The Discrimination In Literature Shown In Battle Royal
Discrimination in literature often falls into one specific category. Writings commonly focus on racism between white people and black people. The audience is often time left thinking that this is the only form of discrimination throughout society. This forms a false dirivitive in the reader about what discrimination truly is. Ralph Elison writes the short story “Battle Royal” about a boy who was born in South America but later moved to a small neighborhood in New York City called Harlem. At this time, Harlem was the center of African American culture in New York City. The short story “Battle Royal” shows the common theme of discrimination in literature by highlighting challenges faced as a young black man in a caucasian dominated society. 'Theme for English B,' a poem written by Langston Hughes, also challenges the ideas of race and racism. The African American speaker of the poem highlights similar discrimination inside the classroom. Both writings can reflect the common theme of white vs black discrimination. When looking deeper into both pieces of literature, you find that the challenges of black vs white discrimination are not the only types of discrimination faced.
At some point in your life you have heard of the term “American Dream.” This term refers to the idea that Americans can be whatever they want to in life. At the time of both pieces of literature, white people dominated almost every aspect of the country. Other races did not have much of any say in what went on in society. When people think of America, they think of a place to be free and be your own person. Millions of people travel very far to be able to reside in America. In “Theme for English B,” the African-American speaker faces being the only non-white person in his English class. It focuses mostly on the idea that the other students and instructor are different than the speaker because of their race. Towards the end of the poem, the speaker says, “So will my page be colored that I write?/ Being me, it will not be white./ But it will be/ a part of you, instructor./ You are white --/ yet a part of me, as I am a part of you./ That’s American.” (Hughes A114) The speaker realizes that while him and his instructor are not the same color, they have one thing in common. The fact that they are both American. This brings a totally different perspective into the poem. The character in 'Battle Royal' faces a huge amount of racial discrimination. The frank tone of the story make you wonder if there's a deeper meaning to the story. The American Dream plays a role in 'Battle Royal' by describing strive to enrich the characters own personal life. The elements in 'Battle Royal' work together to achieve the common goals of the American Dream in society. Even through discrimination, Americans will strive to be the best person we can be. We are all equal in the idea of moving forward.
Throughout the story of 'Battle Royal', we see the narrator is very different from the other black characters. Even though he does not directly oppose the white man, he seeks change in society. Others seem to sit still and not worry about what might happen next. Sitting like ducks allowing the white man to control them forever. '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 A32) This is a common practice used by many people who sought equal rights. To sit and fight would not be effective. Instead, protest by agreement. Continue to fight while not opposing everything your superior wants. 'Theme for English B' follows a similar approach. Instead of sitting in the class separating himself from the white people, the narrator finds things that are similar between them. 'I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.'(Hughes A114) By stating the similarities, the narrator is not separating himself as a lesser person but instead, putting himself equal to the white man. Literature often focuses on the violent forms of discrimination between races. These pieces of literature both bring to light the idea of peaceful discrimination.
Both pieces of literature use symbolism to portray the intense forms of discrimination in society. The humiliation that the narrator in 'Battle Royal' receives while giving his speech symbolizes the intense struggles faced by African-Americans during that time. 'I suspected that fighting a battle royal might detract from the dignity of my speech. In those pre-invisible days I visualized myself as a potential Booker T. Washington.'(Ellison A34) The narrator in “Battle Royal” can be seen by others as a role model. To himself, he is being used by white people to humiliate and represent the total of the African-American population. A huge form of symbolism in 'Theme for English B' regards setting. The speaker in the poem is going to school in Durham, North Carolina. This is the south so the reader can imagine what it was like during this time in history. The reader faces obstacles strictly because where he grows up in the United States. Much of the discrimination in both forms of literature describes adolescence. The young man in “Battle Royal” many times refers back to his grandfather. He is very impressionable towards what his grandfather had told him. He seems to battle with finding his own personality throughout the story. The young man in “Theme for English B” also shows some forms of adolescence. He is young and views many things in that way. The views of discrimination as an adolencent can be different than those as an adults. Both characters being young men play a huge role in how they were treated in society at the time.”Battle Royal” highlights this feature when they bring out the beautiful woman. 'The hair was yellow like that of a circus kewpie doll, the face heavily powdered and rouged, as though to form an abstract mask, the eyes hollow and smeared a cool blue, the color of a baboon's butt. I felt a desire to spit upon her as my eyes brushed slowly over her body.'(Ellison A40) As young men, the African-Americans feel an intense attraction towards the woman. Even though they feel the attraction as young men, they are left feeling taboo since she is white and they are black. This deeper meaning reflects the corrupt minds of the young men and how discrimination has left them feeling weird.
The American Dream and freedom are a promise that wasn't granted to everyone during this time. Forms of discrimination in both pieces of literature go deeper than black vs white. The false sense of hope the narrator feels in 'Battle Royal' is just one sense of this time period. The struggles of social equality in literature often focus on what's wrong and what's right. Instead both of these pieces of text give back story and structure to point our various levels of discrimination. The reader is left thinking about the deeper meaning of the characters thoughts and ideas. Both “Theme for English B” and “Battle Royal” challenge this idea that the only type of discrimination is black vs white.
Works Cited
- Ellison, Ralph. “Battle Royal.” They Say/I Say with Readings, edited by Gerald Graff, et. al, Wake Tech Edition, W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp A29-A44.
- Hughes, Langston. 'Theme for English B.' They Say/I Say with Readings, edited by Gerald Graff, et. al, Wake Tech Ed, W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp A113-A115.
