Ralph Ellison Battle Royal Essay

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Exploring the power of Point of View and Symbolism with Ralph Ellison Ralph Ellison’s short story “Battle Royal” is a story about a young man contemplating his self-identity in a world where he was seen only by the color of his skin and he struggles between showing off his true face and the one that he perceives the white community only wants to see. The protagonist upon delivering his graduation speech is invited to deliver that same speech to the towns white leaders with the disillusion that his hard work had earned him a once in a life time opportunity. Unfortunately to his surprise his prize would not be so easily won, as Ellison proceeds to illustrate through a series of trial’s that the protagonist must endure. Ellison gives you a look …show more content…

To which these symbols push this driving theme of what the American dream looks like for black people at the time in comparison to those who were white and to some extent within a position of power. Through the protagonist’s unexpected night while only wanting to give a speech to the wealth white men in his town he is subjected to a naked white woman, to which a young black man is not allowed. He is then forced to fight other young black men till the last man standing, only to be taunted with the illusion that gaining wealth would be anything less the painful. The idea of “The American dream” is based on who you are and what you look like. The rich white men are already in the position of power all. The American dream is understated by the fact that it is so obtainable or obtained from where they sit. On the other hand, the young black men must fight tooth and nail and even then, the things that are considered the “American dream” is not within reach. This is shown to the reader by giving the first person point of view narration, this gives you a more personal walk through of the environment. The extensive use of literary symbols used by Ellison makes this a unique read, that of which you would not be able to see all his metaphorical imagery with only one read. Upon further review of the text you start to see the underlining theme of this battle

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