In life we all have goals and dreams. Determination is one way to achieve them, but can we achieve on determination alone? Is there something else a person needs to help them achieve their dreams? This idea is explored in the four texts The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, ‘Billy Elliot’ directed by Stephen Daldry, and ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou. In the poem, ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou, the persona is speaking on behalf of all the black women who have ever suffered from prejudice and oppression. “You may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust, I’ll rise.” She is speaking out against all her oppressors and telling them that they can no longer treat her as they have in the past and that she has …show more content…
“I don’t want a childhood. I want to be a ballet dancer.” But despite all his determination Billy could not reach his goal without the support of his family, who at the start were dead set against the idea. This situation reminds me of Macbeth, who without the support and encouragement of Lady Macbeth never would have become King. “I have no spur that pricks the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition.” This quote shows us that Macbeth has absolutely no other motive to kill King Duncan, only his powerful determination to become the King himself. But despite his intense ambition Macbeth did not have the courage to see the deed through. Lady Macbeth’s support made him change his mind, without her he never would have succeeded. Likewise, with ‘Billy Elliot’, Billy needed his dad’s complete support to aid his determination. Once Billy’s dad, Jacky, had changed his mind, Billy’s dream was completely in his grasp. By putting Billy’s dream ahead of himself and pushing past his fear of judgement, Jacky allowed Billy to do something that he never could have done on his own. “Let’s give the boy a f**king chance!” In both cases of ‘Billy Elliot” and Macbeth, the support of their loved ones was the difference between success and
Through the soliloquy, the audience gains insight into Macbeth’s innermost thoughts. He names multiple reasons as to why he should not kill King Duncan, noting that Duncan is his guest, kinsman and a good king. He also admits that the only motive he has is the “Vaulting ambition” residing inside of him. Here he names his own hamartia, his fatal flaw, and acknowledges that to give in and commit such a deed, would result in his “deep damnation”. While still undecided on the matter, Lady Macbeth enters, and, seeing his indecision she decides to manipulate him into the decision that suits her; for after all, she is almost if not as ambitious as her husband. By questioning his manhood, his bravery, even their marriage, she successfully leads him to make the choice to kill the king. We now must realise that although the witches’ prophecies and Lady Macbeth’s taunts were a catalyst for Macbeth’s treachery, they never force him to make these errors in judgement; it must have been something that was already inside of him that caused him to decide this. There must have been some inherent evil already a part of his character.
From this decision arises obvious internal conflict- he has love for his king and has proved this in battle. However, his ambition is decidedly the prevailing emotion and he decides he must kill his king. The scene before the murder takes place Macbeth imagines a dagger before him. He says,
Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” was published in 1978 at one of the most productive and successful periods of Angelou’s career. “Still I Rise” tells about bouncing back and rising up past oppression and hate. The speaker in Angelou’s poem talks to a direct audience, asking them questions, announcing to them that no matter what they do, she will always rise back up. The poem is broken up into quatrains, although the last two stanzas use the repetition of the phrase “I rise” between the complete lines. The author uses figurative language in every stanza of her poem and uses similes and metaphors to create imagery and to get the tone and the theme of the poem across to the reader. Angelou uses figurative language to convey the message of resilience and succeeding even through hatred.
“Still I Rise,” written by poet Maya Angelou, has a blend of tones. Some are playful, funny, angry, confident, and bitter. However, the poem’s tone, as the title implies, is conquering."Still I Rise" is a poem about strength, perseverance, and confirmation. It is about what is expected of a person and what that person is able to do in spite of the expectations.
During Macbeth’s run in with power, instead of getting the glory, joy, throne, and the power that comes with being king, MacBeth only set himself up for
Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” written in 1978, acknowledges the racism and segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, although no longer slaves, the African Americans have been given little rights and opportunity in America. Maya Angelou wrote this poem to prove to other American citizens that she is unfazed by their hate, while she strengthens her people’s motive to reach equality. Angelou utilizes metaphor, imagery and repetition to reveal how proud she is of her minority’s strength.
‘Still I Rise’ show other aspects of the problems that women face. Within the poem, Angelou uses repetition to accentuate powerful imagery. She repeats “I Rise” throughout the poem and frequently leaves it as a two-word line. This draws, even more, attention to the image of her continuously rising up against anyone may put her down. Angelou also employs the use of a
“Still I Rise” was written by Maya Angelou, who is an African-American poet. A majority of her poems are written on slavery and life as a African- American woman. “Still I Rise” is one of the many well known. She discusses how she is treated differently and refers to her ancestry and relates to events they went through during the time of slavery and the events she continues to go through during her time period of life.
The poet uses repetition of the word ‘rise’ to show that she has overcome and risen above racism. In the line, ‘you may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust ill rise’ it expresses to the reader one of the key ideas in her poem, that no matter how unjustly others may treat her because of her colour, she will not be defeated and will stand up again. The main symbol in that line is the rising dust. For dust to rise, it must be unsettled from the ground in order for it to leave and rise,
Maya Angelou, an African-American woman, wrote the poem, “Still I Rise,” in 1978 when racism was still prominent. Maya Angelou was reaching out to a racist community to prove oppression will not bring her down. Angelou brings up topics of what she and every other African-American person has to endure when living in their communities, and how they feel. She also brings up topics of oppression and marginalization throughout this speech to state that she will continue to rise up above it. Maya Angelou utilizes rhetorical questions, hateful diction, as well as, similes and metaphors to prove to others that she, and other African-American’s will rise against the racism and oppression they face.
It is difficult and sad to think that one’s innocence can be snatched away by one’s will to achieve a goal. Hard work and good character are two things that make a person successful. For Macbeth, however, greed and guilt are the only products of horrible acts. In life, there are many paths. One path may seem easier than the other; however, this does not necessarily mean it is the correct path to choose.
In the story “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, the story is about a narrator who ignores abusive actions from her haters and soars above them. In this story, the narrator says “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise” (“Still I Rise”, pg 1). To be powerful means to have control over their identity. When the narrator says “You may kill me with your hatefulness,” she says that people hate her so much, that they verbally abuse her. If she did not have control over who she will be, she would not have the ability to choose who influences her life, making her powerless. Alternatively, she does have control, so she chooses to ignore them, proving that if people can control their identity, then they are powerful. When the narrator said “I’ll rise,” she meant no matter what they do to her, she would not be influenced by their words and continue to grow powerful. People can control who they are and who they will become like the narrators in the stories “We Wear the Mask” and “Still I Rise.” If they did not have control over their identity, then they would not be in a position to hide their true emotions or to choose to ignore the hateful words of people that try to bring her
Each individual has a strong determination to pursue a dream that can challenge society’s expectation as they transition. Through “billy Elliot” Stephen Daldry has portrayed how barriers can prevent some characters to achieve their dreams. In the opening scene, where billy is seen jumping up and down in a slow motion shot, Reveals his vigour energy for dancing and
After Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth learn of their prophecies that Macbeth will become thane of Cawdor and King, they decide that the only way to seize this throne is to kill the current King, Duncan. Lady Macbeth expresses ambition and passion toward this plan as depicted in their conversation: “[Macbeth]: Duncan comes here to-night. / [Lady Macbeth]: O, never / Shall sun that morrow see! … be the serpent under’t. He that’s coming / Must be provided for” (Shakespeare I.v. p.13). The witches’ prophecies did not mention murdering King Duncan–their choice to kill Duncan was entirely their decision. They make their own choices freely based upon evil and ambitious intentions. In order to secure his throne, Macbeth makes a personal choice to murder a soldier of Scotland, named Banquo. Before killing Banquo, Macbeth tells one of the murderers, “Do you find / Your patience so predominant in your nature, / That you can let this go?” (Shakespeare III.i. p.36). Macbeth is passionately committed to execute the plan and desperately wants it to work out. In doing so, he conveys the existential principle as he acts alone and stays dedicated to his plan. However, by the end, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth cannot abide by their choices because of the increasing guilt they face. They could not sustain or continue with their plans that eventually lead them to self-destruction.