Friday, July 8, 2011

In "Battle Royal," how can you interpret the last words of the grandfather to his son?

The
grandfather's final words to the story's narrator tell the narrator that his grandfather has
been at war his entire life. The grandfather also wants his grandson to know that the war is
ongoing, and it is the grandson's turn to continue the fight. The grandfather also says that it
isn't a war of open combat. The war is something more akin to the Cold War that existed between
the Soviet Union and the United States. War wasn't declared, but tensions existed, and each side
was always working to undermine the other's power. The grandfather wants the narrator to be a
similar kind of spy, but the fight is a fight against racism. The grandfather says that the way
to fight is to appear one way and fight in secret. Let white people grow calm and complacent
about black people. The grandfather tells the narrator to never be seen as a threat. That will
give him the power, time, and ability to undermine whatever racist power structures are in
place.

Son, after I'm gone I want you to...


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