Final answer:
The novels '1984' by George Orwell and 'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison address themes of control and oppressive power exerted by a centralized authority, which manipulates and directs the experiences of the protagonists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The context of the student's question involves a discussion about the control and manipulation of characters within novels, likely referencing George Orwell's 1984. In this dystopian novel, Big Brother and the Party are in charge of directing everything, including setting guards on the protagonist, Winston, and controlling his experience of pain and suffering. This portrayal of centralized power critiques how society may surrender critical thinking and freedom to authoritative governance. Similarly, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man explores the experience of a black man in a white-dominated society, dealing with a different kind of totalitarian control. Both novels deal with themes of power, control, and the struggle for identity and recognition within oppressive societal structures.