Ralph Ellison’s story “Battle Royal” raises many questions regarding race. But perhaps the greatest question this story evokes is that of what African Americans should and should not do after they gained their freedom from slavery. Ellison examines this question by using the story’s narrator as an example of what African Americans should not do, and his grandfather’s dying words as an example of what they should do (of course supporting these “bookends” of the story with details and examples throughout it).
Towards the end of the story, the narrator has a dream in which he opens the briefcase he was awarded after the battle royal and finds a gold stamp that reads, “To Whom It May Concern,… Keep This Nigger-Boy Running.” His dream concludes with his grandfather’s “laughter ringing in [his] ears.” Therefore, the essential question of the story is: what does “Keep This Nigger-Boy Running” mean?
The narrator visualizes himself “as a potential Booker T. Washington,” a prominent black leader in the late 1800s and early 1900s who urged African Americans to conform to white culture and follow the orders of the white man rather than oppose them. He believed that black Americans could attain assimilation into white culture in this manner. Throughout Ellison’s story, it is obvious that the narrator shares the same views as Washington and is blind to their foolishness.
So when he reads the words “Keep This Nigger-Boy Running” in his dream, it is understood that this message means that as long African Americans such as the narrator will continue to oblige the southern white culture, the white society should encourage these individuals since they are only helping themselves.
The narrator’s willingness to oblige this southern white culture is apparent throughout the entire story. It is first apparent in the battle royal itself, for this battle is nothing more than entertainment for the white men in the form of the black men senselessly (and literally blindly) beating each other for extremely meager pay. It is also apparent in the narrator’s speech. To the white men, it is nothing more than another form of entertainment as they laugh at and mock the narrator’s use of large words (since they believe an educated black man to be a freak show such as one would see in a circus). This same acceptance of the southern white men’s culture is evident in the nude dancer who is gawked at and tossed around “as college boys are tossed at a hazing” by the same white men that find circus-like entertainment in the black men’s suffering.
Therefore, ultimately when the white men give the narrator the briefcase and scholarship, they are not helping him attend college in the proper manner, they are obliging their own wants in two ways. Firstly, they are creating another show by sending a black boy to college (which they find comical and ironic). And secondly, they are only helping themselves, for they are “helping” their own “Booker T. Washington” get an education, because he will not fight them as his grandfather had hoped, he will only carry out their will. (521)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Many Levels of Sammy’s Decision
How do human beings make decisions? Well, there are two main ways in which one comes about a decision. The decision can either be made through an extensive, well-thought-out process, or it can simply be a rash, in-the-moment decision. This question of the decision-making process is very pertinent to the main question in John Updike’s story “A & P”; why does Sammy quit his job? By looking closely at this story, it becomes apparent that both forms of decision-making take place in Sammy’s action.
The obvious portion of Sammy’s decision-making process consists of his rash, in-the-moment decision to quit his job because of the girls. Since Sammy is closer in age to the girls than to his manager, he can relate better to them, and therefore feels sympathy for them as Lengel informs them that they cannot walk through the A & P as if they were dressed for the beach. (12-18) Also, Sammy hopes if he quits his job while the girls are still present he will cause enough commotion and show his support for their side of the argument so that they will “stop and watch [him], their unsuspected hero.” (21) While these two actions are far less significant in actuality than they are in Sammy’s mind, his own belief in their significance causes him to view quitting his job as the right choice at the time. It is this sympathy for the girls and desire to be heroic that causes Sammy to rashly say the actual words “I quit” to Lengel. (21)
The next portion of Sammy’s decision is perhaps not so rash, but rather more deep-seeded in his subconscious. This portion is that which relates to Sammy’s attitude toward his job in general. Concerning his manager, Lengel, Sammy does not quite hate him, yet he definitely does not prefer him as a boss. “Everybody’s luck begins to run out” when Lengel comes into the story, who Sammy describes as dreary, hiding in his office all day, and observant of all that happens in the store. (12) Also, Sammy may feel a certain amount of shamefulness for being part of the A & P workforce, consisting of standard working-class people. In contrast, Sammy would rather be part of the upper echelon of society of which the girls are a part, a society “from which the crowd that runs the A & P must look pretty crummy.” (17) With this certain amount of contempt for his boss and his society, it is inherent that some part of Sammy would want to escape from these parts of his life. And quitting his job would enable him to escape from his boss and at least the society that runs the A & P. Thus, the idea of quitting his job must have been planted, at least subconsciously, in Sammy’s head.
Finally, the part of Sammy’s decision-making process most removed from rashness and deep-seeded in extensive thought is his commitment to finishing what he starts. When Lengel tries to talk Sammy out of quitting by telling him, “Sammy, you don’t want to do this to your Mom and Dad,” of whom Lengel is a close friend, Sammy thinks, “It’s true, I don’t. But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go though with it.” (30) This commitment to completing a gesture is the most thought-out part of Sammy’s decision because it is not by any means rash, it is not even an effect of previous events, it is a question of his morals, the fundamental truths one believes in off which he or she lives their entire life. Therefore, it is this commitment to completing a gesture that causes Sammy to follow through with quitting his job when he could have easily backed down and taken Lengel’s advice.
By closely looking at Updike’s story it is evident that Sammy’s quitting of his job is not just a rash, in-the-moment decision, but rather a decision build from both rashness and multiple layers of thought. So when Sammy “fold[s] the apron,… drop[s] the bow tie on top of it,…. [and] saunter[s] into the electric eye,” there is a lot more at work than a rash, un-thought-out decision. (30) (709)
What does Sammy mean when he acknowledges “how hard the world was going to be… hereafter”?
What can be said about the effect of Updike’s style of writing on the story as a whole?
What about Updike’s characterization of the girls stands out the most?
The obvious portion of Sammy’s decision-making process consists of his rash, in-the-moment decision to quit his job because of the girls. Since Sammy is closer in age to the girls than to his manager, he can relate better to them, and therefore feels sympathy for them as Lengel informs them that they cannot walk through the A & P as if they were dressed for the beach. (12-18) Also, Sammy hopes if he quits his job while the girls are still present he will cause enough commotion and show his support for their side of the argument so that they will “stop and watch [him], their unsuspected hero.” (21) While these two actions are far less significant in actuality than they are in Sammy’s mind, his own belief in their significance causes him to view quitting his job as the right choice at the time. It is this sympathy for the girls and desire to be heroic that causes Sammy to rashly say the actual words “I quit” to Lengel. (21)
The next portion of Sammy’s decision is perhaps not so rash, but rather more deep-seeded in his subconscious. This portion is that which relates to Sammy’s attitude toward his job in general. Concerning his manager, Lengel, Sammy does not quite hate him, yet he definitely does not prefer him as a boss. “Everybody’s luck begins to run out” when Lengel comes into the story, who Sammy describes as dreary, hiding in his office all day, and observant of all that happens in the store. (12) Also, Sammy may feel a certain amount of shamefulness for being part of the A & P workforce, consisting of standard working-class people. In contrast, Sammy would rather be part of the upper echelon of society of which the girls are a part, a society “from which the crowd that runs the A & P must look pretty crummy.” (17) With this certain amount of contempt for his boss and his society, it is inherent that some part of Sammy would want to escape from these parts of his life. And quitting his job would enable him to escape from his boss and at least the society that runs the A & P. Thus, the idea of quitting his job must have been planted, at least subconsciously, in Sammy’s head.
Finally, the part of Sammy’s decision-making process most removed from rashness and deep-seeded in extensive thought is his commitment to finishing what he starts. When Lengel tries to talk Sammy out of quitting by telling him, “Sammy, you don’t want to do this to your Mom and Dad,” of whom Lengel is a close friend, Sammy thinks, “It’s true, I don’t. But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go though with it.” (30) This commitment to completing a gesture is the most thought-out part of Sammy’s decision because it is not by any means rash, it is not even an effect of previous events, it is a question of his morals, the fundamental truths one believes in off which he or she lives their entire life. Therefore, it is this commitment to completing a gesture that causes Sammy to follow through with quitting his job when he could have easily backed down and taken Lengel’s advice.
By closely looking at Updike’s story it is evident that Sammy’s quitting of his job is not just a rash, in-the-moment decision, but rather a decision build from both rashness and multiple layers of thought. So when Sammy “fold[s] the apron,… drop[s] the bow tie on top of it,…. [and] saunter[s] into the electric eye,” there is a lot more at work than a rash, un-thought-out decision. (30) (709)
What does Sammy mean when he acknowledges “how hard the world was going to be… hereafter”?
What can be said about the effect of Updike’s style of writing on the story as a whole?
What about Updike’s characterization of the girls stands out the most?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Reading Between the Lines: Why Donny Runs Away
Anne Tyler’s story “Teenage Wasteland” raises many questions. Why does Daisy let herself lose all control over her son? What is Cal’s actual set-up with the students he tutors? What does the ending image of the basketball mean? But for me, one questioned topped the rest: why does Donny run away?
To understand why Donny runs away, we have to understand the four major influences in his life presented in this story. The first, and least, of these influences are his parents. After a certain age in a young person’s life, his or her parents, once the greatest influence in this person’s life, are superseded by other, more prevalent influences. Since his father is rarely at home anyway, Donny would not miss him much if he were to run away. Also, while Donny’s mother’s intentions are good, in his eyes she must be a nuisance. Therefore, running away would also separate Donny from her.
The next major influence in the “influence food chain” would be Donny’s friends. In a teenager’s life, these are the people one wants to spend the most time with. If he were to run away, Donny could spend as much time with his friends as fits into their schedule with no consequences; no curfew, no rules, no limitations from either his parents or his school. Again, this freedom is another incentive for Donny to run away.
Of course, specific to Donny’s life, as opposed to the lives of teenagers in general, is the influence that is Cal. As the story’s readers, we are not certain exactly what Cal does do, but we do know that he gains Donny’s trust. Donny needs a role-model. He does not like his parents for this position, and his friends are his equals, so they cannot be looked up to as a higher wisdom. Donny finds this role-model in Cal. Cal fills Donny’s head with thoughts of negligence towards responsibility and authority, and absolute freedom: perfectly good ideas in an idealistic society, but not realistic in our own. Still, since Cal is Donny’s role-model, Donny accepts and believes in these ideas Cal gives him, and runs away both in search of them and to escape their opposites.
Finally, we must consider the greatest influence in Donny’s life: his own mind. As a child, one’s influences are primarily exterior and unquestioningly accepted. Yet as one grows older, he or she begins to question these exterior influences and develops opinions of them. Donny may have had many exterior influences in his life, but it was he himself who interprets these influences and acts on these interpretations. He wants to escape the influence of his parents. He wants to spend more time among his friends. And he wants to follow the guidance of Cal. In the end, it is all Donny’s choice.
I do not believe Donny runs away because of Cal. If Donny was going to run away from home, the idea had already been planted and he was going to run away some time or another. Cal simply speeds-up this process. (518)
To understand why Donny runs away, we have to understand the four major influences in his life presented in this story. The first, and least, of these influences are his parents. After a certain age in a young person’s life, his or her parents, once the greatest influence in this person’s life, are superseded by other, more prevalent influences. Since his father is rarely at home anyway, Donny would not miss him much if he were to run away. Also, while Donny’s mother’s intentions are good, in his eyes she must be a nuisance. Therefore, running away would also separate Donny from her.
The next major influence in the “influence food chain” would be Donny’s friends. In a teenager’s life, these are the people one wants to spend the most time with. If he were to run away, Donny could spend as much time with his friends as fits into their schedule with no consequences; no curfew, no rules, no limitations from either his parents or his school. Again, this freedom is another incentive for Donny to run away.
Of course, specific to Donny’s life, as opposed to the lives of teenagers in general, is the influence that is Cal. As the story’s readers, we are not certain exactly what Cal does do, but we do know that he gains Donny’s trust. Donny needs a role-model. He does not like his parents for this position, and his friends are his equals, so they cannot be looked up to as a higher wisdom. Donny finds this role-model in Cal. Cal fills Donny’s head with thoughts of negligence towards responsibility and authority, and absolute freedom: perfectly good ideas in an idealistic society, but not realistic in our own. Still, since Cal is Donny’s role-model, Donny accepts and believes in these ideas Cal gives him, and runs away both in search of them and to escape their opposites.
Finally, we must consider the greatest influence in Donny’s life: his own mind. As a child, one’s influences are primarily exterior and unquestioningly accepted. Yet as one grows older, he or she begins to question these exterior influences and develops opinions of them. Donny may have had many exterior influences in his life, but it was he himself who interprets these influences and acts on these interpretations. He wants to escape the influence of his parents. He wants to spend more time among his friends. And he wants to follow the guidance of Cal. In the end, it is all Donny’s choice.
I do not believe Donny runs away because of Cal. If Donny was going to run away from home, the idea had already been planted and he was going to run away some time or another. Cal simply speeds-up this process. (518)
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