Invisibility and Visibility

Oyeyemi uses the motif of literal invisibility to critique metaphoric and structural invisibility throughout the novel. The novel’s main intrigue follows the relationship between Přemsyl and Ava — Přemsyl, a person who may or may not exist, and Ava, the woman who ‘unsees’ him. Although Ava and Přemsyl’s respective culpability in this relationship is unclear, it is obvious that Přemsyl wants nothing more than to be seen by Ava. Yuri compares Přemsyl’s experience of being ‘unseen’ by Ava to having his metaphorical “account” (his existence in the world) “deactivated” (238). In particular, Yuri notes that Přemsyl wants nothing more than “to appear in photographs” as a way of making his bonds in the world “irrefutable” (239). It is only through being seen that Přemsyl can ‘exist’ — existence without being visible, particularly without appearing in photographs which can...