Bledsoe: The Pathetic Idol
Throughout Invisible Man, there is one character who remains a role model for the narrator, Dr. Bledsoe, the president of the all black college the narrator attends, and a prominent figure in the community. The narrator remains consistent with their view of Bledsoe throughout the beginning of the book. He states, “But more than that, he was the example of everything I hoped to be: Influential with wealthy men all over the country; consulted in matters concerning the race; a leader of his people; the possessor of not one, but two Cadillacs, a good salary and a soft, good-looking and creamy-complexioned wife.” (101) The narrator obviously looks up to Bledsoe for his influence among wealthy men, specifically white men, and for Bledsoe’s affluence and tangible assets. For example, mentioning his two Cadillacs. Another interesting aspect to note is the mention of Bledsoe’s “soft, good-looking and creamy-complexioned wife.” This may be a small detail, but it adds to Bledsoe’s overall outward image, which may be more appealing to wealthy white men. Almost everything about the narrator’s description of Bledsoe is surface level and externally artificial. From the perspective of a wealthy white man, a black man with an education, two Cadillacs, and a white wife would be an appealing reason to associate yourself with him.
On the other hand, Bledsoe’s image is appealing to the narrator because he is affluent, a powerful figure among white men, and is everything he wants to be. The narrator not only looks up to Bledsoe, but he also seems afraid of him. While chaeffuring Mr. Norton, a significant financial outlet for the school, during his junior year at the university, Mr. Norton continues to suggest destinations outside of the narrator’s permitted limits. He is torn, as he does not want to disappoint Mr. Norton, as his chauffeur, but is also troubled by the thought of Bledsoe knowing of his whereabouts. When Mr. Norton suggests to the narrator that he would like a drink of whiskey, mentioning he is, “A little faint,” but a stimulant could help, the narrator thinks, “Something cold formed within my chest. If anything happened to him Dr. Bledsoe would blame me.” The narrator is obviously scared of Bledsoe holding any animosity towards him especially if it involved a white man, let alone a significant donor to the college. He then makes the executive decision and steps on the gas.
Later, when Bledsoe and the narrator are talking after all the chaos involving Mr. Norton, a new side, or rather, the true version of Bledsoe reveals himself to the reader and the narrator. Bledsoe reprimands the narrator with a significantly more aggressive tone. This anger is precisely what the narrator feared, but then more is revealed as Bledsoe states, “You're nobody, son. You don't exist – can't you see that? The white folk tell everybody what to think – except men like me. I tell them; that's my life, telling white folk how to think about the things I know about… But you listen to me: I didn't make it, and I know that I can't change it. But I've made my place in it and I'll have every N** in the country hanging on tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am.” (143) This is astonishing to the narrator all the while the seed of invisibility is planted. Bledsoe also speaks to Mr. Norton, and his entire demeanor changes. He is no longer the dominant figure, but now the more submissive and passive figure towards Mr. Norton. This is groundbreaking for the narrator, as the image of Bledsoe they had created in their head is scribbled all over and torn to shreds. The strong and influential Bledsoe never existed, rather a compliant and obedient Bledsoe established itself in reality. Bledsoe made his way to the top by perpetuating the white supremacist stereotypes of black men. They must work their way up by subjecting themselves to forms of white-washed education, marrying white women, and accepting any and all treatment from white people. This is reminiscent of the statue at the college depicting the founder of the university lifting a veil from someone’s face. One interpretation of the statue may be the action of lifting the veil, while an alternate interpretation may be placing the veil on the face. With Dr. Bledsoe as the president of the college, the statue takes on the meaning of Bledsoe placing the veil on the faces of his students, specifically the narrator. At this moment, the narrator finally has the realization that the veil had been put on him by Bledsoe for so long. Bledsoe not only puts the veil on the students of the college by putting them through an education that will not make them independent black contributors in society, but rather docile followers to the white members of society, he also allows himself to wear the veil. The narrator is left in a state of contemplation, as his role model revealed himself to be nothing like the person he presented himself to be at the college. Not an influential idol, but a pathetic disappointment.
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On the other hand, Bledsoe’s image is appealing to the narrator because he is affluent, a powerful figure among white men, and is everything he wants to be. The narrator not only looks up to Bledsoe, but he also seems afraid of him. While chaeffuring Mr. Norton, a significant financial outlet for the school, during his junior year at the university, Mr. Norton continues to suggest destinations outside of the narrator’s permitted limits. He is torn, as he does not want to disappoint Mr. Norton, as his chauffeur, but is also troubled by the thought of Bledsoe knowing of his whereabouts. When Mr. Norton suggests to the narrator that he would like a drink of whiskey, mentioning he is, “A little faint,” but a stimulant could help, the narrator thinks, “Something cold formed within my chest. If anything happened to him Dr. Bledsoe would blame me.” The narrator is obviously scared of Bledsoe holding any animosity towards him especially if it involved a white man, let alone a significant donor to the college. He then makes the executive decision and steps on the gas.
Later, when Bledsoe and the narrator are talking after all the chaos involving Mr. Norton, a new side, or rather, the true version of Bledsoe reveals himself to the reader and the narrator. Bledsoe reprimands the narrator with a significantly more aggressive tone. This anger is precisely what the narrator feared, but then more is revealed as Bledsoe states, “You're nobody, son. You don't exist – can't you see that? The white folk tell everybody what to think – except men like me. I tell them; that's my life, telling white folk how to think about the things I know about… But you listen to me: I didn't make it, and I know that I can't change it. But I've made my place in it and I'll have every N** in the country hanging on tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am.” (143) This is astonishing to the narrator all the while the seed of invisibility is planted. Bledsoe also speaks to Mr. Norton, and his entire demeanor changes. He is no longer the dominant figure, but now the more submissive and passive figure towards Mr. Norton. This is groundbreaking for the narrator, as the image of Bledsoe they had created in their head is scribbled all over and torn to shreds. The strong and influential Bledsoe never existed, rather a compliant and obedient Bledsoe established itself in reality. Bledsoe made his way to the top by perpetuating the white supremacist stereotypes of black men. They must work their way up by subjecting themselves to forms of white-washed education, marrying white women, and accepting any and all treatment from white people. This is reminiscent of the statue at the college depicting the founder of the university lifting a veil from someone’s face. One interpretation of the statue may be the action of lifting the veil, while an alternate interpretation may be placing the veil on the face. With Dr. Bledsoe as the president of the college, the statue takes on the meaning of Bledsoe placing the veil on the faces of his students, specifically the narrator. At this moment, the narrator finally has the realization that the veil had been put on him by Bledsoe for so long. Bledsoe not only puts the veil on the students of the college by putting them through an education that will not make them independent black contributors in society, but rather docile followers to the white members of society, he also allows himself to wear the veil. The narrator is left in a state of contemplation, as his role model revealed himself to be nothing like the person he presented himself to be at the college. Not an influential idol, but a pathetic disappointment.
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Hi Emma! I completely agree with your blog about the narrators changing perspective of Dr. Blesdoe and how he initially views him as a role model and by the end he doesn't. I found it interesting how you related it back to the statue of the founder. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I like how thoroughly you explained your ideas. I totally agree with your statements about how shocking it is to the narrator to find out about Dr. Bledsoe's false personality. I like how you describe not only how it is shocking to him that his personality is false, but also that his intentions are completely different and nowhere near as well meaning.
ReplyDeleteYou did an excellent job explaining how the narrator relates to and perceives Dr. Bledsoe. I liked how you used lots of specific evidence and examples to back up your points. I think you did a particularly well job showing how the narrator's perspective on Bledsoe changes throughout the book, and why that is. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIn some ways, Bledsoe might seem to embody the Vet's advice to the narrator: "Play the game, but don't believe in it." Part of what shocks the narrator in this scene is the way that Bledsoe seems not to genuinely care about any of the ideals that supposedly underwrite the college and its mission: it's just a "game" to him that he doesn't "believe in." But the Vet offers a much more, I don't know, "fun" version of this skepticism to the game: Bledsoe essentially has to sell his soul in order to maintain his status, and he seems angry and cynical and paranoid. The Vet has a more detached, ironic, even humorous take on the absurdities of American racism, and despite his much lower social status (where Bledsoe seems to literally have the ability to transfer him to another hospital at will), he is able to maintain an ironic and critical perspective, skeptical to all "gods" like Norton, and encouraging the narrator to look beneath the surface and to undermine authority figures like Norton or Bledsoe with humor.
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