Chapter 21

Abby Curran

The Scene

Chapter Twenty-one begins with Invisible Man's mentally reviewing the death of Brother Tod Clifton; the death was a devastating event which he watched happen. He questions whether or not he could have prevented the untimely death from occurring and regrets blowing up at the sight of Clifton's selling Sambo dolls and not "seizing the opportunity to educate the crowd" (445). This investigation into the incident provokes images of the dancing Sambo doll and the black thread which allowed it to move; he remembers that "Clifton had been making it [the doll] dance all the time and the black thread had been invisible" (446). In a sense, Invisible Man is presenting the idea that the black man is invisible and simply an entertainer for the white man. Building on this idea that the black man is invisible, he theorizes that history will remember Clifton only for his death. A clothesline peddler’s bells rescue Invisible Man from this bothersome tangent which he goes off on in his mind, for the bells remind him that this is not a dream; this is really happening.

Once back in reality, Invisible Man reaches some important conclusions. Because "the meaning of his [Clifton’s] death was greater than the incident or the object that caused it" (448), Invisible Man decides to stage a huge funeral which shall involve the entire Harlem community. An endless procession winds through the streets, and residents all stop their activities to show their respects for the dead. Serving as the chief organizer of the Mount Morris Park funeral service, Invisible Man gives a rather personal eulogy for the crowds of mourners. The outrageous manner in which he delivers the speech reminds readers of the funeral scene from Julius Caesar, in which Marc Antony excites the mourners at Caesar’s services.

Following a novel theme and an element of Antony’s great speech, he emphasizes the blood which streamed from Clifton’s dead body. Blunt, honest statements such as "his name was Clifton and he was black and they shot him" (456) fill the speech. The speech’s tone and messages convey to the community that Clifton was a regular black man who was hurt by the white world, just like any of them. He worries that in the speech he was "unable to bring in the political issues" (459) which the Brotherhood probably would have preferred him to do. He notices and senses the definite tension which exists in the crowd of mourners and ends the stirring chapter with hopes of acting upon this tension.

Character Analysis:

Note - This chapter is devoted primarily to Invisible Man’s personal struggles and his eulogy; consequently, not many characters appear in the section.

1. Invisible Man - Invisible Man struggles with inner issues in this bold chapter. Brother Clifton’s death delivers him with quite a disturbance, and he must examine the incident entirely--including his own actions (or lack of action) in the event. Since he was close to Clifton and he was recently re-assigned to the Harlem district, he takes charge of the funeral services, procession, and eulogy.

2. Tod Clifton - His death results in huge emotional problems for Invisible Man as well as all of the children in the youth movement, which he led. His funeral unites the Harlem community and serves as a symbol of the chaos and unrest which filtrates into the borough.

3. Shirley - She represents all of the citizens that Clifton left behind after his death, for she is a young Brotherhood youth movement member who admired Clifton greatly.

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