Literature-In-English Paper 2 WASSCE (SC), 2023

Question 6                  RALPH ELLISON: Invisible Man

Examine the ideology of ‘the Brotherhood’ in the novel.

 

This question was a popular one. The question demands that the candidates carefully assess the ideology of the Brotherhood organization. Those who attempted it did not do well.

Candidates were expected to discuss the following:

  • The theme of concerns the plight of the black man in racist America in the 20th century.
  • Identification of ‘the Brotherhood’.
  • The ideology of ‘the Brotherhood’: the perspective of the Brotherhood is evolutionary and hopes for change in due course. The ideology holds that blacks have needs that must be voiced and that only blacks can articulate these. It is the ideology of the Brotherhood that blacks and whites should accommodate each other.
  • Contradictory ideology of Ras, the Exhorter: their ideology is one of black retribution against whites. The contrary ideology rejects black-and-white coexistence.
  • Effects of ‘the Brotherhood’ ideology: the ideology achieves partial recognition for the Brotherhood. It causes division among blacks. Through the ideology, the Brotherhood infuses hope in its members. 

Candidates presented shallow answers.