Chapter 19

Chapter Summary
As read in the previous chapter, TIM has been punished from the accusations of Brother Westrum and, as a result, now addresses the Women Question outside of Harlem. After only his first lecture, TIM is confronted by a white lady who is not identified by a name. She claims that she would like to appreciate the complicated ideology of the Brotherhood with TIM. After taking him to her apartment, the woman exits into a different room only to reappear "in the rich red of a hostess gown," (411). Clearly, she is seducing TIM.

At first, TIM appears to be somewhat naive and fails to catch the rather obvious hints of her desire to sleep with him. She even mentions that her husband, Hubert, is currently on a business trip, so there shall be no intrusion upon their meeting. As the lady in red makes her move on TIM, the phone rings incessantly until TIM convinces the scarlet woman to answer it. While she is on the phone, and signaling him to wait for her, he catches a glimpse of his reflection in a mirror which also possesses the reflection of a bed located behind him. Next to the bed and directly across the mirror he is looking through, there is another mirror. This results in infinite images of himself in the mirror he is looking through. While he is lying in the bed in the dark, he hears someone come in. It is Hubert, the husband of the scarlet woman. TIM stares directly into the eyes of Hubert, yet Hubert’s "face is expressionless, his eyes staring," (417). Hubert does not give the impression that he has seen TIM. After Hubert leaves, TIM searches through the dark, locates his clothes, and also leaves.

The next day, all he can think about is the possibility of the Brotherhood's finding out about his affair. After a while, there is no word from the Brotherhood that implies any relation to the incident, so he goes on speaking on the Women Question until one evening when the phone rings. He is called into an emergency meeting. Tod Clifton has disappeared, and TIM’s immediate return to Harlem is necessary.

Analysis/Symbols
As the woman in red answers the phone, TIM catches a glimpse of himself in a mirror which also reveals a bed behind him and another hanging on a wall opposite the one he is looking at. The infinite images that are produced emphasizes the immense amount of guilt and sin that occurs. In the beginning, TIM would not even dare to place his glance upon a white woman, and now here he is sleeping with one. A great transition has become evident.

The color of the woman’s gown is mentioned several times. The red color, or scarlet, can be linked to The Scarlet Letter. In both novels, adultery is committed and the color red, or scarlet, is accentuated.

When her husband enters the bedroom, TIM feels that Huburt has indeed spotted him, yet Hubert gives "neither interest nor surprise," (417). Later, Invisible Man wonders if he "could... have seen him without his seeing..." (418) TIM. This situation further links with the theme of invisibility. It appears as Hubert has seen right through TIM. He feels as if this whole episode is merely a dream he has envisioned.

At the end of the chapter, after having found out that Brother Clifton has disappeared, TIM claims that he "had been suddenly awakened from a deep sleep," (422). Another transition has taken place. TIM awakens to reality.