Bingo Observation

The short story “King of the Bingo Game” was written by Ralph Ellison. It was first published in the journal Tomorrow in November 1944. The story involves the protagonist Bingo King who is alone in the world and his isolation is further highlighted by the potential death of his wife who is critically ill. The story interestingly examines a segment of Americans who are often ignored and are new to the urban life (Ellison, 1944).

I have always admired the senior citizens who are wondering how they have passed such long journeys of their lives. They not only have accomplished achievements, but also have done memorable works that deserve admiration, respect, and priority in today’s society. These old people may look incompetent and unexciting in somebody’s eyes and thoughts, but not everyone realizes that they are the people with greatest knowledge and experiences beyond their masters of life. From my own experience, whenever I see an old mister or mistress looking for help or in need of help, I can never ignore him or

Deborah Reber a famous poet once stated, “Letting go doesn't mean that you don't care about someone anymore. It's just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” Letting go of a loved one is never an easy decision to make because in reality, decisions will not keep the loved one alive. By allowing a loved one to be at peace, a person gives allows himself the opportunity to be at peace with whatever trial he faces. In “King of the Bingo Game” author Ralph Ellison includes the bingo wheel, the beam of light, and bingo button to act as symbolism, to show the trials he was facing in life.

Ralph Ellison’s “King of the Bingo Game” is the story about an unnamed black man, in the 1930’s, who is hoping to win the bingo game that is being held at the local cinema, in order win enough money to pay for his gravely ill wife to see a doctor. The central idea of this story is about race, and the inability for a person to be the master of his or her own destiny, when they live in an unfair and prejudicial system.

In Ralph Ellison's "King of the Bingo Game", the African American narrator, whose name is unknown, finds himself in a position where he has the power to control his own destiny for once, or so he thinks. The reader learns that he is from the South, but has come up North, and is taking his shot at a bingo game. He is broke, hungry, his wife is dying, and he hopes to win the cash prize of $36.90 to help her. He eventually is called up to spin the wheel for a chance at the prize, but he freezes, and doesn't let go of the button. This is despite the fact that he explained how a short, quick press can land a winning double zero. He calls himself the "king of the bingo game" and keeps holding down the button until two officers drag him off

“King of the Bingo Game” by Ralph Ellison revolves around an unnamed black protagonist, in the 1940’s, who desires to win the bingo game which occurs at the local cinema, in order to win the grand prize to pay for a doctor for his severely ill wife. Ellison depicts the presence of the white hierarchy and its devastating impact on the black protagonist through a political statement portraying the great injustices that affect African Americans. Ellison depicts how social status plays a role in how the protagonist feels when he is called up stage and his hostile treatment from the white audience in the balcony that vocalize derogatory remarks to the protagonist. The game of chance and the odds of the double-zero represent not only the false sense of hope, but also the constant reminder of the narrow probability that one must receive to win the prize. The themes of the illusion of success and false hope demonstrate the feeling of hopelessness and disparity the protagonist faces as he is chosen for a contender on essentially a game of life and death. Through the use of diction and symbolism, Ellison illustrates the prejudicial society the black community must compete in with the slim possibility of opportunity in a white man’s world.

Once the protagonist is given the button to control the bingo wheel he tells himself his plan “… give the wheel a short quick twirl. Just a touch of the button” (586). He held on to the button, tightening his grip, as the wheel increased in speed, it drawing “ him more and more into its power” (587). He finally held the power of the button given to him by the white man. This was his chance to attempt to break the grossly unfair set of rules established by the dominant white society. Instead of following his plan he continued to let the wheel spin, watching the numbers as they whirled by, he then burst out “This is God! This is the really truly God! He said it aloud, ‘This is God!’” (587). He experiences total power, he loves it. He controls the entire audience’s attention as he holds the button and feels more and more power. The wheel spins while holding onto the button, allowing him to be master of his own destiny a feeling new, scary and addicting to the

Through the first core value, Integrity and Responsibility, “the Commission works hard to maintain the public trust by protecting and ensuring the security of lottery games, systems, drawings and operational facilities.” This core value is important given the State’s conservative values. By valuing integrity and responsibility, the Commission requires ethical behavior by all employees, licensees, and vendors. The Commission is also able to promote integrity through charitable bingo in Texas to ensure this system benefits all charitable

For over ten years or more, I have known Ms. Delois Bynum as a person full of wisdom with inspiring words. She’s cheerful, graceful and amusing and I am delightful that over the years her demeanor hasn’t changed. When someone is in need she doesn’t fall short in helping him or her. Moreover, she’s full of energy because Ms. Bynum gets daily exercise by walking and greeting her neighbors.

In the end we found this to be a very enjoyable experience. None of us had played bingo outside our own houses or family and thought it was only for elderly people. Attending this event changed our thoughts about it and I recommend others to try going to bingo with your friends to get the experience we

There are three characters in the story. The protagonist and his wife are struggling with their life and emphasize the theme of hopelessness. The protagonist is a nameless African American who comes from the southern U.S. At the beginning of the story, he is watching a movie of a woman tied down to a bed. He tries to enjoy the movie, but Laura comes to his mind. Laura is the protagonist’s wife, as well as the incentive for the man to win the bingo game. The man is powerless and hopeless in the society, “he gets no birth certificate to get a job and Laura ‘bout to die’ cause they have no money for a doctor” (242). Thus, winning the bingo game is the only way he can pay a doctor to treat his sick wife. He must win the game because it is his only chance to save her. After he finds he gets all the bingo numbers correct, standing on the stage to spin the wheel to win the prize. He feels compelled to press the button because there is a voice in his mind: “who held the prize who was the king of bingo (246).” The man wants to be the king and overcomes all the difficulties in order to control his own life. He hopes to keep the bingo wheel whirling forever, only in this way Laura will be safe and he has the imagery that “if she is not safe, the wheel will cease

In The Lottery, Shirley explores traditional custom missions and the reason we pass on the legacy to the new generations. As her story describes, families of a small village always gather about the 27th of June each year to attend a town meeting, called the lottery. The old man, Mr. Summer, would “carry the black wooden box” (Shirley 217), to the meeting and distributes the paper ticket to every family while supposedly perform a recital, but people soon forgot how the recital is performed a changed the official rule; whoever has a dot on their pieces of paper will win the lottery. Strangely, the town people do not properly follow the tradition, yet they mindlessly maintain the lottery. Moreover,

The narrator of Ralph Ellison’s “King of the Bingo Game” is a scared but fighting man. The protagonist of this story is an African American man. He is from Rocky Mont, North Carolina. In the story, his wife Laura is ill and will die if they are not able to take her to a doctor. He is playing a game of bingo in order to try to win the daily jackpot, so he can take Laura to the doctors. He gets bingo and is called up to the front to spin the wheel, but when he goes up to spin the wheel he is not able to let go of the button. He is having a hard time letting go of problems that are occurring in his life. Ralph Ellison’s “King of the Bingo Game” is about an African-American who is trying to cope with many different conflicts in his life throughout one bingo game.

In The Lottery Old Man Worner profusely argued the tradition of the lottery when others suggest other villages gave up the lottery. "There's always been a lottery" (page 31 line 200) "Nothing but trouble in that" (page 31 line 203) The old generation still holds the value of conducting the lottery and when other view points, perhaps more rational thinking in today's times could change the way the village does things.

there is quiet conversation between friends. Mr. Summers, who runs the lottery, arrives with a black box. The original box was lost many years ago, even before Old Man Warner, the oldest person in the village, can remember. Each year Mr. Summers suggests that they make a new box, but no one is willing to go against tradition. The people were willing to use slips of paper instead of woodchips as markers, as the village had grown too large for the wood chips to fit in the box. A list of all the families and households in the village is made, and several matters of who will draw for each family are decided. Mr. Summers is sworn in as the official of the lottery in a specific ceremony. Some people remember that there used to be a song and salute as part of the ceremony, but these are no longer performed. Tessie Hutchinson arrives in the square late because she has forgotten what day it was. She joins her husband and children before the lottery can begin. Mr. Summers explains the lottery’s rules: each family will be called up to the box and draw a slip of paper. One of the villagers tells Old Man Warner that the people of a nearby village are thinking about ending the lottery. Old Man Warner laughs at the idea. He believes that giving up the lottery would cause nothing but trouble, and a loss of civilized behavior. A woman responds that some places have already given up the lottery. Everyone finishes drawing, and each