Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author feels surrounded by distorting mirrors that prevent seeing his true self. He feels dehumanized and fragmented by how others perceive him.
- In plain terms
- I feel distorted and unseen by those around me.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid environments that distort your self-perception.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who are you without their eyes?
- How do you stay grounded?
Another view
Feeling distorted is subjective and hard to change alone.
More from Ralph Ellison
Play the game, but don't believe in it.
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Permalink to quote #24 When I discover who I am, I'll be free.
Permalink to quote #21
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