Ralph Ellison "Invisible Man" Page 2298

In this story of the invisible man the character takes great pride in what he has accomplished in falling off the grid. He has managed to secure an abode without a specific address but has also successfully managed to draw utilities from what he perceives to be a white establishment. He is so pleased with his pirating of energy that he makes every attempt to increase his consumption by putting a ridiculous amount of light bulbs in an otherwise dark and dreary cave. Additionally the character has fallen from society’s grid. He seems to have no known associates and no occupation. Truly he has become an insignificant member of the social structure so far as perpetual contribution is concerned.

The invisible man identifies himself as the vehicle of his grandfathers legacy. In his dying hours his grandfather expressed deep regret for having conformed to the demands of the white society. The invisible man viewed any success or praise from the society as evidence that he too was falling victim of the system as his grandfather had done so many years before. When he graduated from high school and went through such dehumanizing events as being forced to fight those with whom he had no quarrel, and being tantalized by a white goddess he could never have under the societal norm, he farther realized the wisdom of his dying grandfather. The honor of giving the speech and receiving the offer of scholarship at a black university were the praises of the establishment. The juxtaposition of the honor of the speech coupled with his beaten and bloodied condition furthered the budding of invisibility that was growing within him. The realization of the mockery that was made of his accomplishments resonated in him like the countless “atta-boy’s” that his grandfather must have received from days of hard work in his backbreaking background as a slave. As my own father has told me a thousand times, “Morgan, It don’t matter if you collect 10,000 atta-boys, it only takes one awe shit to get you in trouble.” No matter how significant the achievements the invisible man realized, he would never be on equal standing with the establishment. He decided to cease playing the game. By falling off of the grid he did sacrifice the ability to gain approval of those in control, but he also allowed himself the freedom to exist without their scrutiny. His invisibility could have been referred to as insignificance by the power company.