Novel Connections
Native Son
Native Son connects to Invisible Man in a number of ways. For one, both of the novels were written by African-American authors during the same time period. Both novels feature college-age black youths as protagonists, and detail their life stories and feelings about society.
In addition, both novels feature Communism and a Communist organization closer to each of their dénouements. In both cases, this organization provides support to the black youths in their search for what comes next. However, in Invisible Man, the Communist organization - the Brotherhood - uses the protagonist for their own advantage, whereas Mr. Boris Max attempts only to understand and help Bigger Thomas.
Transcendentalists
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson is very connected to Invisible Man and its author, Ralph Ellison. For one, Ellison was named after Emerson—his full name is Ralph Waldo Ellison. Also, as Mr. Norton and the Invisible Man are talking on the way to Trueblood's house, he mentions that he admires the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson (not Ellison), especially his work on Self-Reliance, and recommends that the Invisible Man study this work.
Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau's work connects to Invisible Man in not as many ways as Emerson, but these connections are still significant. For example, the Invisible Man's speeches in Harlem, notably at the eviction, reflect concepts expressed in Civil Disobedience. In addition, at the end of the novel and in the prologue, the Invisible Man lives fairly simply, an idea explored in Walden and the time Thoreau spent on Walden Pond.
Herman Melville
Herman Melville, compared to others of the Transcendentalists, had comparably few connections to Invisible Man. However, both Ellison and Melville utilize symbolism and metaphor to a great extent, sometimes crossing over into irony. In addition, Captain Ahab of Moby-Dick is completely and totally obsessed with the hunting of and taking revenge on the white whale, Moby-Dick. This obsession, though on a much larger scale, could be compared to the Invisible Man's desperate wish to make something useful of his life.
"Henry David Thoreau." Wikipedia. Accessed 5/29/2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau
"Transcendentalism." Wikipedia. Accessed 5/29/2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism
"Herman Melville." Wikipedia. Accessed 5/29/2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Melville
"Moby-Dick." Wikipedia. Accessed 5/29/2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick
"Ralph Ellison." Survey of American Literature, 1992. 1992. Accessed 5/29/2008 http://lfa.atu.edu/brucker/Ellison.html
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