CHAPTER 18

The chapter opens up with the Invisible Man's reading his mail. One letter orders him to approach more slowly with the brotherhood, or he will be kicked out. He then asks Brother Tarp how the Brotherhood really feels about him; he asks if he truly is a success. Afterwards, they discuss the symbolic rainbow poster--"After the Struggle: the Rainbow of America's Future." Brother Tarp then explains the origins of his limp and gives him the "oily piece of field steel" (389) which is similar to Bledsoe's link, only Bledsoe's was smooth.

Then Brother Wrestrum enters the room. Foreshadowing the events to come, IMAN considers Wrestrum as nothing more than a nuisance and a meddler. Wrestrum does not appreciate the link on IMAN's desk because he feels that it would "dramatize our differences" (392). This is the first time that poison is mentioned in the Brotherhood because Wrestrum explains that there are white brothers that do not want to shake the black brothers' hands. The true intention of this meeting is finally revealed when Wrestrum expresses his wishes for a Brotherhood flag and emblem.

In the middle of this conversation, IMAN receives a phone call in request for an interview from a magazine. IMAN attempts to divert the interview to Clifton, claiming that Clifton has done more work for the Brotherhood. IMAN finally agrees to this request to spite Wrestrum.

Two weeks later, a meeting is held and IMAN is accused of the desire to dictate. The Brotherhood decides that the charges regarding the magazine article are innocent enough, but they still need to investigate further. IMAN has a choice of temporary resignation or reassignment to the women's question outside of Harlem. At first, IMAN is extremely upset, insulted even, but then he understands that he is not the enemy and that everything is equal in the Brotherhood.

New Character

Brother Wrestrum--used to betray IMAN

Themes

Power--Iman is accused of desire to be a dictator
Betrayal--Wrestrum lies and makes up stories
Equality--in Brotherhood, all are equal, including women; Rainbow poster
Hopelessness--initial reaction to news of investigation and deportment from Harlem
Cover-Up--Wrestrum is really the one who plots and gets away with it
Disintegration--poison in the Brotherhood
Prejudice--Brother Tarp and his 19-year punishment

Motifs

Union/brotherhood
Touching--not wanting to shake hands with the black Brothers
Skin color--rainbow poster
Chain link--suffering of Negroes in the past

Significant Quotations

"The Brotherhood is bigger than all of us. None of us individuals counts when its safety is questioned" (405).
"I said no to a man who wanted to take something from me; that's what it cost me for saying no, and even now the debt ain't fully paid and will never be paid in their terms" (387).
"No, suh! That's the worse kind of thing for the Brotherhood--because we want to make folks think of the things we have in common. That's what makes the Brotherhood. We have to change the way we have of always thinking about how different we are. In the Brotherhood, we are all brothers."

by Kara Bogdan