The Role of "Crazy Men" in "Invisible Man".

In Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" there are numerous characters who are totally disillusioned for the entirety of the plot. The main character and the people that he takes advice from, have narrow and troubling views of the world and this leads to many difficult situations. Ironically the characters who have the most clear views of the world around them are those who are looked down upon by society. The vet, the blueprint man, and Trueblood …

…Ellison stresses that although legitimacy is valuable in this society, it seems unattainable unless one sacrifices their responsibility to humanity. At the end of the book, we see that the man has descended to the depths of a basement where he does not need to have any contact with the outside world and he has relinquished all his responsibilities, thus becoming one of the truth-telling outcasts, just like Trueblood, the blueprint man and the vet.