Beyond Stereotypes: Unmasking Identity In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

Abstract

Stereotypes reinforce racial prejudice and the practice of racial profiling, which unfairly targets people based on their race or ethnicity. The study focuses on the analysis of Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man with the objective of de-stereotyping and challenging these racial prejudices about the Black ethnicity. The primary lens used by the researcher to interpret the texts is Critical Race Theory (CRT). The qualitative aspect of this study enables a careful analysis of the chosen textual sections. The study reveals how the protagonist of Invisible Man deals with the negative repercussions of becoming invisible as well as the difficulties of surviving in a racist society. The major findings of this research show that Black characters in Invisible Man frequently experience marginalization and are subjected to stereotypes. Ellison’s work is notable for its efforts to establish Black culture’s vital role in the formation of American identity and to reclaim a dignified space for it.