Story and Character Development in "King of the Bingo G
Story and Character Development in "King of the Bingo Game"
What does it mean to be the “King of the Bingo Game”? The main character [He] of Ralph Ellison’s story by the same name desperately wanted to find that out. Even though He did win bingo, He was far from winning the jackpot or even becoming “king.” In the surreal flow, the main character experienced several realizations while He held down the button. He became aware of what the bingo wheel meant to Him and through this, the reader understands the symbolism of the bingo wheel. Through this symbolism one then understands the bigger message Ellison is trying to convey to us about segregation between blacks and whites.
When He ran up on the stage for bingo He did not have any intentions of holding the button down as long as He did. His original plan was, “He would give the wheel a short quick twirl. Just a touch of the button” (73). Standing in front of the wheel an intense power came over Him and he felt as though this moment was the determining factor and somewhat of a payback for all the suffering He had experienced throughout His life. He felt by controlling the wheel He was controlling His fate and he became crazy with power while holding the button. Even when the police came and fought Him down to the ground he continued to press the button because He felt it was his life. Like a desperate man he screamed ‘“I can’t give it up,”’ and again in a more subdued tone He said, ‘“Boys, I really can’t give it up”’ (76). Not until the police crushed His wrist did He let go of the button and not to His surprise did the wheel gracefully fall upon the double zero. While holding the button He felt like He was for once in control of His fate and He would have money to save Laura.
The bingo wheel may have been just a game to other people, but to Him it was salvation. The wheel symbolized hope and He felt that He would have a chance of controlling His fate and he measured His success by that wheel. It was not a game to Him anymore, it was a quest and it quickly took over His...