The Narrator
Ammon - The Hidden
Meaning: "Possessing the tools to work well with other people. His destiny is in the role of the mediator and the peacemaker. In many ways Ammon is dependent on others....Modesty runs deep in his nature, and Ammon can work comfortably without recognition of his accomplishments....As Ammon grows in this direction, Ammon becomes sensitive to the feelings of others, Ammon is ever diplomatic in handling complicated situations. Cooperative, courteous, and considerate, Ammon has the capacity to become an outstanding facilitator. Ammon understands how to organize and handle people. Ammon is a good detail person because Ammon rarely overlooks anything. Tactful and friendly, nearly everyone likes him. Ammon may be fond of reading or other activities that involve retreating to periods of being alone and away from the disruptions of the outer world. Ammon likes to dream and develop idealistic understandings, to study and analyze, to gain knowledge and wisdom....Ammon will be much more comfortable in circumstances that are tolerant of his reserve, his analytical approach, and his desire to use his mind rather than his physical being."
Explanation: Throughout Invisible Man, the narrator possesses many of the traits as described above, making it appropriate to give him the name Ammon. When the narrator first travels to the North and sees that it is no better than the South, he has a strong desire to find out why. In joining the Brotherhood, after demonstrating his skills of speaking and organization at an eviction, he thinks he has finally been granted that opportunity to fight racial inequality. As a member of the Brotherhood, the narrator is given the task to rally the people of Harlem by giving speeches. In doing so, he becomes renowned for the power his words have in organizing the people and getting them riled up. This was especially seen after the death of Tod Clifton, when the narrator was able to gather the community for a funeral that intentionally developed into a stand against the injustice and prejudice conveyed through Clifton's death. Moreover, in line with the meaning of the name Ammon, the narrator expresses throughout the novel a great use of the mind, as he analyzes almost every circumstance he finds himself in for more meaning and significance. He also shows the desire to learn more and gain a better understanding of the world around him. Additionally, the narrator, when on his own, discusses his identity and sense of invisibility excessively. He believes himself to be invisible in the sense that he does not have an identity that has any meaning to him and one that nobody else can see. When he joined the Brotherhood, he was given a new name to go by and thus became a new person, the person the Brotherhood wanted him to be. Later in the novel, when people mistake him for Rinehart, he once again becomes someone else. It is in these instances that the narrator becomes most analytical and reflective of himself. It is not until the end of the novel however that the narrator realizes that although he is an invisible man, he has an identity, whether or not anyone else can see it. As the last important connection to the name Ammon that describes his tendency to retreat into periods of being alone, the narrator too falls into the sewers at the end of the novel and is trapped there, alone. After attempting to escape, he eventually decides to call the place home because of its darkness and solidarity, and its disconnection from society. It is there that the narrator can finally separate himself from the destruction of society and accept his identity of invisibility. As evidenced through the experiences of the narrator and his personal growth as a result, the name that would most suit him would be Ammon, the hidden and the mediator.
Meaning: "Possessing the tools to work well with other people. His destiny is in the role of the mediator and the peacemaker. In many ways Ammon is dependent on others....Modesty runs deep in his nature, and Ammon can work comfortably without recognition of his accomplishments....As Ammon grows in this direction, Ammon becomes sensitive to the feelings of others, Ammon is ever diplomatic in handling complicated situations. Cooperative, courteous, and considerate, Ammon has the capacity to become an outstanding facilitator. Ammon understands how to organize and handle people. Ammon is a good detail person because Ammon rarely overlooks anything. Tactful and friendly, nearly everyone likes him. Ammon may be fond of reading or other activities that involve retreating to periods of being alone and away from the disruptions of the outer world. Ammon likes to dream and develop idealistic understandings, to study and analyze, to gain knowledge and wisdom....Ammon will be much more comfortable in circumstances that are tolerant of his reserve, his analytical approach, and his desire to use his mind rather than his physical being."
Explanation: Throughout Invisible Man, the narrator possesses many of the traits as described above, making it appropriate to give him the name Ammon. When the narrator first travels to the North and sees that it is no better than the South, he has a strong desire to find out why. In joining the Brotherhood, after demonstrating his skills of speaking and organization at an eviction, he thinks he has finally been granted that opportunity to fight racial inequality. As a member of the Brotherhood, the narrator is given the task to rally the people of Harlem by giving speeches. In doing so, he becomes renowned for the power his words have in organizing the people and getting them riled up. This was especially seen after the death of Tod Clifton, when the narrator was able to gather the community for a funeral that intentionally developed into a stand against the injustice and prejudice conveyed through Clifton's death. Moreover, in line with the meaning of the name Ammon, the narrator expresses throughout the novel a great use of the mind, as he analyzes almost every circumstance he finds himself in for more meaning and significance. He also shows the desire to learn more and gain a better understanding of the world around him. Additionally, the narrator, when on his own, discusses his identity and sense of invisibility excessively. He believes himself to be invisible in the sense that he does not have an identity that has any meaning to him and one that nobody else can see. When he joined the Brotherhood, he was given a new name to go by and thus became a new person, the person the Brotherhood wanted him to be. Later in the novel, when people mistake him for Rinehart, he once again becomes someone else. It is in these instances that the narrator becomes most analytical and reflective of himself. It is not until the end of the novel however that the narrator realizes that although he is an invisible man, he has an identity, whether or not anyone else can see it. As the last important connection to the name Ammon that describes his tendency to retreat into periods of being alone, the narrator too falls into the sewers at the end of the novel and is trapped there, alone. After attempting to escape, he eventually decides to call the place home because of its darkness and solidarity, and its disconnection from society. It is there that the narrator can finally separate himself from the destruction of society and accept his identity of invisibility. As evidenced through the experiences of the narrator and his personal growth as a result, the name that would most suit him would be Ammon, the hidden and the mediator.
Source:
"Ammon." Baby Names. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://babynames.merschat.com/index.cgi function=View&bn_key=51209>.
"Ammon." Baby Names. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://babynames.merschat.com/index.cgi function=View&bn_key=51209>.