Ellison/Shakespeare
There are many characters in Shakespeare's The Tempest that could fit the characteristics of being the "little man behind the stove." The Tempest has a strong degree of dramatic irony, and Shakespeare even incorporates the breaking of the fourth wall in the final scene of the play. This means that the audience itself serves as the "little man behind the stove." However, there are clearer characters that represent the little man. For example, Caliban is "little" in the sense that he is a sort of subhuman creature. As the son of Sycorax, Caliban is portrayed as being a little bit odd and different. He is not like the spritely Ariel, who can also be considered as a "little man." Both Caliban and Ariel play roles that could be construed as being similar to that of Ellison's "Little Man at Chehaw Station." Caliban's role is even more like that of the "little man behind the stove" than Ariel's. This is because Caliban is set apart from Prospero as one of the clear antagonists of the play. Caliban is more of a technical observer like Ellison's little man than is Ariel, who participates more in Prospero's antics than Caliban. Yet neither Caliban nor Ariel completely meet the description of Ellison's little man behind the stove. Prospero is the ultimate embodiment of what Ralph Ellison was trying to convey with his essay "The Little Man at Chehaw Station." Prospero is a mysterious figure, whose self-taught powers of intellect and magic form the foundation of Shakespeare's play.
When Ralph Ellison wrote "The Little Man at Chehaw Station," he most likely did not have Shakespeare's The Tempest in mind -- in spite of his reference to Hamlet halfway through the piece. Ellison's essay is written to illustrate Ellison's own creative and personal psychological development. The author relays a story about his upbringing, during which his ego was shattered after a...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now