Battle royal
"Battle Royal" as a Symbol for Racial Inequality Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royal" is symbolic of the African American struggle for equality after the abolition of slavery. The various hardships that the narrator must endure in his quest to deliver his speech represent the many hardships that the blacks went through in their fight for equality. The narrator in Ellison's short story endures a great deal of suffering. He is considered to be one of the brighter youths in his black community, and Ellison explains that he was "invited to give [a] speech at a gathering of the town's leading white citizens."(938) His speech was passive and supportive of the white race. It was very similar to the "Atlanta Exposition Address" given by Booker T. Washington. Within Washington's speech he declares that blacks understand humility and do not expect to be viewed as socially equal(951). But, the harsh treatment that he is dealt in order to give his speech is quite symbolic of the many hardships that the African American people had to endure while they fought for their common goal, equality. The main character expects to give his speech in a positive and normal environment. What faces him is something that he never would have imagined. Elliso
Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal" is very significant. These activities again represent the African American's struggle for equality. These battles are directly represented by the barbarous fighting amongst 10 boys in a ring, being witnessed by whites in high social standing. It also shows the fear and disgust of the white race about interracial relationships. The boys are given the opportunity to take bills and coins off of a rug, after the battle royal has been completed. Ellison uses the story of a young African American boy and his battles with white society to show the inequality endured by all blacks following the abolition of slavery. This belief is portrayed by the men's angered actions toward the boys. This is representative of how our nation's white population treated African Americans for many years. Even though segregation became an eventual realization the blacks had to go through much suffering to obtain it. The harsh conditions that the boys competing in the battle royal faced are phenomenal. The electrified rug represents another important piece in this story. Blindly, our nation's black population fought, not always knowing what for, just as the boys in this story fought. This represents what happened in out nation's history as well. It represents the struggle they endured, to be accepted as equals with our society's white population, upon the abolition of slavery. Totally engrossed by the fighting these men yelled cruel things and became frenzied.
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Acceptance Essays
