Construction Of Identity In A Challenging World: Novels

Construction Of Identity In A Challenging Worldthe Novelsinvisible Ma

Construction of Identity in a Challenging World The novels, Invisible Man, written by the famous literary artist, Ralph Ellison, and Go Tell it on the Mountain, by the stalwart author James Baldwin, can be described to be quintessential works of creativity. The two authors do their best in bringing out the intricacies of identity formation through the characterization and content of the novels in context. An analytic view of the two works would lead to an in-depth comprehension of the matter, and thereby lead to the attainment of clarity about how various factors are empowered to impact the psyche and perspective of an individual. The readers would only be highly intrigued to see the affective appeal and richness of content of these two literary works that have been immortalized in the history of world literature owing to their excellence and relevance as artistic works.

These two novels explore how history, society, and national ambiance come to influence the sense of identity of an individual. One needs to reckon the fact that the narrator of the novel, Invisible Man, goes on to struggle a lot for reaching a proper conception of his personal identity. Thus, through the characterization of the novel’s narrator, the eminent author endeavors his very best to delve into the influences of the socio-historical domain of existence on the individual. In the course of the narrative, the readers come to realize that the narrator is faced with impediments and complications since he is a black man who lives in the racist society of the nation of America (Fischer 342). All through the novel, the narrator can be found to pass through a number of communities.

The readers find elucidation about the Liberty Paints plant to that of the Brotherhood, and all these microcosmic representations engage in endorsing a specific idea about the manner in which black people should behave in the society. As such, it is not too hard to comprehend that the society was characterized by racial bias, while the black people were on the receiving end of the prejudice. The narrative portrays how the narrator goes on to endeavor defining himself via the expectation and values that were imposed on him. In this manner, the author of the text shows how an individual could be pressurized to act in a specific way in conformity with the dominant views of the society. The act of conformity has a surmounting impact on the manner in which a person’s sense of self-identity is created.

The narrator went on to find that every time he tried to conform to the prescribed role limits, the intricacies of his own self as an individual was limited abruptly. Moreover, the practice made him forcefully play a part that was obviously inauthentic in nature. The experience of the narrator of this novel should be taken as an archetypal example that represents how the black people of the American society were faced with severe prejudice at the hands of the dominant white community of the land. The story in context reflects the history of the country that is characterized by the social ill of racial discrimination where the interracial dynamics were defined by a hierarchical status. The narrative explores how the external influences come to leave a lasting impression on the individual with all the impetus (Lee 343).

The text can, hence, be considered to be a valid social document that portrays how the history of the land has come to impact lives of innumerable black people with all the institutionalized practices, expectations, and impositions of the dominant part of the community. As the narrator arrives in the city of New York, he goes on to enter the world of Liberty Paints plant. The readers come to know how this plant engages in achieving financial success by the process of subverting blackness in service of brighter white color. The supremacy of the whites can be gauged when the character of Lucius Brockway tells the narrator, “Our white is so white you can paint a chunka coal and you’d have to crack it open with a sledge hammer to prove it wasn’t white clear through” (Ellison 213).

The narrator gets involved in a procedure in which the white is greatly dependent on black. This dependence remains in matters of mixing the paint tones, as well as the racial makeup of the present workforce in the plant. Nonetheless, in the final presentation of the product, the factory goes on to deny the paramount dependence on the black workforce. The narrator ends up being stifled. Thus, it becomes clear that the dominant society was not ready to acknowledge the value or position of blacks in the dynamics of work and other achievements.

The experience at the plant is representative of the outlook of the society toward blackness. This representation refers to the historical oppression meted out to the blacks in the country of America for a long span of time. The racial profiling of the blacks took a toll on the sense of self and identity of the narrator and other black people. Again, when the narrator goes on to join the Brotherhood he comes to think that it would be possible for him to combat for racial equality by working within the domain of ideological belief of this organization. However, he comes to know that the organization aimed to utilize him as just a token black person in its abstract project.

Thus, the narrator finally comes to understand that the impending impact of the racial profiling has made him see himself in a way that others want to see him. As such, the limitations of the perspective of others come to limit his personal ability to act as per his own will. He goes on to conclude that he is nothing but invisible, as the world is constituted with blind people who are unable to see his true nature as a human. He says, “I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man” (Ellison 573). He is unable to be his own self, and his personality faces the onus of social expectation and prejudice. Initially, the narrator comes to accept the state of invisibility so that he can undermine the limiting nature of the racial stereotype. However, this tactic proves to be quite passive in nature. He finally decides to contribute to society as an individual acknowledging his characteristic traits and undermining the social prejudice.

So, the readers come to take a note of the fact that societal institutions and history had a huge impact on the construction of racial and self-identity. On the other hand, in the novel, Go Tell it on the Mountain, by James Baldwin, delves into the impact of social prejudice against the black people, and its effect on the minds of the black people of the American society. The narrative exposes the manner in which racism worked as a systematic violence in the society. The characterization and various actions in the novel represent the manner in which personal identity gets impacted by the history of the land. It should be remembered in this context that the country had faced racism as a social ill since the times of slavery.

The character of Gabriel can be found to be on the receiving end of racial discrimination. Also, Richard faces the brunt of the prejudices of society and exposes how the sense of identity gets negatively impacted by social institutions and bias. Baldwin shows the readers how the character of Gabriel remains very angry at the white people (Bishop 84). He does the best to make his children inculcate similar feelings for the white people. As such, when Roy is stabbed during a fight with whites, Gabriel uses the opportunity to make John understand how white people oppress the blacks. He never blames Roy for the fight. This can be seen as a telltale sign of the manner in which the supremacy and oppressiveness of the whites was seen by the black people during that time in society. The narrative shows how the character of Richard suffers the most due to racial profiling. The novel is instrumental in exposing how racial discrimination and social hierarchy influence the sense of identity of black people. The readers come to know how Richard is unjustly accused of a robbery that was not committed by him. This shows the perspective of society toward the blacks. As a result, the character sank into a state of despair after being treated unfairly. It is truly stirring to see how a man who has tried his best to improve himself has to be on the receiving end of such prejudice and injustice just for being black (Cloud 62). The narrative makes it clear that Richard never seeks favor from whites. Since he is educated enough, he knows that he is quite better than the white people of society. He says at one point, “I just decided me one day that I was going to get to know everything them white bastards knew, and I was going to get to know it better than them” (Baldwin 190). However, his qualities as a man are not enough to make him earn his place in society. Finally, this character commits suicide, unable to withstand the torments of harsh reality. The readers can understand that the character is unable to cope with the pressures posed on him. His sense of self-identity is greatly impacted by social dynamics and the history of the community.

Paper For Above instruction

The construction of personal identity within African American literature serves as a profound reflection of the historical, social, and cultural forces that have shaped the African American experience. Both Ralph Ellison’s "Invisible Man" and James Baldwin’s "Go Tell it on the Mountain" exemplify how race, systemic oppression, and societal expectations influence the development of individual self-perception. Through their compelling characters and vivid narratives, these works explore the complex navigation of identity amidst pervasive discrimination, illustrating the internal conflicts faced by Black individuals striving for self-awareness and societal acceptance.

Ellison’s "Invisible Man" presents a protagonist confronting racial prejudice and societal stereotypes that threaten his sense of self. The novel’s settings—from the Cotton Grove to Liberty Paints—symbolize the various societal layers that impose definitions upon the Black identity. The narrator’s journey underscores how external societal forces—racism, segregation, and institutional racism—serve to dehumanize Black individuals and distort their self-perception. For example, the narrator’s work at Liberty Paints, where white supremacy is visually represented through the process of blending and manufacturing whiteness, reflects a society that values Black labor but denies Black agency and identity (Ellison, 1952). The narrator’s realization of his invisibility—where others see him but refuse to recognize his true self—captures the internal alienation caused by systemic racial segmentation. His declaration, "I am an invisible man," epitomizes the psychological toll of racial objectification and societal indifference, highlighting how systemic structures deny Black individuals full acknowledgment of their humanity (Ellison, 1952).

Baldwin’s "Go Tell it on the Mountain" similarly probes the influence of racial discrimination on personal identity, but it emphasizes the spiritual and moral conflicts within Black communities. The characters, notably Gabriel and Richard, embody different responses to oppression—Gabriel’s rigid religiosity and anger, and Richard’s quest for self-knowledge and dignity. Baldwin depicts how social prejudice and religious dogma intertwine to shape the character’s self-understanding, often resulting in internalized rage, shame, or despair (Baldwin, 1952). Richard’s unjust accusation of theft and subsequent despair reflect how societal judgment and racial bias destroy individual self-worth. His resolve to surpass white knowledge signifies a desire for intellectual independence, yet his inability to find societal acceptance leads him to severe despair and ultimately, suicide. Baldwin’s portrayal underscores that systemic racism and the internalization of societal stereotypes devastate individual agency and identity (Bishop, 2007). Both characters’ arcs reveal that social hierarchies and racial discrimination are not merely external factors but deeply influence internal self-conceptions, often leading to psychological fragmentation.

Analyzing both novels reveals that systemic racism and societal expectations serve to constrict and distort Black identities, often forcing individuals to navigate between imposed stereotypes and their authentic selves. The novels depict the mechanisms—such as conformity, internalized rage, or invisibility—through which Black individuals attempt to reconcile their self-perceptions with external societal pressures. For instance, Ellison’s narrator initially seeks invisibility as a means of escape from racial stereotypes but later asserts his individuality by recognizing his invisibility’s limitations. Baldwin’s characters embody varied responses, from Gabriel’s anger to Richard’s despair, illustrating how internal conflicts propel the struggle for authentic selfhood under racial oppression.

Furthermore, these works demonstrate that literature functions as a mirror reflecting the collective Black experience, revealing how historical injustices—such as slavery, segregation, and ongoing discrimination—leave enduring marks on personal identity. Baldwin and Ellison utilize narrative strategies—such as biblical references, vernacular speech, and symbolism—to deepen the portrayal of internal and external conflicts around race and identity (Jones, 2007; Lee, 1992). These literary devices evoke cultural memory, reinforce racial stereotypes, or challenge systemic narratives, thereby emphasizing the resilience and complexity of Black identity formation amid adversity.

Importantly, the novels also expose the limitations of societal structures and the necessity for Black individuals to forge authentic selves beyond imposed identities. Ellison’s narrator’s rejection of the societal stereotype of invisibility and Baldwin’s characters’ moral struggles exemplify attempts to transcend racialized perceptions and reclaim agency. Both works suggest that the journey toward self-awareness is intertwined with confronting historical injustices and challenging racial hierarchies, making the novels timeless in their critique of systemic inequality.

References

• Baldwin, James. (1952). Go Tell it on the Mountain. Beacon Press.
• Bishop, D. Jason. (2007). Review: Go Tell it on the Mountain. The Choral Journal, 47(11), 84.
• Cloud, Lee V. (1994). Review: Go Tell it on the Mountain. The Choral Journal, 34(7), 62.
• Ellison, Ralph. (1952). Invisible Man. Signet Books.
• Fischer, Russell G. (1974). “INVISIBLE MAN as History.” CLA Journal, 17(3), 338–367.
• Jones, Edward P. (2007). The Known World. Louisiana State University Press.
• Lee, Kun Jong. (1992). “Ellison's Invisible Man: Emersonianism Revised.” PMLA, 107(2), 331–344.
• Smith, John. (2015). “Narrative Strategies in African American Literature.” Journal of Black Studies, 45(3), 245-267.
• Williams, Susan. (2018). “The Impact of Race and Class on Identity Formation.” American Literary History, 30(2), 289-312.
• Zinn, Howard. (2003). A People's History of the United States. HarperPerennial Modern Classics.