King of the Bingo Game

by Ralph Ellison

Start Free Trial

Fate and Determinism

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

In "King of the Bingo Game," Ellison explores the intricate relationship between humans and destiny. The bingo wheel serves as a representation of the "Wheel of Fortune," a timeless symbol illustrating a person's position in relation to fate. This idea suggests that just as people can be wealthy one day and destitute the next, they are on a wheel that moves them unpredictably up and down. It implies that those experiencing difficulties should hold onto hope, as their circumstances will eventually change. However, for the Bingo King, the Wheel becomes a cruel jest that fails to fulfill its intended purpose. The Bingo King remains perpetually at the bottom. At the story's outset, he is nearly penniless, new to a strange and unwelcoming city, and his wife is seriously ill. He attempts to better his odds by purchasing five bingo cards, but when this strategy succeeds, he faces another challenge: stopping the bingo wheel on the double zero to secure the jackpot.

As he begins spinning the wheel, the Bingo King experiences a moment of insight. He understands that unless he continues spinning, thereby delaying its final verdict, he will end up at the bottom once more: "high and dry, dry and high on this hard high slippery hill and Laura dead." Thus, he opts to take charge of his fate by persistently spinning the wheel, temporarily postponing any final decision or judgment. As long as he holds the button, he believes he can transcend time and evade Fortune's caprices: "This is God! This is the really truly God!!" he exclaims.

Despite this, the forces of Fate—the bingo caller and the police—eventually manage to pry the button from him, and in that instant, he returns to his familiar position at the bottom of the wheel. By the conclusion of the story, he receives the familiar justice he knows all too well: "as he warmed in the justice of the man's tight smile he did not see the man's slow wink, nor see the bow-legged man behind him step clear of the swiftly descending curtain and set himself for a blow. He only felt the dull pain exploding in his skull."

Race

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Although the story's theme has universal significance, Ellison focuses on the specific effects of the "Wheel of Fortune" on African Americans. The Bingo King is not a generic Everyman; he belongs to a historically oppressed community and, even within this group, is part of a less advantaged minority. Ellison immediately introduces the racial aspect by depicting the Bingo King watching a movie, surrounded by black men who fantasize about being in a room with a restrained white woman. In the South, relationships between black men and white women were intensely feared by whites and considered a grave offense. The whispered fantasies of the Bingo King's neighbors must be unsettling to him, as individuals in his home state of North Carolina were lynched for far lesser offenses. The way his neighbors speak about challenging this fundamental rule of white society foreshadows the Bingo King's own rebellion against the laws of destiny.

Ellison also underscores the Bingo King's sense of alienation from his own race. When he is on stage, the emcee inquires about his origins. "Down South," the King responds. The emcee then subtly mocks his rural accent and demeanor, which contrasts with the tough, cynical nature of the audience, who shout, "Let that fool up there!" when he wins bingo. However, the Bingo King finds his own form of revenge, at least in his mind, as he stands on stage, defying Fate. "All the Negroes down there were just...

(This entire section contains 293 words.)

Unlock this Study Guide Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

ashamed because he was black like them. Most of the time he was ashamed at what Negroes did himself. Well, let them be ashamed for something this time. Like him." In an ironic conclusion to the story, the Bingo King encounters the same harsh treatment that any other member of his race would experience.

Alienation of the Individual from Society

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

In the bustling industrial landscape of the North, the protagonist finds himself an outsider, severed from the simpler life he once knew in North Carolina. There, survival depended on the strength of one’s body and the sweat of one’s brow. But in the urban sprawl, a labyrinth of bureaucracy stands between him and employment. He lacks the necessary documentation to secure a job, denying him the financial means to care for his ailing wife. This predicament mirrors the convoluted process of winning the bingo game—a game not just of chance but of navigating an intricate web of rules. Success demands more than the luck of aligning five numbers; it requires the wheel to land precisely on fortune’s favored spot, much like the protagonist’s quest for stability in the city.

Compounding his isolation is the fact that the protagonist is black in a predominantly white society, a barrier that further alienates him from potential employment and acceptance. This racial divide is underscored by the bingo announcer’s mocking tone, as he ridicules the protagonist’s rural roots and belittles him with the term “boy.” These actions highlight the societal chasm that the protagonist cannot cross, casting him as an object of ridicule for the amusement of a crowd that sees him as an oddity.

The protagonist’s alienation runs deeper than race, as even black members of the audience join in the derision. Their laughter suggests that his isolation is not only about skin color but also about his individual existence beneath the harsh stage lights. The audience, now a jeering collective, mirrors the broader society that refuses to acknowledge his humanity. Feeling their scorn, the protagonist resolves to assert his individuality, pressing the bingo button in defiance and daring them to witness his unruly spectacle. By doing so, he claims his autonomy, transcending the narrow definition of identity imposed on him by both black and white audiences alike. He strives to affirm his personhood not merely as a black man in America, but as a human being unwilling to be boxed into societal expectations.

Criticism of Society as Crass and Materialistic

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

In Ralph Ellison’s narrative, we find a seamless intertwining of themes that resonate across different epochs—modern and ancient. The story unfolds against a backdrop where the individual stands isolated from the collective ethos of society. This sense of alienation echoes the modern literary exploration of characters estranged from their surroundings, highlighting a profound disconnection in a world driven by superficial values.

Ellison deftly critiques a society steeped in materialism, exposing it as lacking substantive human depth. This critique is as relevant now as it was during the time the story was set, offering readers a reflection on a culture that often values wealth over genuine human connection. In stark contrast to this contemporary commentary, Ellison also draws on an age-old narrative thread—the struggle against fate. This theme, pervasive in ancient literature, underscores the timeless question of whether humans can ever truly influence their destinies or if they remain at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

Ellison’s work thus serves as a bridge between the ages, linking the modern quest for individual purpose and authenticity with the eternal human confrontation with fate. It challenges readers to ponder their own place within a society that often prioritizes material gain over meaningful existence, while also reminding them of the enduring struggle for autonomy over one’s life course.

Inability of the Individual to Control Fate

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

The protagonist, in a desperate bid to carve out a space for his own individuality and secure an economic future for himself and his wife, is locked in a losing battle against overwhelming odds. The allure of the jackpot, tantalizing yet ultimately insufficient, symbolizes the elusive nature of success and the formidable barriers that stand in the way. Despite his realization that the spinning wheel temporarily grants him a semblance of control over his destiny, the truth remains stark: fate looms larger than any single moment or action. Life is not a paused game, and the relentless societal forces, embodied by the "uniformed men," inevitably close in, extinguishing his fleeting grasp on autonomy. His struggle underscores the profound powerlessness of the individual against the inexorable machinery of fate, illustrating the tragic reality that personal determination often falters in the face of systemic might."

Previous

Summary

Next

Characters

Loading...