unidentified, anonymous narrator of Ralph Ellison's acclaimed novel Invisible Man.

Throughout the story, the narrator embarks on a mental and physical journey to seek

what the narrator believes is "true identity," a belief quite mistaken, for he, although

unaware of it, had already been inhabiting true identities all along.

The narrator's life is filled with constant eruptions of mental traumas. The biggest

psychological burden he has is his identity, or rather his misidentity. He feels "wearing

on the nerves" (Ellison 3) for people to see him as what they like to believe he is and

not see him as what he really is. Throughout his life, he takes on several different

identities and none, he thinks, adequately represents his true self, until his final one, as

The narrator thinks the many identities he possesses does not reflect himself, but he

fails to recognize that identity is simply a mirror that reflects the surrounding and the

person who looks into it. It is only in this reflection of the immediate surrounding can

the viewers relate the narrator's identity to. The viewers see only the

fierce, bald, very dark Negro" (Griffon 191). But unlike the narrator who rejects reality

an identity change in the same human being. A name V or rather call it identity - is

is transitional yet he does not accept it himself. Maybe he thought it distressing being

like how he is perceived; it is still a unique identity of his very being, and that identity

fame, but it is not right he thought, for he is recognized only for his false identity; his

attention. He wants recognition and status, and wants to be honored as someone

The narrator can believe himself to be whatever he wants. But what he sees of himself

Some common words found in the essay are:
Negro Griffon, American Mind, Jack Tobitt, Invisible Throughout, Allan Bloom, Dr Bledsoe, Lucius Brockway, South Probably, Lucius Brockway's, Howard Griffin, closing american, american mind, ed york, identity identity, closing american mind, bloom 113, finally found true, seen social, stereotype identity, john howard, griffon 161, mirror reflects, proper reflection importance,
Approximate Word count = 2332
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)