Although, Invisible Man is set in the 1940's, a time of growth for black Americans, many people still held on to the old world beliefs of segregation from Huck Finn's time. Even Invisible Man (IM), who is a young Southern black man trying to better himself is shocked when an old war veteran talks to Mr. Norton, a college trustee in a manner that isn't submissive and reverential. "Men like us did not look at a man like Mr. Norton in that manner"(Invisible Man, 90). IM is a free man, he is no man's chattel, unlike Jim in Huckleberry Finn. Even so, he is still subjected to the cruel behavior of the upper and middle class whites of society in the Battle Royal. "There was nothing to do but what we were told," remarked IM when he was blindfolded and forced to fight for the pleasure of the white society (Invisible Man, 21). While being forced to fight he was

The Invisible Man is also blind to society in that he doesn't at first realize that there is a significant difference between blacks and whites. The Battle Royal is a kind of symbolism for his life because he is constantly trying to overcome his blindness and see people and society for who they truly are. Dr. Bledsoe, who is a kind of hero for IM is not at all what he seems, It is one of the many things that IM sees clearly for the first time. When he is being punished for taking Mr. Norton off the campus grounds to disreputable places on his command Bledsoe takes that as no excuse. He says, "You're black and living in the South-did you forget how to lie" (Huckleberry, 139). This is a clear example of the mistrust between the races. It also shows how unclearly IM viewed this man whom he thought was honorable.

After being kicked out of the college and IM goes to New York, he tries desperately to fit in with the Northerners by shedding his identity as a Southern man. For instance, when IM refuses a pork chop and grits special at a drugstore. "I'll have the orange juice, toast, and coffee," he replies wondering if everyone can tell he's Southern (Invisible, 178). It is much later in the novel when he finally comes to a reckoning with who he is and where he comes from. This new leaf is turned over when he goes to a street vendor where he orders yams and feels no embarrassment eating the southern treat in clear view of everyone on t

Some common words found in the essay are:
Huckleberry Finn, Battle Royal, IM IM, Southern Invisible, IM Southern, Finn Invisible, Sally Ferry, Miss Watson, Civil War, Huck Finn, huckleberry finn, huck finn, huckleberry finn set, finn set, invisible set, civil war, battle royal, nigger goes, white society, huckleberry 266, huck finn's,
Approximate Word count = 979
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)