American Literature

The book Invisible Man is written by Ralph Ellison who is an African-American and was born in Oklahoma. Invisible Man was the only book of authors lifetime that was published and won him National award. The book mainly covers and addresses the social and intellectual issues that were faced by the African- American during the time of segregation. The book had been a success to describe the differences between blacks and whites. The main constituent of the book is said to be the racial policies of Booker T. Washington. For the purpose of this paper, the chapter one of the book namely Battle Royal had been analyzed to understand the nature of problems which were faced by the African-Americans in the early twentieth century.

The first chapter of the book introduces to the reality of the relationship between blacks and whites through the context of final words of the grandfather of protagonist. The grandfather shows an element of a moral and emotional ambiguity that confuses the protagonist in the novel about the type of the behavior that should be practiced by African-Americans with the Whiteman. Grandfather reveals that black people do not have a peaceful path to practice. Grandfather of the protagonist advises his family to form two identities. One of the identities should be of slave of white and doing whatever they want you to be while the second identity must be inside and full of bitterness against the imposed identities of being slaves (Ellison).

Such words by the grandfather confuses the protagonist because to him the racial policies of Booker T. Washington which included the agenda of peasant conservatism and moreover he represented the cause of enlightenment of blacks. The author Ralph Ellison describes that the protagonist kept the word of Booker T. Washingtons address in his mind and stepped ahead to practice positive behavior with whites (Chapman).

The chapter one introduces the brief context to the historical events with the introduction of the experiences of the narrator in the young age as a college boy. The narrator as a college boy had been made a point of shame by the whites in the novel because at his graduation, he gives a speech about the development of the race of African-American and he also adds quotes from Booker T. Washingtons address (Ellison).

The protagonists life changes after he made the speech. The unnamed protagonist of the novel is invited to read his speech in front of some of the important white men.  But before he would have reached to the white men to deliver his speech, protagonist faced a lot of discrimination of some of the young white men. The name of the chapter Battle Royal had been selected because the chapter tells the reader about the test, Battle Royal that every black had to give.  African Americans were treated like animals and were given lower standards at work and at educational institutions (Chapman). It was the battle royal that introduced protagonist to the social prejudice and injury that he had to suffer through all his life if he had to live in the country of full of whites (Ellison).

The story battle royal is not just a story that should be told for mere entertainment but it is a reality of the African-American who have undergone serious racial discrimination. Segregation was the era when African-American had to face a lot of troubles. There were no better business or work opportunities for the blacks. They were treated as the slaves of the whites. The narrator had clearly demonstrated the experiences of African-American through the context of the protagonist as he was forced to do task such as pummel his black class mates in the boxing ring with a blindfold. The protagonist was made a point of humiliation when he was delivering the speech in front of the white men. The behavior of the white men with the protagonist was no different than other African-Americans as they treated every Blackman with the same ironic attitude (Ellison).

White people behaved ironically with the African-Americans and did not provide them with the social equality. This account of the author could have been stated in the novel when the protagonist is awarded with a calfskin briefcase with a scholarship to the state college for black men. African-Americans were never gave the opportunities to become educationally strong and were always regarded as different beings with no social standards and respect. Moreover, there were no civil rights given to the African-Americans. There was no legal equality and representation given to the African-Americans. As a result to the ironic behavior of the white people, William Edward also came forward as a leader blacks to get away with the inequality injustice (Chapman)

Thus on the basis of analysis of the first chapter Battle Royal of the book Invisible Man it can be concluded that the racial discrimination faced by the African-Americans was on its extreme level. The story is a success in covering the racial and social issues faced by the African-Americans.