In the Invisible Man, the role of minor characters greatly impacts the story. Dr. Bledsoe is introduced in the beginning of the novel and is the one responsible for narrator's trip to New York. The vet comes in during the scene at the Golden Day and acts much like a prophet to I.M. 's life. Rinehart is the epitome of invisibility which plays a role in the narrator's thoughts on life. Ellison uses his minor characters well, and they deeply influence how I.M. acts in certain situations.
             When the narrator is in college, he believes he is on his way to success. This belief is derailed when I.M. makes an insignificant mistake and Dr. Bledsoe, the school president, strictly punishes him. Bledsoe expels I.M. from the university and sends him to New York to find work. Bledsoe tells the narrator to makes some money up north to return to school knowing he will never see the narrator again. As a courtesy, Bledsoe gives I.M. some recommendation letters to help him find work, but the narrator doesn't suspect that Bledsoe has sabotaged the letters. All of the recommendations speak poorly of the narrator. As a result, I.M. becomes filled with anger towards Bledsoe and cynicism towards the world. I.M. hopes to get back to the university to teach Bledsoe a lesson.
             The old vet the narrator meets at a bar has a great effect on the narrators life. The vet tells I.M. his beliefs about the world. One of these beliefs is that I.M. is basically a tool for the white man. The vet says, "He (I.M.) believes in that great false wisdom taught slaves and pragmatists alike, that white is right. I can tell you (Mr. Norton) his destiny. He'll do your bidding, and for that his blindness is his chief asset. " At this point in the story, the narrator doesn't understand what this "crazy" man is talking about and passes off what he says as meaningless. Coincidentally, th
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