Ralph Ellison's “Invisible Man” has several themes built into it. These themes range from race to women and femininity, but they all blend together to form one main theme. This theme is identity and the truth of identity. Through “Invisible Man,” Ralph Ellison suggests that the concept of identity is both an internal and external conflict. Through the story of the unnamed narrator we see that each individual's self-perception and public perception is an eternal conflict. In the prologue, the narrator says “I am invisible, you understand, simply because people refuse to see me. (Ellison 3)” This means they know it exists but choose not to recognize it for what it is. This is reinforced by the fact that almost every other character, from Brother Jack to Sybil, wants to use him for personal gain. And in their various attempts to do so they treat him as a malleable object rather than a real person. The white men who force him to fight other black boys perceive him as if he were a horse in a race. Some white men bet on him and ignore the original reason he is there. Brother Jack and the rest of the Brotherhood use him as a tool to lure and manipulate the inhabitants of Harlem. They ask him to change his name, give up his past and move to a new apartment. Mr. Norton claiming that the narrator is his future only sees it as falsified evidence of his philanthropy. He tells the narrator “…the outcome of the years I spent helping your school depends on you. This has been my real life work, not my banking or my research, but my firsthand organizing of human life. (Ellison 42)” In reality Mr. Norton is just an incestuous narcissist who wants to be perceived as a benevolent liberal Caucasian man b...... middle of paper ...... that equality? Is this the freedom of the black mahn? A pat on the back and a piece of passionless pussy? Worms! They buy you cheap, mahn? What do they do to my people! Where is your brain? These women are trash, mahn! (Ellison 373).” Ras the Exhorter also spares Tod Clifton's life because of their common racial saying: "You are black and handsome, don't let them tell you otherwise!" You weren't into those things you died for, mahn. Died! I would have killed you, Mahn. (Ellison 373).”Works CitedEllison, Ralph. The invisible man. New York: Random House Inc., 1952. 3. Print. Ellison, Ralph. The invisible man. New York: Random House Inc., 1952. 42. Print. Ellison, Ralph. The invisible man. New York: Random House Inc., 1952. 373. Print. Ellison, Ralph. The invisible man. New York: Random House Inc., 1952. 373. Print.NeverShoutNever. “Old timer.” Sunflower. Sire Records, 2013, iTunes.