Michael Tetreault
English 1302.S18
Andrade
May 3, 2001
Ralph Ellison: A Century's Worth of Memories
Ralph Ellison is one of the most lauded yet misunderstood writers of the twentieth
century. Ellison is considered a short-story writer and an essayist at heart,
but his most distinguished work is the novel, Invisible Man. Ellison has been
called everything from "the greatest black American author" (Brennan)
to unnecessarily "excessive" in his writing style ("Ralph Ellison:
1914-1994"). For the most part, Ellison is held in high regard in the literary
community. The critical consensus on Ralph Ellison is that he is one of the
most influential and passionate authors of his generation.
Ralph Waldo Ellison was born on March 1, 1914 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Lewis Alfred Ellison and Ida Ellison (Kennedy and Gioia). From his birth, it seems Ellison was destined to become a writer; his father named him after the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. Early in life, Ellison was influenced by his mother who was an ardent social activist (Kennedy and Gioia). Ellison was raised in a middle-class white neighborhood. After graduating from high school in Oklahoma, Ellison was awarded a scholarship to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Ellison left school early and moved to Harlem ("Ralph Ellison: 1914-1994"). It was here that he met two of his greatest early influences: the poet Langston Hughes and the novelist Richard Wright (Kennedy and Gioia). In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Ellison was primarily an essayist who was published in several American periodicals. It was in these early years that he wrote "King of the Bingo Game" and the Buster and Riley trilogy. In 1952, Ellison's Invisible Man was published in what became his most notable work. Invisible Man won Ellison numerous honors including the National Book Award in 1953 (Kennedy and Gioia). Ellison continued to write short stories and in 1964, Shadow and Act was published assembling these short stories. In 1986, Going To The Territory, another compilation of essays, was published (Kennedy and Gioia). On April 16, 1994, Ralph Waldo Ellison died from cancer in his home in New York City. Subsequent collections of Ellison's work were published posthumously including The Collected Essays of Ralph Ellison in 1995 and Flying Home and Other Stories in 1996. Ellison's final novel, Juneteenth, which was near completion at the time of his death, was published in 1999 (Kennedy and Gioia). Even after his death, Ellison's work lives on as a testament to his talent. His stories still hold significance today and his works are still receiving honors even after his death.
Most scholars accept Invisible Man as Ellison's preeminent work. In 1965, a
group of literary scholars polled by The New York Herald Tribune voted Invisible
Man "as the most distinguished novel written by an American during the
previous 20 years" (Mitgang). Invisible Man is the story of the struggles
of a black man in an oppressive, white society. Although this story is technically
fiction, many of the events mirror the life of Ellison. The main character in
Invisible Man is at first naïve about the prejudices of white society and
acts accordingly. As the story progresses, through experience he becomes aware
of society's injustices and his attitude becomes cautious. It is these experiences
in which the "naïve hero learns, to his disillusion and horror, the
way of the world" (Baumbach 13). However, he never loses hope, and remains
optimistic about the assumed integrity of American society. According to the
spoken values of this time, discrimination such as this was not supposed to
accord. However, the practiced values did not reflect this attitude. Even after
enduring manipulation and humiliation, our hero keeps a positive outlook on
life.
More importantly, Invisible Man also studies self-realization and the roles
of individuals in society. Ellison explores the personal struggles everyone
faces in a search for identity. The name of our hero in Invisible Man is never
given. The hero is trying to find himself and represents no one in particular,
but rather is a modern-day Everyman. Our protagonist is on a journey
trying to find his real nature through the succession of roles he is called
on to play, trying to restore the traditional values his society professes but
disregards, trying to reaffirm his personal innocence while caught up in the
corruption of history (Langman).
This struggle coincides with the struggle of all people. Everyone can relate
somehow because "Though the protagonist of Invisible Man is a southern
Negro, he is, in Ellison's rendering, profoundly all of us" (Baumbach 13).
The protagonist's name is also never given because he truly is invisible. In
the white society's opinion, he is no one of great consequence. Therefore, it
is of no great importance that these same people bother to learn his name. The
hero is invisible because people refuse to see him. Ellison truly manages to
transcend racial boundaries and bring forth a story that urges the reader to
view each situation individually. Invisible Man may truly be the universal novel
of the twentieth century.
Some have criticized Invisible Man as being too poetic and not emphasizing the
harsh realities of discrimination. These critics conclude, "a racial theme
can be handled only with the grunts and blunts of realistic narrative"
(Brennan). These tend to be the same critics that disparage Ellison's writing
style in general. Other scholars criticize Ellison for not developing the protagonist's
character. These critics view the lack of a name for the hero as an oversight
and fail to see the metaphorically significance this brings forth. Some critics
even argue, "If he (the protagonist) does not fully know himself, it's
not clear how certainly the author knows him either. The author's attitudes
and purposes waver, he treats the character sometimes as spokesman, sometimes
as uncomprehending victim, and fails to create for him distinctive voice"
(Langman).
Ellison had a clear plan for his character. The protagonist represents everyone
who has experienced oppression. Another harsh criticism thrust upon Invisible
Man is the insistence than "Ellison has not mastered the perils of first-person
narrative" (Langman). While it is true Invisible Man is Ellison's first
venture in the world of novels, when Invisible Man was published in 1952, Ellison
was already an accomplished writer.
Although Invisible Man is Ellison's most praised writing, it is not his only
work of significance. Before writing Invisible Man, Ellison authored a short
story entitled "King of the Bingo Game" in 1944. "King of the
Bingo Game" follows the trials of a young black man living in Harlem. The
protagonist in this story, like Invisible Man, is again unnamed. His wife Laura
is gravely ill and the hero is unemployed and desperate for money. The main
character is drawn to the local bingo hall for a shot at fast money and a better
future. He wins a bingo game, but to collect his prize, he must spin a wheel
and land on double zero. Chaos ensues when the hero, out of fear of losing the
game and thus possibly losing his wife, refuses to let go of the button that
stops the bingo wheel. The other bingo players heckle him and the host urges
the protagonist to release the button. Eventually, two men who are presumably
security, physically stop him. The wheel stops on double zero.
The protagonist in "King of the Bingo Game" felt as if "his whole
life was determined by the bingo wheel" (Ellison 128). His refusal to release
the button and end the game was not only out of fear, but also desperation.
He felt that if he kept the bingo wheel spinning forever, "Laura would
be safe in the wheel" (Ellison 133). Many critics feel that Ellison is
addressing determinism in "King of the Bingo Game." Ellison directly
addresses "the issue of fate versus chance" (Herman). The hero felt
as if his determination could overcome destiny. His resolve is questioned later
in the story he refuses to release the button and stop the wheel. Although he
knows he must do so to win the prize, he is haunted by the possibility that
he might "mess up" (Herman). The events surrounding the bingo hall
bring to mind the image of a carnival or festival. There are flashing lights,
an animated crowd, and a host who acts as the ringleader. In "King of the
Bingo Game", Ellison clearly captures the essence of a man in crisis who
is desperately seeking a solution.
"That I Had Wings", published in 1944, is the last in a trilogy of
stories surrounding two characters named Buster and Riley. The other two stories
are "Afternoon" published in 1941 and "Mister Toussan" published
in 1941 (Schor). Buster and Riley are two young African-American boys living
in the south. "That I Had Wings" starts in the morning on the Riley's
porch. Riley cannot leave the porch because his Aunt Kate, who plays the parental
figure, has grounded him. Riley notices a baby robin with its mother. Whenever
the mother is around the baby robin acts helpless, but once the mother departs
to find food, the baby robin tentatively flies away. The action then moves to
the backyard where Buster and Riley have an idea. The boys want to see if their
chickens can fly like the baby robin. The boys construct crude parachutes and
attach them to a pair of baby chicks. Buster plans to drop the two chicks from
the roof of the chicken pen with Riley below to catch the chicks should the
parachutes fail. Buster drops the chicks right as Aunt Kate appears. Riley is
distracted by Aunt Kate's sudden appearance and the chicks fall to their deaths.
The story of "That I Had Wings" is symbolic in many ways. Ellison
illustrates a subtle lesson about limitations. Riley is constantly at odds with
his Aunt Kate; he is always disobeying her wishes. Ellison uses Riley to demonstrate
how "the real joy of an adventure is the attempt, not the success"
(Schor). Riley is still unsure of his own limitations. Riley "has yet to
learn what his wings are, and how far they will carry him" (Schor). The
death of the chicks is also symbolic. Riley forced the chicks into a risky situation
that pushed their limitations; the chicks did not choose this stunt. Ellison
shows how "Riley fails to realize that such a challenge must come from
within" (Schor). "That I Had Wings" showcases Ellison's ability
to disguise a story with a lesson as entertainment.
Ralph Ellison is many things. He is a storyteller, an activist, and a dreamer.
Ralph Ellison is also one of the most illustrious authors of the twentieth century.
Ellison is almost universally hailed as a genius, and is among the most respected
authors in literary circles. Ellison is a master at using an enticing story
to project a complex commentary on society. His stories present universal themes
that anyone can relate to. Poor or rich, white or black, Ralph Ellison has touched
many people. Ellison was not immune to criticism, however. Everyone will have
their detractors, but Ellison always defended his writings. Even after his death,
he continues to influence the current generation of writers. Some scholars have
called Ellison the preeminent black author of the twentieth century, but he
is more than that. There is a small group of critics who consider him the greatest
American author ever. Ralph Ellison has rightfully taken his place alongside
the great authors of our time.
Works Cited
Baumbach, Jonathan. "Nightmare of a Native Son." Modern Critical
Views: Ralph Ellison.
Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. 13-27.
Brennan, Timothy. "Ellison and Ellison: The Solipsism of Invisible Man."
Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. 16 April 2001
Ellison, Ralph. "King of the Bingo Game." Flying Home and Other Stories.
Ed. John F. Callahan. New York: Random House, 1996. 123-136.
Herman, David J. "Ellison's 'King of the Bingo Game': Finding Naturalism's Trapdoor.
Contemporary Literary Criticism. Galen Group. 16 Apr. 2001
Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia. "Ralph Ellison: Biography." Literature Online 24 Apr. 2001
Langman, F. H. "Reconsidering Invisible Man." Contemporary Literary Criticism.
Gale Group. 17 April 2001
Mitgang, Herbert. "Invisible Man, As Vivid Today as in 1952." Contemporary Literary Criticism.
Gale Group. 16 Apr. 2001
"Ralph Ellison: 1914-1994." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. 16 April 2001
Schor, Edith. "Ralph, Ellison, Journeyman: Three Early Stories." Contemporary Literary Criticism.
Gale Group. 17 April 2001
http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRC/.