Ralph Ellisons Battle Royal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ralph Ellisons Battle Royal - Essay ExampleBattle Royal holds a permanent interest because its underlying themes are human ones, with those being the conflict against prejudice and the struggle to find a place in society.On the surface, Ellisons focus is upon the racial prejudices which confronted African Americans during a specific time in history. As that time has passed, the theme should have no continued, relevant current interest. The fact that it does is because racial prejudices are not the only form of discrimination which confront people. any and all differences are a cause for prejudice and discrimination. In this sense, Ellison addresses all people and in the grandfathers words, provides advice for survival against prejudice. As the grandfather advises Live with your head in the lions mouth. I want you to overcomeem with yeses, undermineem with grins, agreeem to death and destruction, letem swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open (Ellison, 1952 938). While it may ha ve been offered to a young benighted male in the pre-civil rights era, this advice is valid for all. It warns against confrontation, insists upon the possibility of defeating ones enemy through passivity and, indeed, provides a strategy for survival.