Invisible Man Ch 25 Discussion Questions

Chapter 25

1. Why do people loot during riots? Think in terms of literally or symbolically why might people loot.
   
2. Where and how do the colors blue, red, or grey come up? What might they represent?
   
3. On page 540 Scofield says, “A man oughtn’t to be greedy. Though it’s time something like this happened.” Is the statement ironic? Why or why not? What does he mean by this statement?
   
4. Why does Scofield claim that TIM is “all right” (page 542) and what does that say about the state of things at that moment? Why does TIM go along with it? Would Scofield claim that if he was aware of TIM’s ties to the Brotherhood? Why or why not?
   
5. What do you think of Dupre’s plan? Why are they doing it? Why does TIM go along with it? What does the plan mean literally or symbolically?
   
6. What is the significance of the quote TIM states: “They organized it and carried it through alone; the decision their own and their own action. Capable of their own action…” (548)?
   
   1. Who is “they” in this quote and what are the decisions or actions?
      
   2. What implications does this have on the work TIM has been doing with the Brotherhood?
      
7. Why is TIM so attached to his briefcase? What does it represent?
   
   1. What does he eventually say is in it and why does he say this (566)?
      
8. What does Ras want with TIM and why? What is TIM’s defence against it? Do you believe it? Why or why not?
   
9. What is the significance of names that are forgotten? What does the forgetting of names represent or symbolize about the person (or what the person represents)?
   
10. Throughout the book TIM brings up laughing, things being funny, or even a lack of laughter - what do you think the laughter represents?
    
11. Was TIM’s grandfather’s last words right or wrong? Why or why does TIM think what he thinks?
    
12. What is the symbolic difference between an oppressor freeing their oppressed versus the oppressed freeing themselves?
    
13. What is the significance of TIM’s dream (569-570)?
    
14. What does the last line of the chapter mean?
    
15. What does it mean to be invisible? In what ways is it good, in what ways is it bad?