Essay On Symbolism In Battle Royal By Ralph Ellison
In “Battle Royal” by Ralph Ellison, symbolism is used in many different aspects. All of the different symbolisms are allowing you to think outside of the box about what the story is telling you and how you look at the story. To begin the story the protagonist is asked to come and share a speech with the men of higher society within the town. Once he arrived he would soon realize that the high society men had different plans. Him among other young African Americans were giving boxing gloves and blindfolded. They were told to fight and “everyone fought hysterically” (page 230). This was all for entertainment for the white men of the town, and the young African Americans did as they were told. This is the first example of symbolism because during
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A most serious part, gentlemen. This boy was brought here to deliver a speech which he made at his graduation yesterday.” (page 233). He started and his speech as he was trying to be an upright speaker he was getting yelled at to be louder, with his mouth full of blood from his previous fight, he was still being given orders. As he read they still went about with their conversations and the drinking and smoking. Until he said “Social Responsibility” (page 234), got the ear of the powerful white men. They made him say it over and over either for entertainment to watch him listen like an obedient dog or to watch him struggle against what he really wanted to do. After the protagonist was told to repeatedly told to say it again he finally said what he really meant and what he really wanted to say “social equality” (page 234), which made the whole room go quiet. At that point they asked him very sternly to repeat himself and he then instead of saying what he wanted to and meant to say he said what he felt was more appropriate for the situation; Social responsibility. This symbol stands the strongest because it was his first amendment to be able to say what he felt, but he knew that their would be very severe consequences to face if he did such a thing. All of these symbols show how the times were and the
A most serious part, gentlemen. This boy was brought here to deliver a speech which he made at his graduation yesterday.” (page 233). He started and his speech as he was trying to be an upright speaker he was getting yelled at to be louder, with his mouth full of blood from his previous fight, he was still being given orders. As he read they still went about with their conversations and the drinking and smoking. Until he said “Social Responsibility” (page 234), got the ear of the powerful white men. They made him say it over and over either for entertainment to watch him listen like an obedient dog or to watch him struggle against what he really wanted to do. After the protagonist was told to repeatedly told to say it again he finally said what he really meant and what he really wanted to say “social equality” (page 234), which made the whole room go quiet. At that point they asked him very sternly to repeat himself and he then instead of saying what he wanted to and meant to say he said what he felt was more appropriate for the situation; Social responsibility. This symbol stands the strongest because it was his first amendment to be able to say what he felt, but he knew that their would be very severe consequences to face if he did such a thing. All of these symbols show how the times were and the