Summary and Analysis

Summary

As he searches for Brothers Clifton and Maceo, one of his best contacts and a Jolly Dollar regular at Barrel House, who has been missing for some time, the narrator sells Dancing Paper Sambo dolls. I was shocked to see the Clifton brothers on a street corner. Without a license to sell the doll, Clifton was arrested by a white police officer who harassed and abused him. When Clifton fights back, the officer shoots and kills Clifton.

Determined to honor his friend, the narrator organizes a lavish funeral and honors him. He is also responsible for informing the youth of the neighborhood of the death of the Clifton brothers.

Analysis

Ellison uses scenes of grotesquely dancing puppets to advance the black theme, identified as puppets, puppets, and pawns introduced in Chapter 1 (the "Battle Royale" scene). Brass makes an electric carpet.

The death of the Clifton brothers has a profound effect on the narrator. For the first time, he struggles with his own conscience and becomes emotionally involved in the fate of other humans, wondering if he could have said or done something to prevent this tragedy. If you remember the humiliation and disgust you felt when you saw the Clifton brothers selling Sambo dolls, the respect, admiration, and true love you felt for the Clifton brothers before you saw them selling depraved dolls. You may remember your friendship. The tragic death of his friend causes the narrator to question the meaning of his life. The deaths of the Clifton brothers also present the narrator with a complex moral dilemma. (Recall that he faced a similar moral dilemma when he struggled with .) According to the philosophy of fraternity, an individual's worth is measured by him. Or her merit to the organization. As a result, Brother his Clifton's nefarious actions violated the Brotherhood's mission to work together to advance the race for the common good of mankind, so he is no longer worthy of being part of the organization. In the Brotherhood's eyes, Brother Clifton's actions are more important than his life, which has little intrinsic value.

Themes

Racism

Power

Self

Humility

Submission

Ambition

Dreams