Invisible Man Chapter 2 Reading Questions

1. How does the statue of the founder fit into the sight imagery begun in the Prologue?

The narrator describes the statue with fascination. The statue is a bronze depiction of the black

founder of the college. It is cold and paternal with empty eyes. The idea of empty eyes coincides 

with the idea of blindness and not being able to take note of ones invisibility. The following

quote "whether I am witnessing a revelation or a more efficient blinding," also calls into play 

the idea of blindness and invisibility. The statue also function to highlight the backdrop of 

slavery and segregation and that men were in power over social and educational systems. 

2. Look at the “Maxims of Emerson” handout. Are Norton’s comments ironic? Why or why

not?

Don't have this handout??? 

3. Notice that Norton smokes a cigar. Does this connect him to other men of power? Who?

Yes, it draws a connection to chapter 1 where all the important lawyers and bankers were

smoking.  It connects with the founders as well. 

4. Do you sense anything unnatural about Norton’s relationship with his daughter? On p.

51.

Yes, he almost describes her in a sexual way stating that "to look upon her was to drink and

drink and drink again." There is some odd reason of why she is the source of his philanthropy. 

5. Norton seems amazed that Trueblood has “looked upon chaos and [is] not destroyed.”

What do you make of this comment?

It's almost like Norton is shocked that nothing happened to Trueblood. He is interested because

he possibly shared the same feelings toward his daughter, but did not act upon them because he

was scared of the consequences both inner and outer that he would face. 

6. How might the clock in Trueblood’s dream symbolize the modern mechanized world?

That the only escape of oppression is through the approval of whites and following their rules. 

7. Do you find any symbolism in Trueblood’s name?

Yes. Trueblood's blood is not longer true/pure because he has sinned. It is also symbolic
because to the white man his blood wouldn't be true because he is African-American. 

8. Did you find the incest story disturbing? Why does Ellison include it?

Yes. Ellison includes it to draw on the point that these sinful acts/thoughts not only occur in 
African-American society, but it a White society as well. The only difference he is the burden of 
the acts fall on black shoulders. This may also be included to explore the way
black stereotypes are used to physically and socially emasculate the black man. 

9. Read the final paragraph on p. 67 that begins “Things got to happenin’ right off.” What

do you make of the White community’s willingness to help Trueblood? How does this

relate to the grandfather’s deathbed speech?

I think their actions were selfishly motivated. Trueblood just amplified the inferiority they felt

towards  blacks and his story was just another way to keep them down. This explains why the 

blacks would want to kick him out. This relates to the grandfather's speech that you must stand

up to the oppressors not fall in line with what they say.