Ralph Ellison’s “Battle Royal” is a story about racism and discrimination. The story centers around a group of black men who are forced to fight each other in a brutal battle royal. The story uses symbolism to depict the way that racism and discrimination can impact people’s lives.
Battle royal represents the way that black people were treated during this time period. They were seen as inferior and were not given the same opportunities as white people. The story also shows how racism can lead to violence and oppression. Black people were often forced to fight each other in order to survive. This story is an important example of the way that racism can impact people’s lives.
In “Battle Royal,” Ralph Ellison uses symbolism to advance his arguments. The naked blonde who dances for young black boys is a noteworthy image. America is represented by the woman, who contributes to the story of race in the main character’s life. In a local hotel’s main ball room, and in there, the black children were forced to look at the naked blonde dance.
Ellison uses this event to show the contrast between rich and poor, black and white. Another symbol is the Battle Royal itself. The Battle Royal is a fight between young black men that are blindfolded. This can be seen as a microcosm for society. The Battle Royal represents the way society keeps people of color down, by making them fight each other instead of uniting against their oppressors.
The title “Battle Royal” is also symbolic. It refers to the fight that the main character, who is unnamed, must participate in. This battle is significant because it shows how blacks were treated during Ellison’s time period. They were not given any respect and were forced to entertain whites through violence. The story ends with the main character giving a speech to a group of white men.
He is not able to see them, but he knows they are there. This symbolizes how blacks are still not seen as equal to whites, even though they may be in the same room. They are still forced to struggle and fight for their place in society. Ellison’s use of symbolism allows him to further develop his ideas about race and its effects on society.
The schoolgirl has an American flag tattoo (Ellison). The flag is emblematic in that it refers to several events in the narrative, such as the fight for equality. For Americans, the American flag represents independence, equality, freedom, and the American dream.
The fact that the girl has this tattoo on her shows that even though she is living in a society that is still very racist, she still has hope. The Battle Royal is also a symbol of the struggles that blacks face in America. The victory at the end of the Battle Royal could represent how even though the fight for equality is hard, it is possible to win.
Throughout history, black men have been persecuted and forbidden from even gazing at white women. As a result, the blonde serves as a reminder to the narrator that he will never attain social equality. The blonde symbolizes forbidden liberty, and she strips the narrator of his purity and nobility. The white audience’s reaction to the naked dancer is intended to demonstrate how much power they have over blacks.
The setting of the story is also important to consider when analyzing the symbolism. The Battle Royal takes place in a large, empty room with a rug in the middle. This represents the vastness of the world that blacks are not allowed to participate in. The walls are also lined with electric lights, which can be seen as a symbol for how white society uses electricity to control black people.
Overall, Ralph Ellison uses symbolism to communicate the theme of racism and inequality in Battle Royal. The blonde woman, the setting, and the electric lights all contribute to this message.
The audience included not only black boys, but also prominent men in the community such as judges, lawyers, bankers, fire chiefs, merchants, and teachers. A pastor was even in attendance (Ellison). The appearance of the blond man on stage is a reflection of how society was racist in the 1950s despite America being regarded as the ideal country by the rest of the world.
Racism was present in every aspect of people’s lives. Ellison uses symbolism throughout the story to show how Blacks were struggling not only with racism but also with their identity.
The Battle Royal scene is one of the most symbolic parts of the story. The ring in which the black boys fought symbolized the struggles that blacks faced in society. They were constantly fighting and beating each other up, just like in the ring. The fact that they were blindfolded during the fight represented how they were kept in the dark about what was going on around them. They didn’t know what was happening and didn’t have any control over their lives.
The white men who were watching the fight represented those in power who benefitted from the struggles of blacks. They were the ones who were in control and got to see the black boys fight and humiliate themselves. The white men enjoyed watching the black boys beat each other up because it made them feel superior.
The symbolism in Battle Royal helps to show how Blacks were struggling in society and how they didn’t have any power or control over their lives. Ellison uses this symbolism to illustrate the racism that was present in America during the 1950s.
In Battle Royal, Ralph Ellison depicts the struggle between black Americans and whites in terms of equality. The battle is a representation of how a young black man at that period had to overcome harsh criticism, fight for equality, and right to have a place in society. When the boys are blindfolded and instructed to fight, this can be seen through the narrator’s viewpoint.
“I was beginning to feel the weight of my body and I was getting tired, but I thought if I could just hit one of those white boys good I would be all right” (Ellison 258). The Battle Royal represents how African Americans were struggling to be accepted in the white community. They had to constantly prove themselves worthy and fight for what was rightfully theirs. Ellison uses this symbol to show how difficult it was for black people to obtain equality and how they had to go through a lot of struggles before reaching their goal.
Ralph Ellison Battle Royal is a story that displays racism in America during the early 1900s. Racism plays a big role in American society then and now, although it has gotten better over time. Ellison uses the Battle Royal to show how blacks were discriminated against and how they were not given the same opportunities as whites. He also shows how racism can lead to violence and how it can be used as a tool to keep people in their place.
Battle Royal is a story that is still relevant today because racism is still an issue in America. Although it has gotten better, there are still many cases of racism and discrimination. Ellison’s Battle Royal is a story that everyone should read because it provides insight into the struggles of black Americans and how far they have come since then.