An essay on the novel "Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison

This essay discusses how interracial dating plays a big part in the book and focuses on how interracial dating has evolved from being an unspoken manner in American society to now being mainstream. The conclusion is kind of week so change it up a bit. (Elizabeth, 5-8)

Interracial relationships are evident in the 1947 novel Invisible Man by author Ralph Ellison. Interracial dating a taboo in American history has drastically changed from the hate games that generated from the dating to now being accepted in mainstream America. Ironically a subject that was so taboo actually started the country. Interracial dating often occurred back in the 1800s by slave owners impregnating their slaves. Europeans who came to this country for freedom of religion impregnated Native American women also. Yet, when black men and white women as evident in the novel and evident in history happened, it was suddenly a disgusting morbid thing (Elizabeth, 5-8). The history of interracial relationships is a very sensitive subject that comes along with a lot of stereotypes. In 1895, South Carolina banned the union of whites and blacks when people think of interracial dating they usually associate the term of art with violence, rap, dominance, and slavery. The first interracial dating occurred when slavery first existed. Everything from Thomas Jefferson slapping with one of his slaves, to the critically acclaimed novel Queen of all Saints which deal with interracial dating in Louisiana has left an impact in American culture. (Elizabeth, 5-8)

In the 1950's, and in the novel Invisible Man when interracial relationships were discussed, it was often discussed in the ways of a black man and white women. White women were portrayed as these sultry sexy women who wanted these strong black men. These white pure women wanted to live dangerously and sleep with these black men who were usually ignorant and we're just used for there penises (Elizabeth, 5-8). The narrator in Invisible Man interacted with three white women in the novel each who just wanted to fulfill this fantasy of black men. However, only we as the readers know that he can not control his sexual desires and he falls into the trap that the women offer him. Sybil, one of the wives of the members of the communist group the Brotherhood that he belongs too, even begs and pleads. Both are liars and play a game that is quite evident. Sybil is a lonely drunk woman who has not had sex in over fifteen years, and she like all other white women as stereotypes goes wants to have sex with a stereotypical angry black man with half a heart and a huge penis. He of course just uses her for her connections to the Brotherhood. Though both are equally wrong in the manipulation of each other, they both at the end get what they want though the narrator's “black bruiser let her down." (Elizabeth, 5-8)

Interracial dating was often exposed in other literature also. In the famous ...