Question 7

Being invisible during the narrator's time was probably mostly due to his race, which automatically limited his opportunities to stand out, or to pursue his true interests. Such things such as Dr. Blesdoe's letter, which the narrator thought was in good faith and was actually a ploy to deny him work, is an example of these times in which he lived. Part of the narrator's problem is his inability to formulate his own thoughts. Even as he gave his speeches, he only fed off of the audience's desires. He either directly or indirectly told was what to say and do--and that is what makes him invisible. This expectation of following orders was assumed during his time for most blacks by whites, but for the narrator I think it is particularly notable how he doesn't think for himself.

And how else can someone be defined than by their actions and thoughts? I think it's for this reason that the narrator is so invible. He has no identity, and nothing that makes him stand out or make him different from just another bump in the road.