Sex and Power in Chapter 13

Sex and Power in Chapter 13

Power shows itself in several places, not least of which on page 288 with Brother Jack. The Invisible Man makes a very inspiring and impressive speech earlier in the chapter, and later a man approaches him and says, "'Then say that I'm an admirer.'" "'Admirer of what?'" asks the Invisible Man. "'Of your speech,'" he said. 'I was listening.'" For the Invisible Man, getting a white man to listen to and notice him is power. However, it later shows itself to be only a surface thing, a facade, an illusion of power for the Invisible Man as he discovers what Brother Jack is really all about.

Sex shows itself only briefly. On page 287: "'Hurry, Doctor,' a man called from the stoop, 'she's in labor.'" The appearance of a birth continues the symbolism of birth as representative of new beginnings for the Invisible Man as they have been appearing in the past few chapters.