.
Another ambiguity that is introduced by the grandfather are the last instructions that he gives his family. These ambiguous instructions are the central rhythm of the composition. The narrator's grandfather directs his family to uphold two different identities: good and obedient slaves on the exterior; on the inside however, they should be resentful of this fazade that they must uphold so that they do not betray themselves. These instructions play an important role in giving the narrator a foundation upon which he can generate his own set of beliefs and morals. The narrator does agree with his grandfather in that he must be a good and submissive towards the white people, however, he believes that in doing so, he will earn respect and praise. The instructions of the grandfather are much like the fundamental rhythms in a jazz piece, and the narrator's own beliefs that stem from that central rhythm are his improvisation. The improvisation that the narrator makes has it's roots in his grandfather's central rhythm that is the foundation for the composition.
The narrator's involvement in the "Battle Royal- can be paralleled to the close harmonies of a jazz composition. In this "Battle Royal- the boys involved are blindfolded by the white men that are running this event. Without the ability to see, the boys fight chaotically amongst each other. In a jazz composition, the close harmonies sound like chaos. It is hard to tell one line of notes from the other very easily, however, jazz composers have knowledgeable control over the overlapping notes that are used in a piece in order to give the music it's unique quality. We can say that the white men running this "Battle Royal- are the composers. They have full control over the chaos that they create. Not once did any of the boys in the "Battle Royal- try to hit one of the white men in the chaos, even though these boys probably could have, and then deem it an accident.
