Invisible Man Summary

The protagonist, who asserts that he is unseen by others, lives in seclusion, pilfering electricity to fuel his solitary existence beneath the city, where he recounts his life. As a gifted speaker in his youth, he is humiliated by influential white men in his town when he's asked to participate in a brutal spectacle before being awarded a scholarship to a highly esteemed Black college.

While studying in college, the protagonist comes into conflict with Mr. Norton, a white benefactor of the institution, and the college president, Dr. Bledsoe, which leads to his expulsion. After his expulsion, he travels to Harlem in the 1930s in search of employment, where he is met with deception and betrayal. He gains work at a paint factory, but following a disagreement and subsequent accident, he ends up in a hospital where he undergoes electro-shock treatment.

Revitalized, the protagonist becomes involved in the Brotherhood, a political organization claiming to champion the oppressed. However, the organization's true intentions and manipulations soon come to light. The protagonist witnesses racial tension escalate in Harlem, leading to a riot. Attempting to flee from the chaos, he falls into a manhole, where he decides to stay hidden. The protagonist concludes his tale by acknowledging the importance of staying true to oneself while acknowledging his responsibilities towards his community, signaling his readiness to come out of hiding.