The Failure of "Yessing" in Invisible Man

In Ralph Ellison's novel, Invisible Man, the Invisible Man's strategy to "yes [the Brotherhood] to death and destruction" is ineffective. He applies this strategy in two ways: 1) He tells the Brotherhood that they are more effective than ever, when in fact they are despised in Harlem. 2) He tries to get inside information about the Brotherhood by seducing Sybil, the neglected wife of a wealthy Brotherhood member.

The Invisible Man's grandfather, when he was on his deathbed, said: "... yes 'em to death and destruction." The veteran, on the train that takes the Invisible Man from the South to the North, tells the Invisible Man, "Play the game, but play it your own way...." But when the Invisible Man tries these things, they don't work. He has been assuming that the Brotherhood wants to command respect and obedience in Harlem, and that, therefore, he will be harming the Brotherhood by lying to them, telling them they are more popular than ever, when they have become despised in Harlem.

Both these assumptions are wrong.