just black and white.
ReplyDeleteOnce again the narrator is given a name. We still don't know his name, his old one or his new one. Which keeps up his "invisible" identity.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator is unable to get rid of the shattered bank. It's as if though he cannot get away from something such as his past, or racism. He puts it in the briefcase that the white people form his hometown gave him. The fact that he is rendered to both a southern negro and a New York negro shows that he doesn't yet have an identity.
ReplyDeleteThe place and circumstances of his speech are much more significant than the speech it's self. The fact that it was in a boxing ring is ironic because its a place where people fight and its kinda like the narroator is fighting. It even says he gets blinded because of the ligh that was shined on him at the his speech. Its like he was in the ring fighting instead of giving a speech. It contradicts the speech because giving a speech is peaceful and a boxing ring is violent.
ReplyDelete