Invisible Man Chapters 19-22 Summary

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Questions and Answers

Who disappeared in Chapter 19?

Tom Clifton

After his speech, IMAN goes with a mistress to her room.

True

At the end of Chapter 19 what happens to IMAN?

He is told he is no longer speaking for women's rights and is speaking at his old job.

In Chapter 20, IMAN discovers that?

Men had lost their job, got fired from the Brotherhood. Signup and view all the answers

Who does IMAN look for at the bar?

Brother Marceo Signup and view all the answers

Who owns the bar?

Barrelhouse Signup and view all the answers

Where does IMAN return to for his old job?

Harlem Signup and view all the answers

Who comes to get IMAN to tell him he has to come back to Harlem?

Brother Jack Signup and view all the answers

Who does IMAN look for and is not there?

Brother Tarp Signup and view all the answers

IMAN tells the remaining men to look for who that went missing in the previous chapter?

Tod Clifton Signup and view all the answers

Who is left out of the district meeting and goes to check if it's still running?

IMAN Signup and view all the answers

IMAN sees a friend of Clifton and talks to him and finds Clifton.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is at the center of the crowd?

A dancing, meant to be sambo. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sambo' refer to?

The stereotypical submissive, unintelligent slave. Signup and view all the answers

While the doll is dancing, who is barking out sales pitches?

Tom Clifton Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Clifton?

He gets shot by the police officer after punching him. Signup and view all the answers

What does IMAN do for Clifton?

Organizes a public funeral. Signup and view all the answers

What is IMAN expected to do at Tom's funeral and gets angry about?

A speech. Signup and view all the answers

The narrator is finally called into a meeting with the committee of the Brotherhood.

True Signup and view all the answers

Brother ___________ attacks IMAN for planning the funeral.

Tobitt Signup and view all the answers

What does Brother Jack inform IMAN of?

He was not hired to think. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Brotherhood against the funeral?

Because Tom had betrayed the Brotherhood by selling Sambo dolls. Signup and view all the answers

What falls out when Brother Jack stands up angrily?

Brother Jack's glass eye. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 19-22 Summary

Tom Clifton disappears in Chapter 19, creating a sense of mystery surrounding his fate.
After delivering a speech, the Invisible Man (IMAN) is seen with a mistress, highlighting his complex personal life and choices.
By the end of Chapter 19, IMAN is informed he is no longer representing women's rights and must return to his former job, indicating a shift in his role within the Brotherhood.
In Chapter 20, IMAN learns that men have lost their jobs due to firings from the Brotherhood, showcasing the consequences of organizational decisions on individuals.
IMAN searches for Brother Marceo at the bar, reflecting his attempt to connect with allies within the movement.
The bar is owned by Barrelhouse, suggesting a setting that might have significance in the story’s social dynamics.
IMAN returns to Harlem to reclaim his old job, symbolizing a return to his roots amid the chaos.
Brother Jack is the one who retrieves IMAN, emphasizing his role as a messenger and authority within the Brotherhood.
IMAN looks for Brother Tarp but finds him absent, highlighting the disarray in the community.
IMAN instructs the remaining men to locate Tod Clifton, who has gone missing, showing the importance of their camaraderie and concern for each other.
IMAN goes uninvited to a district meeting, illustrating his increasing sense of isolation within the Brotherhood.
IMAN encounters a friend of Clifton, who whistled and left without sharing information, reflecting a breakdown in communication and connection.
The crowd is centered around a dancing figure representing "Sambo," a caricature of submissive stereotypes associated with slavery.
"Sambo" is depicted as the archetype of the unintelligent, submissive slave, reinforcing themes of racial stereotypes and identity.
During the doll's performance, Tom Clifton barked sales pitches, blending commerce with cultural exploitation.
Tragedy strikes when Clifton is shot by a police officer after confronting him, marking a pivotal moment of violence and loss.
IMAN takes initiative by organizing a public funeral for Clifton, emphasizing his leadership and commitment to community mourning.
IMAN is frustrated when he is expected to deliver a speech at Clifton’s funeral, indicating his inner conflict about public expectations.
The narrator finally gets called into a meeting with the Brotherhood committee, reflecting a point of escalation in organizational dynamics.
Brother Tobitt criticizes IMAN for planning the funeral, illustrating internal tensions regarding loyalty and leadership.
Brother Jack reveals to IMAN that he is not hired to think, limiting his autonomy within the Brotherhood and accentuating organizational control.
The Brotherhood opposes Clifton's funeral because he betrayed them by selling Sambo dolls, showcasing ideological conflicts within the organization.
During an angry outburst, Brother Jack's glass eye falls out, serving as a symbol of vulnerability and the fragility of their power structure.

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Description

Explore the critical events of Chapters 19-22 in 'Invisible Man'. Tom Clifton's mysterious disappearance and the Invisible Man's shifting roles within the Brotherhood reveal important themes of identity and consequence. This summary also highlights social dynamics and personal struggles in Harlem.