Invisible Man: Chapter 25 & Epilogue

Chapter 25

1. What causes the riot? Ras started it, but there were a lot of stories floating around (police brutality), interracial relationship issues).
2. Think about the Book of Revelations in the Bible. In what ways is Ras like one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse? Ras is like one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (specifically, Famine, in his drive to convert Harlem's residents to his Black nationalist movement) because his final stand in Harlem and Invisible Man itself brings chaos and what the narrator believe to be like "the end of days" to Harlem. Ras is like Famine also because he arrived "upon a great black horse" (p. 431) when approaching the narrator for the last time. The fact that Ras is Famine can also be yet more social commentary against the Communist Party due to the fact that Famine, other than its literal meaning, is symbolic for societal class gaps and the narrator and Ras are at odds for their activism beliefs as always. 
3. What drives the narrator underground? The narrator is driven underground following his spearing of Ras and the subsequent pursuit by Ras' cronies in order to hide.
4. What does the narrator do with the papers in his briefcase? How is this action symbolic? The narrator burns the papers while he is underground. This is symbolic because the papers -- his high school certificate, Clifton's Sambo doll, and the paper with his Brotherhood identity from Brother Jack -- all represent different facets of his identity. His high school certificate was his appeasement of white society and becoming a "good Black" because he thought he would be treated better being educated (he wasn't); Clifton's Sambo doll represents the narrator's Southern heritage and the stereotypes the narrator could not escape; the paper with his "Brotherhood name" on it showed white appeasement once more, but also the narrator's effort to change himself for what he thought would be for the good of the community.

Epilogue

1. In what ways has the novel come full circle? The invisible man/narrator has returned to his original narrative flow where he acknowledges that he is telling his story to an audience. He also goes back to discuss the dying words of his grandfather, though in a different light this time: rather than pushing the "advice" to the back of his head and denying it, he acknowledges that it is a harsh reality for black men but even staying the course could lead to turmoil. (Mr. Norton also reappears, which is sad.)
2. Is this a satisfactory ending for the novel? Why or why not? I did not like the end of the novel, because while loose ends were wrapped up and some major events were revisited, the tale ends on a dismal note because the narrator has ended up in a place worse than where he started with interpersonal relations at the beginning of his journey.