Ralph Ellison introduced a story about a nameless young African American protagonist who is struggling to find himself. Ellison's use of imagery and satire dramatizes the horrific experiences of the protagonist and vividly depicts real cultural issues that help to explore the theme of individuals' search for self-identity which helps the main character to live with a clear mind and to make contribution to his self-value realization.

             First of all, the protagonist's growth environment foreshadows that he always submits to the white dominance and lacks the sense of self. The behavior of African Americans who live around the narrator has a tremendous influence on the shape of his initial behavior. The freed African are told to be united with others "in everything pertaining to the common good "(Ellison 227), then "they stayed in their place, worked hard "(Ellison 227), which means they never betray and question the white's and gradually get used to obey all demands without their own thoughts. Therefore, the narrator's birth and development in this situation naturally leads him to following the traditions that his grandfather who "brought up my father to do the same (Ellison 227). As a result, his view of a good place for himself is to behave in a certain way without protest and to win the praise of the white people. It explains why he feels "guilty and uncomfortable (Ellison 227) when he acts "against white's wishes (Ellison 227). Therefore, the character initially plays a role of a robot in that all his directions are based on the wishes of white Americans and controlled by them, which led him often has no consciousness of himself and revolt. .

             Furthermore, the narrator's grandfather is a clue throughout the story, promoting the change of the protagonist's perception. To begin with, the narrator creates the good image of his grandfather who is "a quiet old man who never made any trouble (Ellison 227) as a good example for the freed slaves, however, his grandfather claims "I have been a traitor who is a spy in the enemy's country ever since I give up my gun back in the Reconstruction (Ellison 227).