Invisible Man: Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

On a sunny day, the narrator sets out to meet Mr. Emerson. He wonders what is going on back on the college campus, and suddenly feels sure that something good will happen that day.

Near the curb, the narrator sees a man with a cart full of blue papers. The blues man is singing an old blues song that compares the body parts of his loved one to animals. When the narrator comes alongside him, the blues man asks him a strange question: “Is you got the dog?” The narrator is unsure how to answer the question, and the man implies that the narrator should know, as he’s also from down south.

Exasperated, the narrator finally replies that he doesn’t have “the dog.” The blues man tells the narrator not to get mad, as he thought that the narrator was trying to “deny” him. He says that maybe the dog has a hold of the narrator instead, and that he himself has got “the bear” clawing him. He calls Harlem a “bear’s den,” but also “the best place in the world for you and me.”

The narrator asks what the blues man is doing with all the blue paper. The man replies that they’re real blueprints, even though he can’t build anything with them. The man says that people are always changing their plans, to which the narrator replies, “You have to stick to the plan.” The blues man introduces himself as "Peter Wheatstraw [...] the Devil's only son-in-law" and continues with his banter, which the narrator begins to like, although he does not know how to reply. The blues man departs, singing his blues as he walks off.

The narrator reflects that he’s heard talk like the blues man’s all his life, but only now noticed how strange it really is. He notices the musicality of the blues man, thinking about the strangeness of the song and its lyrics, and for a moment feels proud of his race.

The narrator enters a drugstore for breakfast. The man behind the counter offers the narrator a special of pork chops, a southern dish. The narrator, taking offense to being automatically seen as southern, orders a plain meal of orange juice, toast and coffee. The narrator hopes he will be a little different when he returns to school.

The narrator thinks about Dr. Bledsoe, noting that the students never know how he acts when he’s away from campus. He thinks that this difference is part of what makes Bledsoe a good leader, as “he was never out of our minds.” Finally, the narrator thinks that maybe he knew this all along. As he leaves, the narrator notices pork chops being served to a white, blond man.

The narrator arrives at Mr. Emerson’s office. He inspects the office, which is filled with a huge map and exotic oddities from around the world. The narrator assumes the business must be an importing company. A blond man with glasses (young Emerson) asks the narrator what his business might be.

The narrator explains his appointment and hands young Emerson his letter. Young Emerson leaves with the letter and the narrator goes back to inspecting the room, noticing Chinese statues and an aviary of tropical birds. Young Emerson seems to be reading Freud’s Totem and Taboo. Certain items in the room remind the narrator of relics from slavery times in the college museum.

Young Emerson returns and invites the narrator into his office. He sits down and asks the narrator what it is he wishes to accomplish. The narrator tells him he wishes to get a job in order to return to school. Young Emerson asks the narrator more questions, including his age and what he thinks of his college. He asks the narrator what he would think of transferring, and the narrator says reluctantly that he’s never thought of it.

When asked, the narrator tells young Emerson that his career goal is to become Dr. Bledsoe’s assistant. He asks the narrator how many letters of introduction he was given, to which the narrator tells him seven. Young Emerson is clearly displeased, but the narrator can’t seem to figure out why. Young Emerson mentions that he has just had a difficult session with his analyst.

Suddenly, young Emerson asks the narrator if two strangers can speak to each other with total honesty. The narrator doesn’t understand the question. Young Emerson tells the narrator he must disillusion him, as there is a “tyranny” involved in his request for a job. The narrator doesn’t understand, and simply wants to see Mr. Emerson (the trustee) and have a word with him.

Young Emerson tries to give the narrator advice, but the narrator doesn’t want to hear it. Young Emerson tells the narrator not to go back to the south, as there is more freedom in New York City. He tells the narrator that it would be “best” for him to forget college all together. The narrator begins to get angry, blaming young Emerson for not letting him see Mr. Emerson. Young Emerson reveals that Mr. Emerson is his father.

Unable to convince the narrator any other way, young Emerson opens the letter of introduction and lets the narrator read it. Dr. Bledsoe’s letter instructs Mr. Emerson to mislead the narrator, allowing him to hope that he will return to school when it is no longer possible. The narrator is dumbstruck by the news that the letters were intended to impede him. The narrator says he only wanted to return to college, but young Emerson tells him he can no longer do so.

Young Emerson tries to offer the narrator a job, first as his valet, then mentioning an opportunity at Liberty Paints. The narrator, dejected, turns him down. To the narrator, the entire situation seems like a joke. As he returns home, he hears a familiar tune, an old song about tying up a robin and plucking him. The narrator starts humming the tune and soon compares himself to the robin.

The narrator wonders if young Emerson had an ulterior motive of his own, as everyone else seems to have one. At home, the narrator is filled with anger toward Bledsoe. He begins to laugh and plot his revenge, telling himself that this time he will make the first move. He calls Liberty Paints, as mentioned by young Emerson, and the factory tells him to report to work the next morning.