IDENTITY CRISIS OF NEGRO YOUTHS IN RICHARD WRIGHT’S NATIVE SON AND RALPH ELLISON’S INVISIBLE MAN

Negroes' racial roots repeatedly create obstacles in their search for identity. Though identity crisis is much debated issue in literature but it carries special implication in the case Native Son and Invisible Man. Mr. Wright exemplifies identity crisis to great extent in Native Son. He explores how identity crisis leads dehumanization and self-destruction for its young Negro protagonist. He said. “Men can starve from a lack of self realization as much as they can from a lack of bread” (Wright, 1). The above remark is applicable for condition of Bigger Thomas in Native Son. Bigger is the protagonist who is possessive of his identity and suffers by thinking of his Negro origin. He is a twenty year's black uneducated Negro youth craving for his social acceptance in the American society. He is trapped in puzzle where he is considered inferior because he is black. Invisible Man reflects identifiable irony of social identity through painful efforts and experience of re-identification. Mr. Ellison uses the first irony in not naming his character. His protagonist is fatherless and because of his fatherlessness he expects help in the process of re identification. He meets various characters whom he assumes as supportive and fatherly figures. Many of them exploit the protagonist. Dr Bledsoe spoils protagonist's career as a Negro student. Mr. Norton did nothing for stopping protagonist's expulsion. The protagonist realizes that Mr. Norton pretends to be liberal but in reality he does not value identity of Negroes. Protagonist's expectations for liberty from Mr. Norton end with arousing frustration in him. In the next stage protagonist's confrontation with Vet (madman) shows ironic importance because Vet has victimized by the fake assurance of freedom by Mr. Norton. His insanity suggests ironical implication of broken expectations of Negroes and effects of identity crisis.