Invisible Man is a novel by Ralph Ellison, published in 1952. The novel follows the journey of an unnamed protagonist, a young African American man, as he navigates the complexities of race, identity, and society in the United States.
The novel begins with the narrator being kicked out of his college and being offered a job as the leader of a local chapter of a black fraternity. However, he quickly realizes that the fraternity is more interested in using him for their own gain rather than actually helping the black community. This leads him to leave the fraternity and become a member of a group called the Brotherhood, a group dedicated to fighting for civil rights and equality.
As the narrator becomes more involved with the Brotherhood, he begins to see the ways in which they use and manipulate him for their own purposes, just as the fraternity did. He also realizes that the Brotherhood is not as interested in helping the black community as they claim to be, and that they are more concerned with gaining power and influence.
Despite this, the narrator continues to work for the Brotherhood, believing that he is making a difference and that he is helping to bring about positive change. However, he eventually becomes disillusioned with the organization and decides to leave, feeling that he has been used and that he has lost his own sense of identity in the process.
Throughout the novel, the narrator struggles to find his place in a society that often sees him as invisible and unworthy of recognition or respect. He grapples with the complexities of race and identity, and the ways in which society tries to define and control him. In the end, he comes to the realization that he must forge his own path and create his own identity, rather than letting others define him.
Invisible Man is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of identity, race, and society in a raw and honest way. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the experiences of African Americans in the United States, and the ongoing struggles for equality and justice.