Invisible Man Introduction Invisible Man, written in 1952 by Ralph Ellison, documents a young black man's struggle to find identity in an inequitable and manipulative society. During the course of this struggle, he learns many valuable lessons, both about society and himself, through his experiences. Short Plot/Character Analysis/Themes The story begins with the narrator recounting his memories of his grandfather. The most remarkable, and eventually the most haunting, of these is his memory of …showed first 75 words of 2368 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2368 total…sin. He contemplates severing his genitals with a knife, but doesn't have a knife nearby. When his wife finally discovers what he has done, she cuts his face with an ax. Other examples of graphic or disturbing scenes include Sophia trying to get the narrator to rape her, Jack removing his glass eyeball, and the narrator throwing a spear through Ras's jaw. Emerson is a true realist, never sparing any image, no matter how graphic.