Chapter 24
By: Christa Peterson
Chapter Summary
Determined to undermine the agenda of the Brotherhood, TIM obeys their commands and organizes a clean-up campaign in Harlem; he hopes that this campaign will help the community forget Tod Clifton's death and end the present violence perpetuated by Ras the Destroyer. It is the night of Jack's birthday party, and TIM hopes that Emma will reveal secret information concerning Jack and the Brotherhood. Emma does not, however, and TIM seeks other information through a white woman named Sybil. Sybil is intrigued by TIM and agrees to go to his apartment. At his apartment, TIM gives Sybil many strong drinks in hopes that she will talk about the Brotherhood; she knows nothing. By this time, Sybil and TIM are very drunk, for Sybil claims to be a nymphomaniac and asks TIM to rape her. TIM does not but writes on her stomach with lipstick that Santa Claus raped her.

In the middle of the night, TIM receives a phone call that there is trouble, and he must go to Harlem. He takes Sybil and his briefcase and leaves. Because Sybil is still very drunk, TIM demands that the taxi driver takes her directly home and does not let her out of the car; TIM cares about her but cannot stay with her. All that he can do is run.

Characters
TIM: Invisible Man who wishes to destroy the Brotherhood by agreeing with them. He wants to find secret information about the Brotherhood and believes that he can use a woman to do it.

Sybil: The woman who TIM uses to find information. She, however, knows nothing; Sybil is extremely lonely and sad and desires companionship.

Symbols
Santa Claus: this fictional character confirms TIM's invisibility. Santa Claus is only an illusion of the mind, a figment of the imagination. Only those individuals who choose to believe in him can see him; to everyone else he does not exist.

Birds: the birds represent prejudice white men. They do not acknowledge TIM or the African American race. TIM's inexistance is illustrated, once again, when the birds desecrate on his head; he must run from the birds just as he must run from the white men.

Motifs
Sybil's speech: in the early evening, Sybil refers to TIM. as "beautiful." As she becomes drunk, however, she calls him "boo'ful." This is another indication of TIM's increasing invisibility. The word boo illustrates his ghost-like state.

Running: as the novel progresses, TIM must run more and more. Sybil is also running in this chapter. It foreshadows trouble that lay ahead.

Setting
The main part of this chapter takes place in TIM's apartment. The intimate setting illustrates TIM's desire to know secret information about the Brotherhood. The correct "mood" cannot be set, however, and no information can be found. The silent streets of New York City forshadow the upcoming events; it is always calm before the storm.

Quotations
"They were vindicated; the program was correct, events were progressing in their predetermined direction, history was on their side, and Harlem loved them" (514): the success of the Brotherhood is merely an illusion just like TIM.

"...the facts were unimportant, unreal..." (514): the Brotherhood only possesses power if the people allow it. If there is no true foundation, if the Brotherhood relies on the emotions of the people only, it will not survive. Feelings can be easily changed, and victory is rarely a guarantee.

"I ran through the night, ran within myself" (534): TIM is extremely confused. Nothing is ever definite and life an illusion. He is invisible to everyone, yet he is a target. A victim of an unjust society, he must run to save his life. He is alive to no one but himself.

Thematic elements
Invisibility
Loneliness
Running