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Compare and contrast the presentation of oppressionin I Am Not That

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Compare and contrast the presentation of oppressionin I Am Not That
Woman and Still I Rise.

The poems I am studying are 'I Am Not That Woman' by Kishwar Naheed and 'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou, both in the twentieth century.
Both poets have based the poems on their own experiences of suppression in their different cultures and they both continue to end with feelings of hope.The poems show the different reactions and attitudes of two very different women who in similar circumstances. In
'I Am Not That Woman', the poet has been oppressed in her culture of the Asian society. By this she has been oppressed by the traditional values of the Eastern culture but especially by her father and husband. She is also trying to overcome …show more content…

The poet seems bitter towards her father and husband. She seems strong because she has got through her problems so far and is angry and resentful about the whole situation. She seems adamant to not let it happen to her for much longer. The poet uses figurative language to help create imagery in the reader's mind. An example of this is the metaphor is 'I am the one you hid in your walls of stone', where she means how her husband has literally and mentally locked her away, creating the picture of her trapped. To show that she had been pressurized of the Asian society of being forced to have an arranged marriage metaphors are also used here, 'crushed with the weight of custom and tradition'. The poet even uses a biblical reference to help picture some of the imagery in the reader's mind. This is where she says she is 'walking on water' which is a reference to Jesus and miracles. When she mentions 'not knowing', she uses this to emphasize the ignorance given to her by her family and husband. She often repeats herself, such as 'not knowing'. By doing this she is trying to get a point across effectively. By the repetition of 'not knowing' she is trying to make them aware that although she has been locked away and that they are controlling her, she still knows things that they do not.

The poet is trying to get the point of view across, that she is not the Eastern woman living in captivity, being told what to

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