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Battle Royal

The white woman represents the American dream for most men that of an attractive blonde woman who is further alluded to the American icon by way of the tattoo of the American flag above her belly. It is as if the white men are showing them all of the good things being white can bring, and then saying that they aren't good enough for it since they were black.
             When the boys competed in the battle royal they were forced to blindly beat one another while blindfolded. This is symbolic of the black race" fight for equality and how uneducated or inexperienced blacks are easily misled by white people. It also represents the struggle that blacks endured at the time to be accepted as equals with the nations white population, as the country was evolving with integration. The segregation of public places were issues that were constantly debated or fought over. These battles are somewhat represented by the brutal fighting of the 10 black boys in a ring, being witnessed by whites in high social standing. As the white men viewed the battle they became consumed by the fighting and yelled cruel things and became excited. This is representative of the how this nation's white population treated blacks for many years. .
             The belief of superiority is shown by the men's angered actions toward the boys. The rug is another important symbol in the story. The boys are given the opportunity to take bills and coins off of a rug, after the battle royal has been completed. As they fight amongst each other for the money they receive they get the sense that what they want is in reach, but ultimately this rug would be pulled from under them sought to speak. The rug represents whites having control of all situations and not allowing the blacks to have a fair chance at what is right in front of them. The boys find it extremely hard not to reach for the money even though they will go through much pain in doing so. The narrator also discovers that the coveted coins were no more then brass pocket tokens representing continuous fabrications by the white men.


Essays Related to Battle Royal

1. Battle Royal

Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal", is symbolic in a myriad of different ways. In one form, the battle royal is symbolic of a struggle for equality. More specifically the battle royal is emblematic of the "battle" for egalitarianism in America's white society by African Americans in the 1950's; when the story was set and written. ... While attempting to deliver his speech, the narrator must first participate in a battle royal. ... Subsequently, the actual fighting of the battle royal ensues. ...

  • Word Count: 327
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

2. battle royal

The story "Battle Royal" is the key in understanding and seeing the relationship between morality and reality. ... "Battle Royal" is a story about a black boy that is psychologically wakened when he overhears what his grandfather says at his deathbed to his father. ... He first gets a true sense in what kind of society he lives when he is invited to give his graduation speech at Battle Royal. Battle Royal is a sort of a barbarous boxing mach in which black boys with blindfolds are forced to fight each other for the entertainment of certain town's men. ... The night after the Battle Royal...

  • Word Count: 1729
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Short Story - Battle Royal

In Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal", there is an African American man living during 1947. ... The portable boxing ring is the ring in which all of the battle royal participants were blindfolded and fought in. ... The protagonist in "Battle Royal" describes himself as an invisible man in the first paragraph of the story. ... He thought that they were all there to listen to his speech and finally give him the respect he sought but they were actually there for the battle royal before his speech. The main white supporters of his community were there to lead the...

  • Word Count: 874
  • Approx Pages: 3

4. Battle Royal

In Battle Royal, by Ralph Ellison, the narrator is very confused. ... The "good fight" is the battle to maintain his own dignity, and also earn the praise of the whites. ... "Battle Royal" gives the reader a look at just how society feels toward black people. ... This struggle I think is what it the "battle royal" is. ...

  • Word Count: 1243
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Battle Royal

Battle Royal, published in 1952, is the story of an African American high school - graduate and the way he deals with a racist community. ... As part of the evening's entertainment, the boy is asked by the white people that invited him to take part in the "Battle Royal" together with some of his black classmates. ...

  • Word Count: 709
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Symbolism in Ralph Ellison "B

Symbolism in Ralph Ellison "Battle Royal". ... The harsh conditions that the boys competing in the battle royal must face are phenomenal. ... Next the boys must compete in the battle royal. ... The boys are given the opportunity to take bills and coins off of a rug, after the battle royal has been completed. ... Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal" is very significant. ...

  • Word Count: 1491
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Battle royal

Racial Is An Everyday Battle "Battle Royal" by Ralph Ellison talks about a black boy trapped in a world of cruelty and social inequality with nobody to guide him. ... In conclusion, I think this battle raises is the mental struggle that our people need to overcome. In order for the boy to be allowed to give his graduation speech, he needs to overcome an obstacle by participating in the "battle royal". ... The "good fight" is the battle to maintain his dignity and also earn the praise of the whites. ...

  • Word Count: 509
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Battle Royal

The African Americans" struggle for equality throughout history can be viewed through Ralph Ellison's short story Battle Royal. ... Entering the hotel anxious to deliver his speech the narrator discovers that he was going to be part of a battle royal which, consisted of nine of his schoolmates and a boxing ring. ... Next, the boys were forced to compete in the battle royal. ... It portrays how the black population blindly fought, not knowing what always for, just as the boys in the Battle Royal fought. ... At first the narrator thought it was put out for him to deliver his speech, bu...

  • Word Count: 1267
  • Approx Pages: 5

9. Ralph Ellison - Symbolism, Equality and Self-Identity

Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royal" is based on the symbolism of equality and self-identity on African Americans. ... He gets told to attend and take part in the battle royal, a fight between him and other African American young men. ... At the same time, the narrator feels uneasy about fighting in the battle royal. ... With the battle royal taking place, the whites enjoyed the entertainment of the black people fighting, hurting their own people, and not caring about how they treated them. Towards the end of the story, the symbolism shown is where the narrator overcomes the...

  • Word Count: 884
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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