The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is a novel which embodies the universal theme of self-discovery, of the search to figure out who one truly is in life which we all are embarked upon. Throughout the text, the narrator is constantly wondering about who he really is, and evaluating the different identities which he assumes for himself. He progresses from being a hopeful student with a bright future to being just another poor black laborer …showed first 75 words of 1875 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1875 total…a theme of self-discovery, of how other people cannot tell you who you really are, though they will try if given the chance. The narrator's efforts to find out who he is represents the way in which we all must strive to define ourselves. Defining oneself is one major theme (though not the only one) that is present throughout the novel, as well as one that is constantly reinforced by the events in the story.