The Signifying Monkey (Henry Louis Gates Jr.)

"The Signifying Monkey" by Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a scholarly analysis of African American literary tradition, focusing on a storytelling style called "signifying." Signifying involves playful, often witty communication that uses irony, parody, and double meanings to challenge authority and express identity. Gates examines how this style has roots in African oral storytelling and has influenced African American literature and culture. The "monkey" symbolizes cleverness and resistance through indirect, humorous, and layered communication, serving as a way for marginalized groups to counter oppression while preserving cultural identity.