Racism As A Theme In Ralph Ellison's Battle Royal

In “Battle Royal” written by Ralph Ellison the grandson, is an inexperienced man, tormented by racism displayed towards him, but he is uncertain how to respond to those that mistreat him. Yearning to be a respectable member of society, he experiences hatred by those he tries to deliver a graduation speech to. The struggle the young man goes through to present his speech exposes themes such as “survival of the fittest”, racism, and blindness. “Survival of the fittest” is one of the themes that takes center stage in “Battle Royal”. The story gives a glimpse of the kind of treatment often displayed on oppressed African-Americans at a point in time when Caucasians set the decrees. The story portrays a competition directed by the white establishment between African-American youthful males, which the winner is the recipient of an award. The honor goes to the robust challenger named Tatlock even though the frailer narrator demonstrates a worthy contest. This confrontation gives direction on how the powers that be have exclusive control above the weaker dark fellows, who are beat and humiliated in order to adapt to a world with whites. A second theme in the story reveals the symbol of racism. The story gives the reader a looking glass into how blacks should behavior in order to survive in a time …show more content…
Those who are at the top of the food chain will always have power over their weaker counterparts. Some members of an ethnic group may believe they are superior to a another and impose unjust punishment on them. When hatred displays in a person who is racist, they become blind and unable to see the value of the man they hate. The “Battle Royal” is a perfect depiction of what unraveled in the South numerous years ago between the race relationships with African-American and