Blindness In How To Read Literature Like A Teacher By Ralph Ellison

To be blind can mean many things. The effects of those who are not literally blind, but who cannot see through the haze of perspective concepts developed by society, such as the issue of discrimination or social status, are often negative and cause misguided behavioral actions by individuals. Authors, such as Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, and Toni Morrison, use the motif of blindness that makes their literary characters prejudice, and indicates a lack of understanding which binds them to set fates of death, downfall, and destruction, outlining the effect that divided society has on an individual.
In Thomas C. Fosters novel, How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines, he talks about the reasons behind authors purposes of choosing to use blindness as a long lasting motive in their works of literature: “Clearly the author wants to emphasize other levels of sight and blindness beyond the physical. Moreover, such references are usually quite persuasive in a work where insight and blindness are at issue” (203). Authors want to use this theme of blindness as a way to enhance the misunderstanding that readers often have towards the identity of characters.
The ability to see is the parallel to blindness, sight being what so many
Not being seen is also another one of his fears throughout the duration of the novel. At many points during the novel he is called “Mike” instead of his correct name; Bryant also cites Crites’ analysis of the importance of names. Without calling Bigger by his proper name, his identity is disregarded, because his name is a reflection of himself (264-265). This is just one of the many factors that drove Bigger to turning his fear and hurt feelings into violence against everyone and what made him become a