The title character in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man recollects about a time at college before he became disillusioned. Throughout the Invisible Man's descriptions of the college campus, he incorporates literary techniques such as symbolism, allusions and paradoxes, which enhances Ellison's theme of a bittersweet recollection.

The Invisible Man recalls the moment in his life when he is traveling the college grounds taking in the bittersweet aspects of the campus. When he enters the church to listen to a speech he thinks of ."..those who set me in this Eden...and who exhorted and threatened, intimidated with innocent words they described the limitations of our lives and the vast boldness of our aspirations" (112). The allusion to the Garden of Eden denotes that he is in a beautiful, enchanting place, but his feelings about the people there do not reflect the physical beauty of his surroundings. His recollection is bittersweet...