Tod Clifton is an important character in the book invisible man. he is a black member of the brotherhood. Tod is very smart and passionate about the brotherhood. Tod eventually parted ways with the brotherhood and this is where his name becomes ironic with his character There is not a clear cut reason why he leaves, but he starts selling sambo dolls betraying black people and the brotherhood. Clifton is seen selling his dolls on the street which is illegal and is followed and killed. This is where " quiet death" comes in play. The community and many former members of the brotherhood is fearious and finds his death unnecessary. With his " unnecessary" or his " senseless " death symbolize cliftons name
@rob i kinda have an different outlook on his death. I believe that the meaning of his name is inappropriate to how he died. He obviously was a outspoken person he wanted to make himself known and publicize himself. Also he was unaware, and I honestly believe he didn't want to die but maybe his death brought out a different side of people. So instead of quiet death it should be "altering death" (life-changing).
@Destiny & Rob Destiny, I like your articulation that "altering death" is more fitting. I wonder what effect you interpret it to have on the society. However, I think that Rob is more so pointing out the irony of Tod's name because it has such a life-chaning effect on the public (in addition to the fact that the brotherhood would like to ignore it). But can the brotherhood ignore it? Tod's loud, earth-shaking death inevitably is loud, despite the desired "quiet death".
The name Tod (quiet death) symbolizes his ability to be pushed to the side and not seen for what he is. His murder left the black community outraged but the Brotherhood, the ones you'd expect to be broken up about it seemed not to care (hence the silent death). I feel that the name was perfectly fitting for the story.
Tod Clifton is an important character in the book invisible man. he is a black member of the brotherhood. Tod is very smart and passionate about the brotherhood. Tod eventually parted ways with the brotherhood and this is where his name becomes ironic with his character There is not a clear cut reason why he leaves, but he starts selling sambo dolls betraying black people and the brotherhood. Clifton is seen selling his dolls on the street which is illegal and is followed and killed. This is where " quiet death" comes in play. The community and many former members of the brotherhood is fearious and finds his death unnecessary. With his " unnecessary" or his " senseless " death symbolize cliftons name
ReplyDelete@rob i kinda have an different outlook on his death. I believe that the meaning of his name is inappropriate to how he died. He obviously was a outspoken person he wanted to make himself known and publicize himself. Also he was unaware, and I honestly believe he didn't want to die but maybe his death brought out a different side of people. So instead of quiet death it should be "altering death" (life-changing).
ReplyDelete@Destiny & Rob
DeleteDestiny, I like your articulation that "altering death" is more fitting. I wonder what effect you interpret it to have on the society.
However, I think that Rob is more so pointing out the irony of Tod's name because it has such a life-chaning effect on the public (in addition to the fact that the brotherhood would like to ignore it). But can the brotherhood ignore it? Tod's loud, earth-shaking death inevitably is loud, despite the desired "quiet death".
@rob I agree with you. He was very loyal to the brotherhood.
ReplyDelete@rob I agree somewhat. I believe that Clifton didn't betray the Brotherhood but realized that they were indirectly rooting blacks to fail.
ReplyDeleteThe name Tod (quiet death) symbolizes his ability to be pushed to the side and not seen for what he is. His murder left the black community outraged but the Brotherhood, the ones you'd expect to be broken up about it seemed not to care (hence the silent death). I feel that the name was perfectly fitting for the story.
ReplyDelete