Invisible Man: Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

When the narrator returns to Mary Rambo’s, the smell of cabbage reminds him of his lack of funds. It occurs to him that Mary must also be short of money, and he realizes that he cannot realistically turn down the job that Brother Jack has offered him. The narrator looks at the telephone number, realizing that he hadn’t even learned the organization’s name before rejecting it.

Feeling indebted to Mary, the narrator decides to call Brother Jack’s number. He tells Mary that he has to take care of some business, and Mary tells him to return quickly so that he can eat dinner.

Brother Jack seems unsurprised by the narrator’s phone call, and tells the narrator to meet him as quickly as possible. When the narrator reaches the given address, a car pulls up with Jack and some other men inside. Jack tells him that they’re headed to a party. The car speeds downtown through Central Park. Eventually they arrive at a strange, expensive-looking building called the Chthonian.

Brother Jack and his group enter the building, and the narrator has the sense that he’s been there before. A “smartly dressed” woman named Emma opens a door for them, and the narrator is caught in her gaze. Inside, the narrator is amazed by the lavish interiors of the rooms. The group enters a large room filled with well-dressed men and women. The narrator feels uncomfortable, but no one pays him any special attention.

Emma serves a drink to the narrator and to Brother Jack. Jack tells Emma that the narrator simply rose up out of a crowd, and Emma seems impressed. However, when the narrator turns his back, he hears Emma questioning Jack. Emma wonders if the narrator’s skin is black enough to be their representative in Harlem. Jack silences Emma, but the narrator is angered by their exchange. He resolves to be careful, including being careful drinking liquor.

The narrator is asked to join a “business” meeting in the library. Brother Jack explains about the Brotherhood, telling the narrator that the organization’s goal is to work for the betterment of all people. Jack tells him that his organization has been waiting for someone like the narrator, and that his job is to move the people to action. Brother Jack asks the narrator if he’d like to be “the new Booker T. Washington.” At first, the narrator thinks he’s joking, but quickly realizes he’s serious.

An unnamed man with a pipe interrupts Brother Jack’s passionate words, asking him to speak more “concretely” and “scientifically.” Brother Jack tells him not to interrupt, and returns to exalting the great men of the past. He tells the narrator that they are at a crisis point in world history, and that things must be changed. The narrator is very impressed with his words, and asks if they think he’s the right man for the job. Jack tells him that he will rise to the occasion.

Brother Jack inquires about the narrator’s living situation, and the narrator explains his lodgings with Mary. Jack tells the narrator that it is best if he moves, and that the Brotherhood will find him new quarters. Jack also tells him to stop writing home to his family. Emma gives the narrator a slip of paper that contains a new name, the name he will be known by as a member of the Brotherhood. He is asked to go by his new name at all times. Last, the narrator is given $300 and a weekly wage to pay off his rent and buy new clothes.

The members all drink “To History” and return to the large room to socialize. The narrator is introduced to everyone by his new Brotherhood name. As Brother Jack and the narrator go from group to group, the narrator vows to himself that he will work hard and model his life after the Founder.

The narrator is standing by the room’s piano where a group of Brotherhood members are singing. A very drunk man asks the narrator to sing a spiritual, telling the narrator that he likes the way black people sing. Brother Jack loudly protests that the narrator does not sing. The drunken man keeps pressing, and eventually Jack has him removed from the party.

All the members of the party are deeply embarrassed by the drunken man. The narrator, however, is amused, and begins laughing uproariously. Soon the entire room is laughing, as if the narrator’s laughter has given everyone else permission to laugh as well. A woman apologizes directly the narrator, telling him that not all Brotherhood members are so “highly developed.” The narrator is somewhat put off by her apology, and muses that there must be a way for the man to ask him to sing without it being seen as racist.

Emma asks the narrator to dance with her. The narrator takes up her challenge, telling himself that he must never appear surprised around these people. The narrator dances and drinks until 5 a.m., after which he returns home. Mary has changed his bed, and the narrator feels a wave of gratitude toward her. He is saddened that he will have to leave Mary so soon, but he decides to trust the Brotherhood’s decisions.

The narrator thinks about how happy Mary will be when he pays back the rent that he owes her. He is afraid of telling her that he’s moving, thinking that his abrupt decision will seem like ingratitude. He also reflects that there are certain things he dislikes about Mary, particularly her tendency to think using “we” instead of as an individual.

The narrator thinks about simply leaving the money in an envelope without saying goodbye to Mary. Next, the narrator thinks back on the night and decides he will have to become as articulate as the members of the Brotherhood, who seem to know how to say exactly what they mean. His thoughts a muddle, the narrator falls asleep.