English 102 - Battle Royal

Ashley Rambin

Mrs. Bickham

March 16, 2015

English 102-115

Battle Royal FD

Choices

        In the story Battle Royal, the invisible man is faced with many obstacles. In the beginning his grandfather dies and leaves the invisible man confused on life. In the middle, the invisible man is forced to please the white men, who are everyday people that he sees and are friends with, for entertainment. The invisible man only wanted to read his speech that would hopefully change the views of some people’s minds, but instead is forced to entertain and embarrass his self before he is given that chance too. In the end, the invisible man is becoming his own man and making his own choices. The invisible man is faced with expectations versus reality. The Battle Royal challenges how the invisible man acts by listening to his grandfather’s advice, pleasing the white men, and expressing his own views.

        The invisible mans grandfather was one of the white men’s favorite guys. He listened carefully and did as told. The grandfather left the main character with confusing advice before he passed away. The grandfather told the invisible man, “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.” The invisible man did not quite understand his advice or agree with it. He did learn from his grandfather’s advice that no matter what, you have to do what the white men say or there will be more consequences. The grandfather was more of a go with the flow person unlike the invisible man. The invisible man wanted change and was determined to get it, no matter how hurt or confused he was.  His grandfathers advise seemed easier said then actually done. Not only did he have to ponder about his grandfather’s advice, but the invisible man also had embarrassing tasks to do to please the white men before he gave his powerful speech.

        The invisible man faced many hard/embarrassing tasks that he had to do for the white men’s entertainment. As the slaves entered the building they were face to face with a naked lady. The invisible was forced to stare at her body; the invisible man says “some threatened us if we looked and others if we did not.”  He felt as if the naked lady resembled him; both being forced to do such cruel activities while forced to pretend to enjoy them. The naked lady was there to embarrass the black men and get them out of there comfort zone as a funny joke to the white men. Not only did they have to be embarrassed by the naked lady but they also had to entertain the drunken white men by fighting.

        The black men were blinded by a white blind fold and forced into an arena. The black men were being yelled at and pushed around for fun. After the black men fought, they took everyone out of the arena except for the biggest black guy and the invisible man. The biggest black guy enjoyed fighting for the white men. The invisible man tried to make a deal with him to pretend to hurt each other but the big one does not want too. The invisible man was confused by his actions and forced to defend himself which ended up with him getting hurt badly. After getting punched, kicked, and pushed around, the black men were to claim there money as a token for fighting. Little did the black men know that the money was on an electric carpet. Yet again, the black men were to entertain and please the drunken white men by getting electrocuted and shoved around. Finally, after all the torture the invisible man is allowed to make his speech that will hopefully change the views of the white men.