Invisible Man: Chapters 6-9 Reading Questions

Chapter 6

1.     What shocking aspects of Bledsoe’s character are revealed to the narrator?

He doesn’t care about anyone else. He believes that he knows more than the white donors. He tries to suggest to the narrator that he controls the white people. He tells the narrator, “The only way to please a white man is tell him a lie!”

2.     What specific statements does Bledsoe make that show his concern is for himself rather than for the school or for the advancement of other Blacks?

"Tell anyone you like," he said. "I don't care. I wouldn't raise my little finger to stop you. Because I don't owe anyone a thing, son. Who, Negroes? Negroes don't control this school or much of anything else -- haven't you learned even that?” (p. 111)

3.     Read the last paragraph on p. 146 beginning “How did I come to this?” What do you make of the paragraph in terms of the narrator’s struggle to find his identity?

This shows the narrator’s confusion between right and wrong. He thought he was doing good and what he was expected to do. Therefore this causes him to be unsure if he is good…if he is being a traitor?

Section 3 Invisible Man Chapters 7-15

Chapter 7

1.     Who does the narrator meet on the bus to New York? Why does the encounter make him uncomfortable?

He meets Mr. Crenshaw and the Vet.  The encounter made him uncomfortable because he was trying to forget about the terrible problem he just faced and according to the narrator, it was all because of the Vet. They were the only three passengers and he wanted to get away from the Vet.

2. On p. 152, the narrator is told New York is “not a place, it’s a dream.” Interpret this statement.

I’m guessing that by this, the Vet means that New York is a place where you can have fun and have freedom and so much that it seems like a dream. Similar to the U.S., most of the reasons why immigrants come to this country are because they seek for protection and freedom. They seek to obtain the “American Dream”

3. How does the fate of the vet parallel the fate of the narrator? Think of how both are controlled.

The fate of both the vet and the narrator are parallel because they both depend on men, they are held to other men of power. These men are both controlled because they were both sent away and they obeyed and they are holding on to what they believe is going to take them somewhere better just because men of higher power gave it to them. For example, the narrator is so excited because he believes that the recommendation letters will take him far.

4. Reread the final paragraph on p. 153 What do you make of the vet’s advice?

I believe that the Vet is a slight more intelligent foil of the narrator. The Vet tells the narrator to use his “invisibility” as an advantage and to not trust people. The vet could also be compared to Bledsoe, except that he actually does want to help the narrator and give him advice.

5. On p. 155, the vet says, “there’s always an element of crime in freedom.” What does this statement mean to you? Do you agree or disagree?

This statement to me means that there is always something bad you have to do in order to obtain freedom. Which I believe that to a certain extent that is true, especially when talking about extreme circumstances when crime should be okay. For example, in a kidnap sometimes the victim is forced to do whatever to get out of the kidnappers nest, even if it means to kill. Another example could be slavery. Blacks had to run away so that they could be free but back then a run-away slave was a crime.

6. Describe the narrator’s encounter with Ras.

   The narrator heard Ras protesting in the streets about white people and the narrator was very surprised that he could do that. He say that people ignored him but he was free to say what he wanted.

Chapter 8

1.     In the first six chapters, the narrator’s identity is defined by the scholarship. Now the letters defines it. Describe them.

2.     Notice the narrator’s decision to get a watch. How does fit with his new identity. Look for other images to watches and time.

The watch serves as a big part of the narrator’s new identity by bringing structure to his life. He now has certain times he does things. For example, in the mornings he deals with his business things (“for important men”) and in the afternoon he goes and enjoys himself in the city. The narrator recalls Bledsoe having a watch (him recalling Bledsoe shows the admiration he still has for him).

3.     How does the narrator deny his Southern heritage? Why does he do this?

He denies his heritage by changing the way he speaks/ his accent/ his vocabulary. He does this because since this is a new identity he has to be a whole different person and he wants to seem like an educated person like those from the North. He wants to blend in as much as possible.

4.     Why do you think the narrator dreams of his grandfather?

I think he dreams of his grandfather because of what his grandfather told him about being a traitor. He isn’t going by what his grandfather told him. His conscience won’t leave him alone not even in his dreams.

Chapter 9

1.     How does Peter Wheatstraw (with plans) make the narrator homesick?

Peter planned to sing a song that reminded him of the campus.

2.     What is the symbolism of Wheatstraw’s blueprints?

The symbolism of the blueprints could be the planning of a new brighter future. Blueprints are used for planning new designs with precise measurements and etc.

3.     How does the narrator continue to deny his Southern heritage?

He resists not eating the food at the store and it was an accomplishment for him because he could actually resist those custom southern foods.

4.     Look at the details from Emerson’s office.

He has a lot of different things in his office that are from different parts in the world. His office is colorful and it’s very peaceful. He has a lot of nice furniture.

5.     Why does Emerson keep referring to Huck Finn?

 He keeps referring to Huck Finn because he relates to the story.  Jim is a black slave and Huck Finn is white. Huck Finn tries to help Jim but they actually keep going down into a more racist area. In this case, Emerson is a white man who is trying to help the narrator.

6.     Walt Whitman wrote a series of homoerotic poems called the Calamus poems. Can you make any inferences about young Emerson from his reference to the Calamus Club?

 I believe he is trying to show his homosexuality by his reference to the Calamus Club. We can also infer his homosexuality by his body language. In the book he looks at the narrator up and down in a weird way.

7.     Why might young Emerson identify with the narrator and Blacks in general?

Emerson’s sexuality was not acceptable in those days and therefore he relates to the Blacks because they are seen as less just like people who expressed their sexuality.