At the time The Invisible Man was published, segregation was in effect in many parts of America, making some scenes in the novel obscene and bizarre (Holland 34) . To his peers, Ellison was both a thinker and a writer; he had the ability to repair automobiles and electronic devices; “He had a particular passion for high-quality audio equipment and discovered a hobby in building and customizing stereo systems.” (LitCharts 3) After writing Invisible Man, Ellison found it a daunting task to replicate the success of Invisible Man, "which was immediately considered a classic" (Brennan). Ellison made it his mission to write a second bestselling novel, but he couldn't match the success of The Invisible Man. “When I find out who I am and I am free” (Ellison 2). The Invisible Man tells the story of a young man's journey through society. Ellison keeps the protagonist anonymous, throughout the book the young man is often referred to as "IM", Ellison uses motifs throughout the book to help convey different underlying messages presented to IM. The motives of power and self-interest, invisibility, and race help establish the stubble necessary to overcome society's oppression of minority groups. Ellison references works of African American literature in Invisible Man. Using allusions to the works of “Fredrick Douglas, WEB DuBois, and the political speeches of black revolutionaries like Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Exposition Address” (Anelli 3). The work of iconic jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith is a reference throughout the novel (Anelli 3). Ellison wrote The Invisible Man structurally and stylistically in a way that makes jazz music itself a central theme of the entire novel. The young n...... middle of paper ...... B. "Ellison in Black and White: Confession, Violence and Rhetoric in 'Invisible Man'." Black Fiction: New Studies on the African-American Novel Since 1945. Ed. A.Robert Lee. London: Vision Press, 1980. "Invisible Man: Analyzing Metaphors | Novelguide." The invisible man. Np, and Web. April 16, 2014 Langman, FH “Reconsidering the Invisible Man.” The critical review. 18 (1976). Lieber, Todd M. "Ralph Ellison and the Metaphor of Invisibility in the Black Literary Tradition." American Quarterly. March 1972. Ralph Ellison: An American Journey. DVD recording of the PBS series American Masters. Directed by Avon Kirkland. New Images Productions, 2001. "The Necromancers RH Benson | Vault Of Evil: Brit Horror Pulp..." Insert site name in italics. Np, and Web. April 16. 2014 .