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Mary Rambo’s character functions similarly to Emma’s. She is introduced in chapter twelve as the Invisible Man arrives in Harlem. While in a confused and weak state, the Invisible Man encounters Mary. She says, “You take it easy, I’ll take care of you like I done a heap of others, my name’s Mary Rambo, everybody knows me round this part of Harlem, you heard of me, ain’t you?” (Ellison 252). The Invisible Man drifts into sleep and wakes up to find Mary sitting across the room. Mary works at the Men’s House in Harlem and helps the Invisible Man. However, while she helps the Invisible Man through a period when he is lost, she is not a part of the narrative for more than a chapter. The way the Invisible Man uses Mary is clear when he narrates, “I found her exceedingly irritating to listen to. Still, she never dunned me and was as generous with her servings of food during mealtime as ever. “It’s just hard times you going through,” she’d say. “Everybody worth his salt has his hard times, and when you get to be somebody you’ll see these here very same hard times helped you a heap” (Ellison 258). Mary’s character offers emotional support, housing, and comfort during the period in time when the Invisible Man seems to have lost his way. However, the Invisible Man doesn’t think of Mary as anything special and even describes her as a sense of stability in his life. He says, “Nor did I think of Mary as a “friend”; she was something more a force, a stable, familiar force…Mary reminded me constantly that something was expected of me, some act of leadership, some newsworthy achievement; and I was torn between resenting her for it and loving her for the nebulous hope she kept alive” (Ellison 258). The Invisible Man does not enjoy Mary’s company or think anything special of her. Rather, she provides him with things he needs at a moment in time during which, he is vulnerable. She does nothing more than stroke his ego by instilling confidence back into him and helping him to get back on his feet. However, as soon as he feels he is ready to take on whatever comes his way, he does not think of her again. She is merely a blip on his radar and a small section in a chapter of the book.
Mary’s involvement with the Invisible Man functions like the other female characters in the book. Their existence is only mentioned as they serve the men of the novel. While the racial division that exists in the novel is stark, the novel places a clear divide between men and women, as well. When added to the racial tension in the novel, the women do not have any purpose but to help the Invisible Man along his journey and to carry the plot forward. Other than the supporting role they play, they are not tied to racial tension and the rights of women are only mentioned once or twice. In looking more closely at the role that women play in the novel, their existence is only brought up by men. This is both white men and men of color. This blatant disregard is comical when juxtaposed with the title of the novel. While it is called, Invisible Man, in an attempt to portray the state of the man of color and the lack of rights he has, forcing him to live a life underground, the women of the novel are almost non-existent. It can be argued that they are forgotten, left behind, and are truly the “invisible” ones
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