Reading 1001 discussion

2. One drawback of invisibility is that "you ache with the need to convince yourself that you do exist in the real world" [p. 4]. How does the narrator try to prove that he exists? Does this sentence provide a clue to the behavior of other characters in the book?

it would tell us that others choose to not see him

The narrator is a good speaker and makes himself heard (maybe not seen) with his speaking. He has violent altercations which prove for a short time to those involved and himself that he exists.

Yes, his speaking ability proves he's important and heard. This feeling starts as early as his high school graduation speech.

His writing to us also proves he exists.

He uses his speaking skills to connect to people and to make them aware of his circumstances and those of his brothers.

Book wrote: "The narrator is a good speaker and makes himself heard (maybe not seen) with his speaking. He has violent altercations which prove for a short time to those involved and himself that he exists."

But there was the situation in the prologue where a white guy bumps or pushes him and refuses to apologize, because he was invisible, and he ends up beating him, and almost killing him, and reflects n how the guy must be confused, beaten by someone who wasn't there.