During the battle royal the protagonist's blindfold partially slips off, describing the glimpse of truth experienced by few within the circus ring of white entertainment. He uses this advantage to "[move] carefully while avoiding blows" or scorn his fellow breeds. After the protagonist uses his advantage to survive in the first round of the battle, he faces a large black opponent, Tatlock, who symbolizes his black brothers who hinder his white-led success. Faced with a perceived final obstacle to success, the protagonist continues to strive to be seen as an exceptional black man as he asks Tatlock to "pretend like [he] knocked out" by promising him the coveted prize of the fight. During this head-to-head battle the protagonist reacts with "hopeless desperation" calling Tatlock a "stupid clown...ruining [his] chances" of success when ironically he himself is the clown, hired for entertainment in this white run . circus show. Here Ellison uses imagery from the Battle Royale to indicate how whites orchestrated black success to be both a source of entertainment and an exercise in control. Ellison promotes this portrayal