Division, Degradation, and Determination
It is amazing. The amount in which America has changed is truly great. Over the past
100 years of this nation’s history, culture and the way in which society acts as a whole has evolved drastically. Without a doubt, the story of “Battle Royal” displays this fact very well. The author, Ralph Ellison, tactfully uses artful wording and vividly makes his writing come alive to captivate his readers. The main character in his story is a young African American man who experiences struggle in a so called, “battle royal.” Although he ends up victorious in the end, he had to struggle through so much of what others like him in his time had to persevere through.
Battle Royal clearly portrays the depraved state of society of America in the 1940’s by illustrating the various forms of division, degradation, and determination.
Divisive racism is definitely one prevalent theme throughout this intriguing tale. “Battle
Royal” clearly illustrates the state of …show more content…
The American dream has always been a key factor in the United States’ history. In today’s modern day and age, the American Dream means simply maintaining job security and comfort in financial stability.
However, in the time that this adventurous tale was written, it had a whole other meaning. As
James Adams writes in his book The Epic of America, “But there has also been the American dream, that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement” (qtd. in Hauhart). The American Dream was all about going from the bottom up; going from dirt poor to very rich. The young man in the story was mocked, ridiculed, and demeaned. As told in Battle Royal, he stuck it out, however, and completed his mission.
It is amazing. The amount in which America has changed is truly great. Over the past
100 years of this nation’s history, culture and the way in which society acts as a whole has evolved drastically. Without a doubt, the story of “Battle Royal” displays this fact very well. The author, Ralph Ellison, tactfully uses artful wording and vividly makes his writing come alive to captivate his readers. The main character in his story is a young African American man who experiences struggle in a so called, “battle royal.” Although he ends up victorious in the end, he had to struggle through so much of what others like him in his time had to persevere through.
Battle Royal clearly portrays the depraved state of society of America in the 1940’s by illustrating the various forms of division, degradation, and determination.
Divisive racism is definitely one prevalent theme throughout this intriguing tale. “Battle
Royal” clearly illustrates the state of …show more content…
The American dream has always been a key factor in the United States’ history. In today’s modern day and age, the American Dream means simply maintaining job security and comfort in financial stability.
However, in the time that this adventurous tale was written, it had a whole other meaning. As
James Adams writes in his book The Epic of America, “But there has also been the American dream, that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement” (qtd. in Hauhart). The American Dream was all about going from the bottom up; going from dirt poor to very rich. The young man in the story was mocked, ridiculed, and demeaned. As told in Battle Royal, he stuck it out, however, and completed his mission.