Invisibility as a sign of hybridity in Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man

Abstract

This paper examines Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man through the lens of invisibility's multifaceted nature. The core question is whether invisibility serves as a tool for the narrator to conceal his past or forge a new identity. The analysis suggests that invisibility acts as a catalyst for both concealment and reinvention, functioning as a postcolonial strategy and an epistemological stance. By employing Homi Bhabha's concept of hybridization, the narrator resists marginalization and constructs a counter-narrative. Ellison disrupts clear-cut distinctions between oppressor and oppressed, highlighting the intricate interplay between the two. The protagonist's diasporic condition creates an impasse, characterized by an epistemological and postcolonial aporia –a fundamental uncertainty that extends beyond the postcolonial context. This impasse, the study argues, is a fundamental human condition. Ultimately, the protagonist's diasporic existence compels him on a quest to discover his authentic self and sense of belonging.

Keywords

• invisibilidad
• aporía
• diáspora
• hogar
• víctima/victor