Invisible Man: Chapters 6-9

Chapter 6 

1. What shocking aspects of Bledsoe’s character are revealed to the narrator? He doesn't really believe in black progress, but keeps up appearances of doing so if it means that he gets to retain his power over members of both races.
2. What specific statements does Bledsoe make that show his concern is for himself rather than for the school or for the advancement of other Blacks? "I'll have every Negro in the country hanging from tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am" (p. 112); "This is a power set-up, son, and I'm at the controls" (p. 111).
3. Read the last paragraph on p. 146 beginning “How did I come to this?” What do you make of the paragraph in terms of the narrator’s struggle to find his identity? I think that this is truly where the veteran's words start to sink in, combining with his grandfather's "traitor" and Dr. Bledsoe's instructions on how to game the system. However, the narrator still believes that he can follow the straight and narrow path to success, regardless of how difficult it may be to do so having gained a new perspective on life in the past 24 hours.

Chapter 7 

1. Who does the narrator meet on the bus to New York? Why does the encounter make him uncomfortable? The narrator meets a veteran he had seen at the Golden Day the previous day when he had been there with Mr. Norton, as well as his traveling companion and attendant, Mr. Crenshaw. This makes the narrator uncomfortable because the veteran had a "violent" tongue, which could possibly ruin the trip (he is also reminded of the events causing his expulsion).
2. On p. 152, the narrator is told New York is “not a place, it’s a dream.” Interpret this statement. New York is conceptualized as a northern paradise for black southern men to somewhat escape from the lasting effects of racism as well as a goal for these men to reach in terms of intellectual and social experiences ("you might even dance with a white girl!").
3. How does the fate of the vet parallel the fate of the narrator? Think of how both are controlled. Both of them were told to leave on short notice, and (according to what the veteran thinks) had to do so following the altercation with Mr. Norton at the Golden Day. The two of them are also being controlled by the influence of men: the veteran has Crenshaw physically, and the narrator has the expectations and recommendations of Dr. Bledsoe.
4. Reread the final paragraph on p. 153. What do you make of the vet’s advice? I think the vet's advice is very similar to how Dr. Bledsoe operates as a whole - in fact, the whole conversation between the vet and the narrator is practically a nicer, more advisory version of the argument that took place between Dr. Bledsoe and the narrator the night before.
5. On p. 155, the vet says, “there’s always an element of crime in freedom.” What does this statement mean to you? Do you agree or disagree? I think that the idea of "crime in freedom" comes from the fact that when slaves were taken away/fled from their masters, they were considered to be stolen or lost property of the white man, and that was the crime. It also has to do with the principle of the ends justifying the means when something must be done for the good of the whole. I agree with the latter (as the former is obviously backwards, racist doctrine.)
6. Describe the narrator’s encounter with Ras. The narrator is instantly struck with fear and "[an] emptiness widened in [his] stomach" (p. 124) at the situation in front of him, which involved Ras (who spoke with a West Indian accent) leading a crowd to protest while the policemen present just ignored it all.

Chapter 8 

1. In the first six chapters, the narrator’s identity is defined by the scholarship. Now the letters define it. Describe them. The letters were tightly sealed by Dr. Bledsoe and the secretaries at every office he visited in hopes of meeting trustees regarded the contents "oddly," dismissing the narrator after reading them.
2. Notice the narrator’s decision to get a watch. How does fit with his new identity? Look for other images to watches and time. The watch fits in with the narrator's new identity because he currently structures his schedule around the time and availability of others that he is aiming to please. Other images of watches/time include a clock with "searching eyes" and how the narrator handles his business first (in the mornings) and pleasure later (seeing the city in the afternoons).
3. How does the narrator deny his Southern heritage? Why does he do this? The narrator denies his heritage by changing his way of speaking, including losing certain terms within the vernacular of southern black culture, regardless of the fact that he is educated. The narrator believes that if he behaves like he would in the South, then they would see the South as where he belongs (or possibly that he is not educated enough for the North).
4. Why do you think the narrator dreams of his grandfather? I think that the narrator dreams of his grandfather (and awakes depressed) because he is purposefully not heeding the old man's warning and acting subservient to the trustees and their staff, instead asking to be seen on relatively equal terms regardless of race.

Chapter 9 

1. How does Peter Wheatstraw (with plans) make the narrator homesick? He makes the narrator homesick by singing a song similar to the ones the narrator had heard back on campus in the South. His behavior is also reminiscent of that of the veterans at the Golden Day.
2. What is the symbolism of Wheatstraw’s blueprints? They represent the hopes and dreams of people, and the trashing of them could either symbolize moving on in life to bigger goals (larger projects) or giving up entirely. The narrator thinks of his new identity when he replies that one has to "stick to the plan" (p. 135).  
3. How does the narrator continue to deny his Southern heritage? He does not choose the special at the drugstore counter (though he specifically is proud of himself for "resisting" it), which is comprised of foods commonly eaten in the South. Even the counterman says that "I would have sworn that you were a pork chop man" (p. 137).
4. Look at the details from Emerson’s office. Emerson's office is part of an importing firm, so he has many different different artifacts from around the globe, displayed flamboyantly to fully highlight their colors and worth. In his main office, Emerson has an aviary of tropical birds on display.
5. Why does Emerson keep referring to Huck Finn? In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both Jim (who is black) and Huckleberry (who is white, and made clear here to be Emerson) are trying to escape from persecution: Jim is leaving the South to stop being a slave while Huck is escaping (on the surface) his abusive father and (as a whole) the standards of society.
6. Walt Whitman wrote a series of homoerotic poems called the Calamus poems. Can you make any inferences about young Emerson from his reference to the Calamus Club? Judging by the reference and the fact that Emerson is "looking [the narrator] up and down" and mentioning the quality of his build might allude to at least bisexuality, if not out-and-out homosexuality. Emerson's "long, hip-swinging stride" is also mentioned - hip movement is commonly a feminine attribute, which has stereotypically homosexual connotations with males doing it. The fact that he is also seeing an "analyst" (p. 143; possibly psychology?) could also allude to the idea that he is attempting to repress certain aspects of himself that are publicly seen in a negative light, like homosexuality. Emerson has a strained relationship with his father as well, apparently... I could write an essay here.
7. Why might young Emerson identify with the narrator and Blacks in general? During this time period (and for a long time afterwards... and still, somewhat, to this day), people that were openly homosexual or presented themselves with stereotypically-feminine characteristics in public were ridiculed by the vast majority of the population, despite that just being who they were. Oftentimes, they would cover up indicators of their sexual preference in order to come off as more "respectable", just like how the narrator is trying to distance himself from the South both physically and in his behavior to become successful in New York.