In Chapter 9 of Invisible Man, Ellison compares Mr. Emerson’s office to “a museum.” In what way is this setting significant to the reader’s understanding of events?

A. It shows the extent to which the narrator believed the letters have allowed him to make contact with important people.
B. It contrasts with the depictions of the lively world outside the office, showing how dull and lifeless the office is.
C. It illustrates that the narrator is able to access spaces that he previously would not have been allowed to enter.
D. It depicts the people who work at the office as artifacts, indicating that real life can only take place outside the office.
E. It demonstrates that the narrator may be allowed to look at the office, but he will not be permitted to interact with it.