The Bird Motif in Invisible Man Essay -- Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

In Ralph Ellisons novel, Invisible Man, the narrator must go by dint of a journey of self discovery. He does not identify himself with the black people, nor is he a embark on of the whiten culture. Throughout the novel, Ellison uses the bird motif strain the personalities of the groups that he is describing. In his humble beginnings the narrators greatest desire is to achieve the power that would earn him respect from all races of people. He attempts to achieve this by adapting white ideals and adopting white customs. With the opportunity of going to New York, the narrators future is open to many possibilities. Mans hope can paint a purple picture, can transform a lift vulture into a noble eagle or a moaning dove(126). The narrator can either succeed at being powerful and influential or he can be one of the persons who talks too much, but shows no action. He does not want to be a part of the masses of black people that do not know what it is that they really want. They want to be happy, but do not know how to achieve this happiness. Ellison a good deal compares birds to black...