Ralph Ellison’s Battle Royal Analysis

A literary canon can arguably be described as a piece of literature that needs be studied by future generations. Many different pieces of literature have already been identified as a literary canon. In the past, many literary works such as Ralph Ellison’s Battle Royal have been declared a literary canon by scholars based on their applicability to the era. Ellison’s’ Battle Royal is an iconic piece of American literature that captures the audience through its imagery of American culture that can be applied today.

Ellison’s’ ability to capture the 1950’s time period and its ability to be a versatile piece is the reason it is a literary canon.

In order to better understand the context of the story, it is necessary to discuss what was occurring during and prior to the 1940s and ’50s. On January 1, 1863 president Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation; the Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order to free all slaves. Although slaves were declared free it did not prevent discrimination but rather encouraged it; the result is racial segregation.

Afterward, WW2 began, and African American were allowed to serve the country’s military but under different units from their white counterparts. With the end of WW2, in 1945, American soldiers returned home to fight another war, for equal rights.

Battle Royal intensely captures the racial injustice African-Americans endured in silence during the ’50s. From prejudice to discrimination the issues were prevalent in American culture. The unnamed narrator, ‘invisible man’, was a young African American man who just graduated from high school.

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On that day he presented a speech and was invited to present the speech in front of some of the town’s white citizens. Honored, he accepted the invitation. Once he arrived at the meeting, he was notified he was going to complete some tasks beforehand, such as partaking in the battle royal. Ellison depicts a graphic fight between many of the “invisible man’s” classmates, all for the entertainment of the white citizens. The tension in the room increases as he heard the cries of his fellow classmates to go home. Humiliated and embarrassed the “invisible man” was determined to stick it out till the ended in order to present his speech. He was later blindfold and encouraged by the town folk to fight the other classmates. Wanting to please the townsfolk, he followed their orders. He fought rigorously with the intention to win. Easily distracted by the racial slurs such as “uppercut him! Kill him! Kill that big boy” (Ellison 19) he decided to repeat at his speech in his head. Yet as he continued, he was sadly defeated. As we look back at society during the 1950’s it is clear segregation was a major issue in society then. In this specific moment, the African American boys were isolated from the white citizens. During WW2 African American served the military under different units. Like many things at the time White men were always superior to African Americans. Another example viewed in society that was the Jim Crow Laws who enforce segregation in public areas like schools, restaurants, buses and many more (History.com). Rosa Parks is a prime example, after refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white citizen she was detained (American History From Revolution to Reconstruction and beyond). In the fight, it is clear the segregation was occurring due to not white male partaking in the fight but instead were watching. But like many of Ellison’s work, there is a deeper meaning behind the fight. Once the narrator completed all the task and present his speech in front of the townsfolk, he was awarded a scholarship. The symbolism within this scene is the hardship African American had to endure in order to succeed, humiliated he still present his speech. The “invisible man” accepted the fact in order to successes he was going to have to please the white man.

An occurring theme in Battle Royal is the conformity of life. Like many other people, the “invisible man” learned how to cope with his current life in order to strive forward. After all, he fought nine other people, so he could present his speech, and was later awarded a scholarship. During this time, he remembered the words his grandfather told him before he died, “Live with your head in the lion’s mouth. I want you to overcome ’em with yeses, undermine ’em with grins, agree ’em to death and destruction, let ’em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open,’ (Ellison 14). His family did not pay any attention to the words of the grandfather because they believed he was crazy. The words his grandfather spoke haunted him as he presented his speech. By complying to the white men, he was be betraying his people. His grandfather was telling him if he had complied to the white men, if so, he would essentially be a betraying his people. However, as his grandfather was giving the narrator a word of advice to not conform with the system but instead undermined it. His advice may be due to his past as being a slave. Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation slaves were required to do what their master asked for. His family having the ability to be free are conforming with society by trying to please the white men essential still making them slaves. After all, they have free will, yet it is understanding for the time period. During World War 2 more than one million African American were allowed to serve the United States, yet once the returned they still had little to no rights. Taking registering for voting. If African American tried to register it is highly possible, they could have lost their job, their home and many more (American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and beyond). Which is the reason why it is understandable for the narrator and his family to conform to society. It is similar to how a teenager will conform once they enter high school. Like many animals, humans will conform in order to ensure a social standing in society which is relevant to “fitting in”.

Battle Royal is an iconic piece known for its adaptability. Ellison introduced an unnamed narrator referred to “invisible man”, who seems to be looking for his identity. The audience is given the ability to relate due to the narrator giving a sense of comfort. This can be relatable on a personal level because it is a situation other have gone through. Many people have had a sense of being of “invisible”, never seen nor heard (Bourassa). It is an occurring feeling many other have felt but have not be able to resolve. However, this can also be viewed as a voice for a community to relate to the “invisible man” just like African American related to the narrator in the 1950s. Till this day, Battle Royal can be applied to many communities like the LGBT, Gender Identity and ethnic group. At some point in time communities like these have all been discriminated against with and without protection of the law. For example, in today’s society companies can deny customers of the LBGT community because of marital status. LBGT member may remove themselves of situation that could possible cause discrimination against them causing them to feel isolated. Until the removal Jim Crow laws, companies could deny African American service for their race (Burkey 31). Discrimination and prejudice will be applicable in the past, present and future. It is clear Battle Royal capture the time period and will be applicable later in the future.