https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq en-us 2017-10-23 19:15:26 UTC 2025-11-25 14:25:59 UTC hello@padlet.com madisonr19109 https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199755727 The IM is constantly being immersed in a world of black invisibility. During the beginning of the book, he goes to a school where he is taught to submit to it.

“The cold Father symbol, his hands outstretched in the breathtaking gesture of lifting a veil that flutters in hard, metallic folds above a face of a kneeling slave; and I am standing puzzled, unable to decide whether the veil i s really being lifted, or lowered more firmly in place; whether I am witnessing a revelation or a more efficient blinding” (36).

This is one of the first examples of vision affecting the IM. He recognizes this invisibility, yet continues to ignore it and work towards the happiness and goals of the white leaders.

]]> 2017-10-23 19:18:24 UTC https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199755727 madisonr19109 https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199771718 The motif of vision is consistently brought up throughout the novel. The IM starts by learning to welcome obedience and invisibility but grows out of that through the Brotherhood and becomes more irritated. This effort becomes discouraging and he eventually ends up back in a place of acceptance.]]> 2017-10-23 20:08:30 UTC https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199771718 madisonr19109 https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199795469 As the book continues on, the IM becomes increasingly aggravated at his invisibility and how society feeds this fire.

“‘Up to now we’ve been like a couple of one-eyed men walking down opposite sides of the street. Someone starts throwing bricks and we start blaming each other and fighting amongst ourselves. But we’re mistaken! Because there’s a third party present….He’s doing the damage! He claims he needs the space-he calls it his freedom’” (344).

He believes that the people are missing the point. As they fight each other instead of working together, the white men benefit. The IM desperately tries to get everyone to understand that there is a different enemy. Someone that is not the Brotherhood is preventing freedom.]]> 2017-10-23 21:53:18 UTC https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199795469 madisonr19109 https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199799257 Finally, in one of the last awakenings for the IM, he comes to an understanding that the Brotherhood is not all that he had hoped for. 

“I was simply a material, a natural resource to be used. I had switched the arrogant absurdity of Norton and Emerson to that of Jack and the Brotherhood, and it all came out the same-except now I recognized my invisibility” (508).

The motif of vision comes to play in this chapter very frequently whether it's the IM giving his speech or reading the words of Rinehart. His focus on invisibility has reached back to the point of acceptance. As he tries to fight the Brotherhood, he realizes they do not stand for what he thought they did and falls into invisibility. ]]> 2017-10-23 22:22:38 UTC https://padlet.com/madisonr19109/p7nit30mmegq/wish/199799257