I'm reading Invisible Man, just like many of you. A while back in the first chapter, there was a section which stood out to me and made me think. Here, the narrator speaks of his grandfather, who on his death bed told him, "I have been a traitor all my days," and when speaking about the whites said "overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, agree 'em to death and destruction." The narrator reports that this is a huge difference from the point of view and character they believed this man had. I believe the grandfathers reasoning and intent was strange, but sound. I think that the white people of that time actually expected the blacks to act more unsophisticated, even animalistic, compared to themselves. The grandfather did what they (the whites) proclaimed to want, which was being black and acting happy with his lot in life and acting civily. However, the grandfather knew that deep down the whites' actual desires were different, even if they didnt know it themselves. He beleieved they wanted the blacks to act poorly so that they could have a large group of people to look down upon (humans are selfish in nature). So, the grandfather acted how the whites proclaimed they wanted him to act, not because he was trying to be good, but because he was completely rebellious, wanting to undermine them in a new form of rebellion.
-Chad
Hey Chad!
ReplyDeleteI think your post brings up an interesting topic-rebellion. Although I am reading Native Son, I was able to connect your post about black vs. white rebellions to Native Son. In the very end when Bigger is in prison waiting to go to court, a white mob stood outside the prison yelling for Bigger to be sentenced to death. After reading Native Son,I have become more aware to the different types of rebellions in our world (based on gender, race, etc.). After I read that section of Native Son, I immediately thought of the rebellions going on in Egypt, Libya and other Middle Eastern countries. I thought it was a good connection between what life was like during the time Native Son took place and now.
-Shelby F.
Wow, this thought seems like it would come easily when reading Invisible Man, but I honestly never really thought of it like you did. I completely agree with you on how the grandfather came to that conclusion due to the fact that the whites wanted them to act poorly, and if they would "agree 'em to death and destruction," they would have a much more successful rebellion, because they would be totally undermining the system. However, this form of rebellion would be the hardest and longest to complete, for it is difficult to get people to willingly be treated like crap, and on top of that, to have the patience to keep on putting up with maltreatment. Good analysis!!
ReplyDeleteDaniel Hawkins
Thanks :)You make a good point though Danny, that it would be very difficult for them to endure their own rebellion. It would be undermining the system as you said, which would ultimately be of more benefit to them, but would come at a greater cost. It would be very difficult to endure everything as an African-American during that time period. Rebellion though is a fairly interesting topic to me. as You were saying Shelby it can directly be related to things happening around us right now such as those issues in the middle east, and it is one of the most important aspects i believe in both of the novels we are studying (though i haven't read Native Son, only heard about it)
ReplyDeleteChad L.
For me, what the grandfather told him was part out of shame that he's lived his whole life complying to white men's expectation of him to "stay and know their place". So the narrator felt somehow guilty inside when he got accepted to the university because he knew that his grandfather told him not to comply to the society where white people "keep them running". However, your idea does provide a new perspective to the grandfather's quote and how it relates to the book, and it's always interesting to get a new point of veiw!
ReplyDeleteChloe K.
Though I did not read Invisible Man, I have to say that your logic makes complete sense. The grandfather that you described actually reminds me of Jim from the novel Huckleberry Finn. In the book he is the same way--he appears and acts stupid because that is how white people expect him to act. However, during certain situations Jim offers insight and speaks with a profound intelligence that suggests that he is most likely not as dumb as he looks. The grandfather character seems the same way--wearing a mask of unintelligence while being smarter than they appear.
ReplyDelete-Rebekah Adeyemo
Hey Chad!
ReplyDeleteI read invisible man as well and this quote was a difficult one for me to understand. I agree with the insight you're taking on it and i like the explanation you gave for it. This quote haunted the narrator throughout his life and he wasn't able to understand it until the end of the book. Maybe he would've been able to avoid so many problems if he would've seen the point of view that you have.
-Heidy G
Although I read Native Son instead of Invisible Man, I can definitely see a resemblance in the way that white people treat blacks in both novels. However, there is also an apparent difference in the depth of the books. Native Son only scratches the surface; it shows the injustice of the whites to the blacks, and shows Bigger's reaction against it. However, in Invisible Man, it seemed that there were much more sophisticated means of rebellion, such as that of the aforementioned grandfather.
ReplyDeleteByron C.
I love your analysis. I didn't look as deeply into the quote while reading the novel, but this idea adds a lot to the message of the novel. I love the paradox of a peaceful rebellion. The fact that many African Americans of the time educated themselves, thus countering the stereotype, really empowered the rebellion.
ReplyDeleteVanessa S.