Invisible Man Essay: Ellisons Influences and Inspirations

Ellisons Influences and Inspirations for Invisible military man All authors draw upon past experiences, people they have known, shoot fors they have been, as well as their own philosophy of life to write. Ralph Ellison, in his bear Shadow and Act refers to this process when he writes, The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike (xix). In preparing to write his novel he notes that, details of old photographs and rhymes and riddles and childrens games, church services and college ceremonies, working jokes and political activities observed during my prewar long time in Harlem- all in all fell into place (xxvii). While the novel Invisible Man is not autobiographical, the plot, settings, characters, themes, and point of vox populi show the influence of people, places, and stories from his childhood. A case in point is the plot of Invisible Man. The plot is divided into three main divisions Invisible Mans civiliz e days, his involvement with the Brotherhood, and what happens to him during the Harlem race riot. Ellison draws heavily on his years spent at the Tuskeegee Institute for the first part of the novel. Jack Bishop, in his book Ralph Ellison maintains that all of Invisible Mans college days are based on Ellisons own days at Tuskeegee (45). Most critics agree that the Brotherhood is a euphemism for the commie political party which was active in the US from the beginning of the 1920s. In an article empower Communist Party of the United States in the Encyclopedia of African-American goal and History, Robin D. G. Kelly reports that the popularity of the party among Blacks was due to its work to end racism and its sustain of Blac... ...lph. Invisible Man. New York The Modern Library, 1994. ---. Shadow and Act. New York Vintage Books, 1972. Fabre, Michael. Wright Richard. cyclopaedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed. Hill, Robert A. Garvey, Marcus Mosiah. encyclop edia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed. Kelly, Robin D.G. Communist Party of the United States. Encyclopaedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed. Lawler, Mary. Marcus Garvey. New York Chelsea dwelling Publishers, 1988. OMeally, Robert G. Ellison, Ralph. Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed. Smock, Raymond W. Washington,Booker Taliaferro. Encyclopaedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed. Tate, Gayle T. Harlem Riots of 1935 and 1943. Encyclopaedia of African-American Culture and History. 1996 ed.