The narrator in Invisible Man describes the leg chain in Chapter 18 as "oily and strangely skinlike." What characterizes the tone that this diction creates?

Answer 1

The diction used to describe the leg chain as "oily and strangely skinlike" in Chapter 18 of Invisible Man creates a tone of unease and discomfort. The use of words like "oily" and "strangely" suggest a sense of something unnatural or unsettling about the leg chain. Additionally, the comparison of the chain to skin adds a layer of disturbing intimacy to the description, as if the chain is somehow merging with or taking on human qualities. Overall, the tone created by this diction conveys a sense of the dehumanizing and degrading nature of the leg chain, contributing to the larger themes of oppression and power dynamics in the novel.