Oppression is the unjust and degrading treatment suffered by a certain group of people. Oppression is a topic presented extensively in both novels, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Both protagonists are seen as inferior to society and undergo many degrading experiences where they are verbally and physically abused and isolated from society. In The Power of One, PK is a white African boy raised by his grandfather and nanny on a farm in South Africa. Shortly thereafter, PK is sent to an Afrikaans boarding school where he is mistreated by the other kids in the school and isolated from society simply because he is the only student who speaks English. Similarly, in Invisible Man, set in New York City, the unnamed protagonist is a black male who believes himself to be “invisible,” as he is always ignored by society. He receives a scholarship to college and during his time there quickly realizes that he is inferior to the white supremacist society and becomes a victim of abuse. In both narratives, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Peeky and the unnamed protagonist are oppressed by numerous characters throughout the novel who seek to degrade them, evidently causing emotional trauma to the protagonists. Verbal abuse, physical abuse as well as social isolation are three highlighting points where the protagonists are indeed victims of oppression. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayTo begin, Peeky in The Power of One and the Man with No Name in Invisible Man are the two protagonists who experience verbal abuse, which causes both men to fall victim to oppression. They suffer many humiliating cases such as verbal abuse, physical abuse, and social isolation throughout the plot which makes them subject to oppression. In The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay, Peeky is held on trial and asked to bow before the judge and his war council, and the men proceed to shower the boy with urine. The judge then pulls down the boy's pants and exposes his genitals to the entire court to testify. The judge then points to the boy's genitals and laughs. He mocks Peeky in court. The judge asks Peeky, "Did you hear, asshole, who cut off your hat from the snake, pisskop?" (Courtenay, 7). This quote is when the judge notices Peeky's circumcised penis and criticizes him for it. The boy is judged for this because in Africa it is traditional for men to have uncircumcised penises. Therefore, Peeky is seen as inferior in society and suffers verbal abuse due to his circumcised penis. This makes Peeky unwanted in society and emotionally absent from life and this shows that Peeky is a victim of oppression. Similarly, in The Invisible Man, the nameless protagonist is the victim of many characters throughout the plot who try to degrade him. Throughout the novel it is conveyed that the unnamed protagonist works as an entertainer for rich white men. The protagonist dances and fights for money with his black colleagues. The white men bid for every fighter and the black men fight to the death. During an altercation between the white men and the black men, one of the white men says, “I want to get to that ginger nigger. Tear him to pieces” (Ellison 21). This line is widely offensive, the term “Black” is a derogatory term used towards dark-skinned individuals of any race who are systematically subjected to discrimination and unfair treatment. This type of verbal abuse causes emotional trauma to the protagonist, as the word "nigger" is a trigger word for white peoplethey called black slaves in the twentieth century in an attempt to gain control and power over them. This word can cause trauma as it may bring back the pain and difficulties associated with the past. This shows that the unnamed protagonist is a victim of oppression through the verbal abuse he suffers. Later, Peeky in The Power of One and the Man with No Name in Invisible Man are the two protagonists who are physically abused, which causes both men to fall victim to oppression. In Bryce Courtenay The power of one, the protagonist Peeky is attacked after begging the judge not to kill Grandpa Chook, who is a chicken with whom Peeky had formed a close bond. Peeky says: “He pushed down violently with his foot, causing me to fall to the ground. Then he let out a howl, a mixture of anger and anguish... he started kicking me blindly." (Courtenay 52). Peeky is constantly thrown around for the other characters to use as a punching bag. This kind of constant and cruel treatment of Peeky makes him feel worthless. Similarly, in Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, the unnamed protagonist is attacked by Doctor Brockway. Lucius Brockway is a black man who works at the Liberty Paint Factory, a company run by white men. Lucius is afraid of being replaced and losing his job. Brockway's insecurities in his job led him to attack the protagonist out of anger. Suddenly: “He climbed under me, making angry noises and hitting my face as he tried to use the bar. I unscrewed him from his grip, feeling a sharp pain shoot through my shoulder. He was using a knife, it flashed at me in mind and I hit with his elbow... he hit again as he tried to choke me. (Ellison 226) Brockway attacks the protagonist with a knife and threatens to kill him the protagonist due to his own difficulties. This shows that because the protagonist is seen as inferior to society, he can be used as a punching bag for the powerful and powerful people in society protagonist of The Invisible Man and is therefore a victim of oppression. Literary criticism “Chaos and pattern in Ellison's Invisible Man” by Yonka Krastevas explains white society and how they inflict violence among minorities to turn against each other. He says, “It foregrounds white society's practices of channeling the anger and frustration of Negroes against each other, inflicting violence and self-destruction.” (Krastevas 4). Next, Peeky in The Power of One and the Man with No Name in Invisible Man are the two protagonists who fall into a pool of social isolation that causes both men to fall victim to oppression. In The Power of One by Bryce Courtaney, the protagonist, Peeky, is asked to eat human feces by the judge in front of all the other kids. The judge does this to embarrass Peeky because he is different. Later, after being tortured and tormented by the judge, Peeky explains, "Deep within me loneliness has laid a great stone egg." (Courtenay 53). This quote explains the loneliness Peeky feels. He feels isolated from the world due to the inhumane treatment he has suffered simply because he is different. This quote demonstrates Peeky's mental battle with feelings of social isolation and this makes him a victim of oppression. Similarly, in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, the protagonist begins the plot by explaining his internal conflicts with his invisibility and his position in society and how everyone around him does not see him. He says: “I am an invisible man…That invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiarity.