Death of a Past Self, One Invisible to Others

Ellison's nameless narrator begins his story by claiming himself as invisible, hence the title, Invisible Man. Throughout the story, the reader learns what this invisibility truly means. It means the underdog, it means the oppressed, and it means the unrecognized heroes. In this specific situation, the narrator's oppression is derived from his skin color. Being a mulatto young man, he does everything he can to obey society's obligations but eventually learns to go against the tide. He finds that no matter whether he follows the crowd or goes against the grain the world keeps on being unjust despite his fervent efforts. The novel is a recollection of his journey from his hometown to his underground hole in Harlem, and many times along the way the reader witnesses the death and rebirth of the narrator's self.
As mentioned before, this metaphorical death of a self, is very pertinent throughout many pieces of literature and art. In fact, many cultures are filled with stories of becoming anew and the death of a past self. In some way this represents the synchedoche of the human psyche and within it human identity. We are never just one person, but many, all at once. Perhaps this type of metaphorical death implies a transcendence of some sort, or a reincarnation in some sense. A transcendence of the past and a reincarnation of what used to be. For in the novel, the narrator keeps on moving through his life and the past selves he once knew are invisible to the new people he meets. He knows of their existence, but those past selves are invisible to others.
Besides the significance of a metaphorical death of a past self, Invisible Man also displays death in a couple other lights. Ellison displays the despair death creates in one's life by Mr. Norton's story of the loss of his daughter. Death is a sad and uncontrollable happening in our mortal lives. And Mr. Norton's daughter's unexpected death demonstrates exactly that. Another example of death in Invisible Man would be martyrdom. When Brother Clifton is shot and killed by the police officer, his death seems to give motivation and passion to the narrator and the black community. Death reaches far beyond the actual event of death itself. Whether it be martyrdom, despair and tragedy, or a rebirth of oneself, death always plays a role of change in the lives of the living.