Interpreting The Theme Of The Short Story 'Battle Royal'

The short story “battle royal” theme based upon a coming of age story. Which depicts an African American male who is attempting to find himself, while in a time where slavery has ended and segregation is not yet a distant memory. When he was younger he was exposed to his grandfather’s dying words, which evidently reveals that his grandfather behavior was all a ruse. His grandfather portrayed a meek old man playing a role which he believed was required to suit his situation, being an African American male in a white dominated society. He played this role to hide his true feelings towards the outside world and kept his true identity within to stave off any hardships. The grandfather characterized himself to be a spy in a hostile environment this