Novel Context and Background
Ralph Ellison
- Ralph Ellison began writing “Invisible Man” while he was taking some time off of The United States Merchant Marines in Vermont. At a time when many blacks, especially the young, are denying all influences of American culture, Ellison, as always, doggedly affirms his identity as a Negro-American, a product of the blending of both cultures. During this time period, he didn’t give up music, but he became interested in writing through incessant reading. During this time, Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in the African American society that advocated for civil rights for African Americans. Both Ralph Ellison and Martin Luther King Jr. were African Americans males who had a strong voice in society. This helped influence the novel because Ralph incorporated his own personal experiences and encounters in the book.
- "The Paris Review." Paris Review. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.