VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Rainbows End depict family…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Rainbows End Essay ① How does 'Rainbows End' depict family dynamics and their influence on individuality? The…
Rainbows End Essay ①
How does 'Rainbows End' depict family dynamics and their influence on individuality?
The First Nations' play, 'Rainbows End', by June Harrison follows a family of three indigenous women as they traverse through the difficulties of day-to-day life in an emerging White Society. Set in the 1950s White Australia, a time of deeply entrenched racism and discriminatory policies against First Nations' people, the play explores the idea that families play a significant role in empowering an individual to reach their full potential. This is primarily presented through family dynamics assisting in upholding an individual's to strive higher but also by acting as a pillar of support in moments of. However, the play also delves into the notion that, at times, family structures can also limit an individual in bettering their life circumstances and opening their world view.
An individual's aspiration and dreams stems from their need to improve their families circumstances. Throughout the play, the multiple unique dream sequence presented by Harrison demonstrate the aspirations that drive Gladys to better her family's lives. Near the beginning of the play, Gladys has a dream sequence in which she "sees Dolly in a robe and clapboard hat", driving Gladys to support and motivate Dolly's education which forms an integral aspect of Gladys's personality. Through this, Harrison reveals how the search for betterment in family situations are greatly driven by the an individuals dreams and goals they have towards their family. This is further demonstrated later in the play when Gladys' dreams about a tap that "flows blue jewels in an approximation of water." Gladys's aspiration for her family to have their basic human needs met, despite starting as a dream, motivate her to challenge her timid nature and advocate on behalf of the Indigenous community. Gladys's dreams and consequently her actions allude to the how an individual can overcome their own nature and achieve greater feats through the simple yet deep belief in their family. Therefore, Harrison highlights the significant role family plays in driving an individual to achieve their utmost best.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: sunset boulevard, ‘Sunset Boulevard both…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Billy Wilder’s film Sunset Boulevard set in the post world war era in Hollywood depicts a society where…
Billy Wilder’s film Sunset Boulevard set in the post world war era in Hollywood depicts a society where traditional gender expectations are upheld through various aspects like the unequal opportunities presented to each respective gender. However, it also represents a world where these societal expectations are beginning to be challenged in ways like the dynamic of males and females (e.g. power). Furthermore, through intentional constructive techniques within the film, Wilder shines a negative light on the continued enforcement of traditional gender stereotypes within society.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: To what extent do you agree that Oedipus…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: Set within the theocentric society of Thebes, Oedipus The King explores a society plagued by disease and bound by…
Set within the theocentric society of Thebes, Oedipus The King explores a society plagued by disease and bound by prophecy, in which Sophocles crafts a realm where the conflict between fate, truth and human agency becomes a powerful symbol of the inevitability of suffering. The 429 BCE play postulates that in a world dictated by fate an individual can only exist and act within the confines of their own destiny. Through the journey of a tragic hero, Sophocles constructs fate as an unyielding divine force, exposing human ignorance as the true source of suffering. Though fate is established as a fixed moral force controlling the boundaries of one's journey, the playwright suggests that it is the actions and flaws of the individual that ensures suffering at the hands of divine order. Furthermore, Sophocles examines humanity's refusal to abide by their own limitations is what results in an individual succumbing to divine order and becoming a victim of their own destiny.
Sophocles constructs fate as an unalterable moral order governed by the gods, positioning the downfall of a noble king as the inevitable consequence of human ignorance and defiance. Through Oedipus’ initial address to the city of Thebes, Sophocles presents him as a conduit through which divine justice manifests in the mortal realm. His self-proclamation as “the land’s avenger” and his assurance that he “will grant [their] prayers” establish him as a saviour figure aligned with Apollo’s will. Yet, Sophocles employs dramatic irony to reveal that Oedipus’ belief in his divine purpose is the very expression of his hamartia. His conviction that, as “the man of experience,” he can “bring what is dark to light,” exposes the hubris that blinds him to “the truth of his [own] birth.” This metaphorical blindness not only severs him from moral clarity but propels him toward his destined ruin. Through Oedipus’ misguided assertion of human agency within a divinely ordered world, Sophocles critiques humanity’s compulsion to control the uncontrollable, suggesting that pride transforms duty into transgression and ensures the fulfilment of fate.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Born a crime is a story of overcoming…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 67.5%: Overcoming limitations Following the fall of the tragedy which was Apartheid, South Africa entered a new era of…
Overcoming limitations
Following the fall of the tragedy which was Apartheid, South Africa entered a new era of politically free formal self governance - however the long lasting effects of systemic racism left it's people. In his memoir Trevor Noah's satirical memoir 'Born a Crime' explores the complexities of growing up as a mixed-race child in the townships of post-apartheid South Africa. Noah explores not only a deep story of overcoming limitations through hope and discussing faith but furthers his anecdotal narrative by exploring his transition between faith and western culture to surmount his many challenges by latching onto a higher power.
The text 'Born a Crime' explores how hope is the most useful asset when overcoming hardships. Growing up in townships such as Sowetto and Alexandra, Trevor was able to experience things and hope for things others in his area couldn't, a hope for something better. Comment's how his mother Patricia "raised [him] like a white child." In it's essence this seems nonsensical as Trevor himself was mixed-race. However the way Patricia exposed Trevor to the realities of a privileged life allowed him the hope of pushing for something beyond what the systemic hierarchy had given him, beyond the logical expectations set for him.
forces over the vast spaces of white, showed him there was more to life than the coloured had to offer. More to hope for. Noah himself you can only hope for what you can imagine." Showing how he recognizes that without the knowledge of something better, there is no reason to push for more. This is shown through the "Hamster wheel" that is in the hood of Alexandria. Here People struggled to prosper for more because they didn't see it as attainable. They regarded the hustle it was the only way out, but the harsh reality kept them stale. Noah comments that in his time in the hood "no one made any money".
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "madame is the greatest star of them all"…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 70%: “madame is the greatest star of them all” In what ways does the film challenge gender roles? The 1950s film noir…
“madame is the greatest star of them all” In what ways does the film challenge gender roles?
The 1950s film noir Sunset Boulevard set in Hollywood functions to both celebrate and critique the world of Hollywood in the new post-war era. As a result of the post-cold war Hollywood was going through a change in tastes, entertainment and lifestyle choices as a result of the “Golden age of cinema.” This era also that too followed the Hayes production code, were certain things were not allowed on the camera including lust, swearing and extreme violence. The film challenges gender roles through the power presented through older women, the new golden age of cinema allowing for women to pursue their ambitions and through delusions, greed, ambition and reality all along with manipulation, challenging gender roles.
From the outset, Wilder challenges gender roles through the unusual nature of older woman asserting power and control over younger men. In one of the very first scenes of the film were Joe stumbles across Norma’s “Great big white elephant of a place” and decides to go walk in. Wilder’s camera angles and use of the big house highlights and symbolises its large scale over Joe (who is a man) and the reality of the house being owned by a woman. Such living in the altiburd life depicts the way Sunset Boulevard challenges gender roles as instead of a woman being allured into a house, it is ironic as a young man is being led in, which challenges the 1950s stance on gender roles. As the film progresses and Joe bills is sucked into Norma’s delusional world Norma offers to start paying for Joe’s clothes to which he sales associated shoes to Joe’s as long as the lady’s paying for it, highlighting the irony of Norma paying for things as usually that’s what a man would. In addition Wilder also consistently uses the mise en scene of structuring the camera angles to make sure Joe doesn’t appear more dominant than Norma. However Wilder challenges this stigma when Norma says “sit down” to Joe and he actually listens. This scene depicts the overall power and control Norma has retained over Joe, which is typically unusual in the 1950s. Thus challenging gender roles in Sunset Boulevard. Due to the unusual nature between the two protagonist characters Joe and Norma, were Norma an older woman displays more dominance over Joe, thus exhibit how the film challenges gender roles.
As the film starts to progress, Wilder challenges the film’s gender roles through the new golden age of cinema allowing women to pursue their ambitions. Betty Schaefer a young script reader for Hollywood challenges gender roles by standing up for herself against a
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 1. “The pains we inflict upon ourselves…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: In 5th century BCE, Sophocles didactic play Oedipus The King was first performed at the Festival of Dionysus…
In 5th century BCE, Sophocles didactic play Oedipus The King was first performed at the Festival of Dionysus where multiple tragedies were shared during the Peloponnesian war and Athenian Golden Age. Sophocles encourages his audience to recognise the importance of compassion of humankind who are bound by their flaws and at the mercy of divine justice. The playwright develops the complexity of sympathy towards those punished by the gods despite the piety towards them and how their divine will is defined as infallible. Furthermore, Sophocles prevails in developing compassion for the protagonist as his relentless journey for the truth and justice constructs his destruction as he abuses his power. Although a prophecy can onset tragic downfall, it is a persons’ pride, impulsiveness, and eventual self-punishment that render suffering uniquely tragic. As the play unfolds, the audience is compelled to weigh their sympathy for a man who, through a mixture of ignorance and will, becomes the architect of his own ruin.
Sophocles carefully develops the relationship between human morality for those who suffer at the hands of the gods who within Athenian society are known for their proclivity of punishment. The playwright continues to develop the complex relationship between human morality and divine law by indicating that “the pains we inflict upon ourselves hurt most of all” in reference to the hanging of the Jocasta despite the prophecy bestowed upon Oedipus never mentioned such tragedy, where her suicide is thematically used to demonstrate the how pre-ordained fate lacks the ability to deliver the same agony as done out of free will. Oedipus’s anagnorisis has caused his to castration of eyes, being blind to the truth having to cleanse himself of his hubris and his blasphemous spiritual self thus making him a man “cursed to heaven” as the gods “ordained [his] agonies”. Despite being punished by the highly reverenced gods the citizens of Thebes still find sympathy for Oedipus being “Pitiful, you [have suffered] so” showing compassion for their once King of Thebes who committed grave crimes like parent-children’s relationships opinionized to be against the unwritten nature of the gods. Sophocles intends to reveal that human mortality can trump the piety of the gods in the face of such suffering despite their punishments are seen as the only true justice available. The playwright demonstrates the relationship between how human compassion can still to relevant towards mortals who are punished by the Greek gods.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Billy Wilders Sunset Boulevard explores…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Billy Wilders 1950 film noir melodrama "Sunset Boulevard," explores the allure and destructive consequences of…
Billy Wilders 1950 film noir melodrama "Sunset Boulevard," explores the allure and destructive consequences of Hollywood fame and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy. The film follows washed-up screenwriter Joe Gillis as he's drawn into the world of former silent film star Norma Desmond, a woman clinging to her past glory and refusing to accept the changing times. Sunset Boulevard powerfully explores the psychological and moral dangers of blurring fantasy and reality, particularly through the characters of Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis. However also critiques the film industry itself for promoting delusion over reality.
Wilder illustrates the destructive potential of living in a fantasy world. Norma Desmond, former silent film star, lives in her past fame. The mis-en-scene of her house is cluttered with photos of herself, heavy drapes, animal skins and gold mirrors. The lights are dim, the air feels heavy, and every object exists to protect her version of the past. Wilder implies this to replicate that Norma’s house is a stage for her to live in the past and escape reality. Furthermore, Norma refuses to accept she is no longer wanted in a changing world. Declaring that ‘(she) is big, it’s the pictures that got small’, she protects herself from the truth that the industry has moved on, and she is no longer part of the story. Wilder highlights this to show the audience how enthralled an individual get in a fantasy and be alluded to what is happening in the reality around them. Ultimately, through the visuality of Normas estate and her egotistical declares, shows how Normas fantasy protects her ego however traps her in a delusion state of mind.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 'In We Have Always Lived in the Castle'…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Section A 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' is a neogothic novella written by Shirley Jackson in 1962. This…
Section A
'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' is a neogothic novella written by Shirley Jackson in 1962. This novella explores how fear is the main motivator of all actions that occur within the village. Written in the '60s this which was a time marked by prevelant patriachal values and stereotypes of nuclear families in which the Blackwoods do not have a nuclear family dynamic. The Blackwoods isolation from the village is a response to fear. The immense hatred and judgement from the villagers stems from feelings of worry and Merricat's childlike personality is a coping mechanism in which to block out her fear of judgment.
In 'We Have Always lived in the Castle' Jackson highlights how fear causes withdrawal and isolation. Throughout the novella the Blackwoods ignore themselves from all situations they can involving the outside world after the incident of the poisoning this is due to fear. The fear of being judged for what occured that day of the poisoning. The Blackwood sisters remain behind their 'wall of safety' which symbolises how dangerous the outside world feels for them. Merricat uses 'safeguards' around the property to protect them from all evil that may be in the outside world. This creates an intense Us vs Them reality that stems completely from being afraid of the unknown. Jackson illustrates how the worry of the unknown and the possibility of being judged stimulates the response of isolation.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Oedipus the King ‘’From the silence…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Performed during the Golden Age of Greece, in the wake of Athens great plague, Sophocles retelling of the Oedipus…
Performed during the Golden Age of Greece, in the wake of Athens great plague, Sophocles retelling of the Oedipus mythos serves as a warning to Ancient Athens of the dangers to a fatal flaw and its indulgence. Sophocles highlights that everyone has a fatal flaw, yet not as monstrous ideal but human weakness. Where at its core, all human fall short to a fatal flaw, and it is only through its acceptance and wisdom, one can be perceived as good.
Sophocles suggests that the monstrous nature lies in one’s hubris. The quote “From the silence something monstrous may come bursting forth”, symbolises the internal corruption that festers within Oedipus due to his hubristic nature. Sophocles uses symbolism to illustrate this. The ‘’silence’’ in the play operates both literally and metaphorically symbolising the suppression of truth and the psychological repression of guilt. Oedipus’ refusal to listen to Tiresias’ insight ‘’you are the corruption of this land’’ reveals his inner arrogance and blindness, traits that increasingly become more monstrous as he resists self-knowledge. Sophocles further reinforces this by utilising dramatic irony. While Ancient Athenians were aware of Oedipus’ crime, his ignorance and hostility towards those who challenge him exposes his moral corruption, this was seen when he called Tiresias a ‘’scum of the Earth’’. Similarly, the motif of sight and blindness reflects how Oedipus’ pride blinds him to the truth, allowing his inner flaws to grow until the play’s anagnorisis bursts forth in a moment of catastrophic self-awareness. Oedipus’ tragic self-blinding represents the eruption of suppressed guilt, as the internal ‘’monster’’ of hubris finally consumes him. Ultimately, through Oedipus’ downfall, Sophocles warns Ancient Athenians of the dangers of self-indulgence and excessive pride.
Sophocles emphasises that the ‘’monster’’ within is not evil or supernatural but it is a reflection the inherent human weakness. Sophocles portrays this human weakness through the chasing of human desire against the gods. Jocasta the queen of Thebes, was warned by the prophets of the murder of her husband and intermarriage with her son. In human nature she believed she could cheat such system by murdering her first born son. In such motives Jocasta alters
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “Sunset Boulevard both challenges and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 65%: Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder, is a 1950s film noir melodrama that both subverts and reinforces…
Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder, is a 1950s film noir melodrama that both subverts and reinforces traditional gender norms of the Golden age of Hollywood. Sunset Boulevard explores this notion of disobeying the norm through presenting an unconventional female anti-hero lead. Furthermore, Wilder also includes a unique dynamic of a heterosexual relationship at the time, while still reflecting the expectations of gender roles through the powerlessness of Women in the Hollywood industry. Accordingly, Wilder presents an alternative side of 1950s Hollywood, while still condemning the prevalent gender discrimination.
Throughout the film, Wilder presents Normas characterisation as layered and controversial, blurring the lines between victim and villain. In the beginning of the film Norma is pictured as arrogant and selfish, with her house being “so filled with Norma Desmonds” both in the pictures of herself in her living room and her refusal to watch any other films except for her own. This depiction of the female lead being self-obsessed is rare, leaning into the femme fatale character Norma portrays. However, the femme fatale character is usually a young and extremely beautiful woman, so this characterisation of Norma as an aging woman who has supposedly lost her beauty also subverts usual gender expectations of women in film. Furthermore, as her true self is being revealed to Joe, it is learned that she has “moments of melancholy” and that there have been “attempts at suicide” shifting the image of Norma to one to be pitied and sympathised with as she is obviously struggling. This notion of portraying a woman struggling mental health overtly rejects traditional gender roles of 1950s of women expected to be perfect.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Sunset Boulevard represents a…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 70%: Set against the backdrop of 1950s Hollywood, Billy Wilder’s ‘Sunset Boulevard’ provides a scathing critique of the…
Set against the backdrop of 1950s Hollywood, Billy Wilder’s ‘Sunset Boulevard’ provides a scathing critique of the industry in which it was made. Throughout the film, Wilder criticises Hollywood and the consequences on those who pursue its perceived glamour. The film presents a condemnation of the film industry and its idealised image of success. Furthermore, Wilder reveals the unfair gender standards on females within Hollywood, and how those who devote themselves to the industry are commodified. Sunset Boulevard also depicts the dire outcomes that are faced by those who pursue their ambitions.
Through cinematic conventions, Wilder condemns the illusion of fame and success within Hollywood in society. From the film’s opening credits, Wilder demonstrates this through the use of a high angle shot panning to a gutter stenciled ‘Sunset Boulevard’. The symbolism of the gutter immediately contrasts the perceived glamour of Hollywood with the dirty reality of the superficial film industry. This is further shown through WIlder’s use of the pool that Joe “always wanted” as a recurring motif throughout the film. The pool is a traditional symbol of success but is directly associated with death, revealing the price of success for individuals who pursue wealth. Furthermore, Wilder highlights this idea through the comparison of the outside of Norma’s decaying “big white elephant” mansion, and its rich appearance inside being “stricken with a creeping paralysis”. This reveals the unattractive reality of success in Hollywood and its artificial nature. Wilder examines the illusion of success in Hollywood, illustrating that society’s views of the Hollywood lifestyle are out of proportion with its true nature.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In We Have Always Lived in the Castle,…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Jackson presents the strict and rigid reality of societal stereotypes that individuals are forced to accept so as…
Jackson presents the strict and rigid reality of societal stereotypes that individuals are forced to accept so as not to be unfairly discriminated against. In Jackson's world, those who are deemed more noble and wealthy are automatically granted a place at the top of the social hierarchy. Representing this, the Blackwood's ostentatious and aristocratic way of life juxtaposes that of the village where everything has "been set up in contemptuous haste" to "provide shelter for the drab and unpleasant". Contrasting the mansion whose "wide, lovely reach of lawn" offers a calm, idyllic and isolate scene away from the "village grime". Through this Jackson highlights how the animosity between the Blackwoods and the villager's is exacerbated as the villagers feel obligated to accept that their lack of monetary power and nobility means they have less power and influence than the Blackwoods, thus making them vulnerable underneath the family's snobbish gaze. As such, the villagers are unable to attempt to defy these expectations as John Blackwood - the head of the nuclear family - only fraternised with those "he thought [ought] to do favours for him", thus perpetuating the malevolent relationship between the two parties and forcing the villagers to accept the inequitable reality of the societies dynamics. Furthermore, the patriarchy of society which heavily favours the men and leaves women "work[ing] like... slave[s]" forces women to bear the brundt of the labour burden while their husbands hold all of the monetary power and live with freedom. Jackson reveals how some individuals accept this reality to fit into the monotony of life in the village, subjecting themselves to a life that is "unchangingly grey", repetitive and offers no scope for autonomy and individuality. It is the threat of being rejected and frowned upon that prevents the village women from defying the status quo of repression, thus forcing them to age "with grey evil weariness" and suppress any claims for a more agreeable and equitable reality.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘The actions of Oedipus are irrelevant; he…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Sophocles “Oedipus The King” explores the tension between fate and free will in ancient Greek philosophy. Fate is…
Sophocles “Oedipus The King” explores the tension between fate and free will in ancient Greek philosophy. Fate is the idea that events throughout the play are predetermined by the gods and cannot be avoided however Oedipus’ attempts to change his fate through decisions and responses to key events. While the main tragedy throughout the play appears to be driven by prophecy, Oedipus also makes crucial decisions that lead to these events occurring. The play details the extreme power of fate while also acknowledging the strong role of Oedipus’ actions and how his personality and pursuit of truth is critical to the unfolding of tragic events.
The prophecy about Oedipus sets the tragedy in motion, suggesting an inescapable fate. From the beginning of the play Oedipus is bound by a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi, declaring that he was “fated to couple with [his] mother” and will “kill [his] father, the one who gave [him] life!” This prophecy is delivered before Oedipus can make any choices of his own. Unknowing of this, his mother Jocasta, father Laius and himself attempt to take steps in hopes of avoiding the prophecy. At Oedipus’ birth his biological parents nail his ankles together and leave him atop a mountain in the hopes of causing his death. Despite these steps to avoid the prophecy, it only leads to the fulfillment of his destiny further reinforcing the belief that fate is unavoidable regardless of human intervention. This also strengthens the argument that Oedipus is fundamentally a victim of destiny rather than his own actions.
Despite the prophecy, Oedipus makes
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “She never let me see us as victims. We…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Author and comedian Trevor Noah's memoir 'Born a Crime' depicts a coming-of-age journey against the authoritarian…
Author and comedian Trevor Noah's memoir 'Born a Crime' depicts a coming-of-age journey against the authoritarian regime of apartheid, exploring systemic oppression and defiance despite systemic oppression. Noah reflects on his experiences as a mixed-race individual growing up in South African segregation and a household of abuse, criticising the structural divisions prevalent in his upbringing. Through his detailed denunciation of apartheid, recount of struggles with traumatic experiences with an alcoholic and violent step-parent, Noah portrays himself, and as well as each of his family members, as victims of socioeconomic and cultural injustice to a strong extent. Despite these struggles of victimhood, the author remains an advocate for defiance to unjust treatment through the use of humor, language and faith, all of which aided particularly his mother and himself throughout the novel's entirety.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: No one in My Brilliant Career is ever…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: In My Brilliant Career (1901), Miles Franklin crafts a semi-autobiographical bildungsroman that captures both the…
In My Brilliant Career (1901), Miles Franklin crafts a semi-autobiographical bildungsroman that captures both the vitality and frustrations of a young girl growing up in rural New South Wales at the turn of the twentieth century. Through a critique of class hierarchies and economic hardship that restrict both men and women—exacerbated by patriarchal structures that confine women—Franklin illustrates the inability of individuals to aspire within an era dominated by limitation. Yet, through a life that defies convention, Franklin offers glimpses of hope, suggesting that constraint can serve as the catalyst for self-realisation.
Dismantling the myth of Australian egalitarianism, Franklin critiques how both economic and social hardship restrict opportunity and distort identity. Having “dropped from seldom to peasantism,” Franklin exposes the humiliation accompanying the Melvyn family’s loss of mobility, encapsulating how societal judgment exacerbates an already dire inability to succeed within the realms of poverty. The recurring tricolon of “dust, debt, dirt” furthers Franklin’s critique of the harsh landscape. In noting that “nothing ever happened there,” and through Sybylla’s constant affirmations of “weariness,” Franklin reinforces the restricting nature of the environment—both mentally, as the “narrowing, stagnant monotony” fails to stimulate Sybylla’s consciousness, and physically, as the “fiendish” heat of summer symbolises endurance and struggle. In highlighting these moments of hardship and weariness, Franklin exemplifies the extent to which the environment itself duels and constrains individuals. Furthering her critique of how poverty and land limit opportunity, Franklin contrasts the piano at Caddagat—symbolising prosperity and a vessel for Sybylla’s creative expression—with the “demented” piano at Barney’s Gap. In doing so, she exemplifies the extent to which, despite brief glimpses of freedom, individuals like Sybylla lack any lasting liberation. Through this portrayal of hardship, societal pressure, and fleeting satisfaction—inevitably foreshadowed by a return to constraint—Franklin exemplifies the inability of individuals to live according to both their needs and desires.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘I stopped the Sphinx! With no help from…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Sophocles’ Oedipus the King serves as a powerful exploration of the destructive nature of pride and humanity’s…
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King serves as a powerful exploration of the destructive nature of pride and humanity’s limited control over fate. The playwright warns his ancient Greek audience of the dangers of hubris—excessive pride or self-confidence—for the devastating consequences it brings to both individuals and society, while suggesting that the ultimate force shaping human destiny remains the will of the gods. Through Oedipus’s downfall, Sophocles underscores the self-destructive consequences of human arrogance and the futility of resisting divine power.
Through Oedipus’s prideful ignorance of the truth, Sophocles reveals how hubris prolongs and intensifies suffering. Having solved the riddle of the Sphinx, Oedipus exalts in his intellect—his claim that “the flight of my own intelligence hit the mark” reflects the confidence that will lead him to ruin. His overestimation of his own abilities blinds him to his limitations, as he begins to see himself as a savior capable of answering his people’s prayers. This inflated self-image aligns Oedipus with the gods and foreshadows his tragic fall. Sophocles ensures that his audience views Oedipus’s suffering with both pity and caution, recognizing his downfall as self-inflicted through pride. The Chorus reinforces this message, warning that “pride breeds the tyrant.” Oedipus’s refusal to confront his own flaws delays his journey toward self-knowledge, and the very intelligence he prizes becomes the instrument of his destruction. The metaphor of “flight” captures both his ambition and his blindness: like Icarus, Oedipus soars too high, only to be undone by his own ascent.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: explore the interplay of love and madness…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: William Shakespeare's play, 'Twelfth Night', or 'What you Will', is a romantic comedy set in a fictional realm…
William Shakespeare's play, 'Twelfth Night', or 'What you Will', is a romantic comedy set in a fictional realm called Illyria, based off Elizabethan society. Set on the twelfth night of the festive season, the end of season where madness is omnipresent. The play explores how love and madness are interlinked. Shakespeare shows how love can lead to madness, how love can be a form of madness, in the eyes of an Elizabethan audience, and how madness can lead to love, to ultimately contend that because love is such a powerful emotion, it is inevitable that there will be madness along with it in some degree.
Shakespeare suggests that because love is an emotion that influences people's actions, it leaves them vulnerable to madness. In the first lines of the play, Orsino speaks 'If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it'. However, merely lines later, he snaps 'enough, no more', implying that it's 'not so sweet, as it was before'. Just seconds into the play, the audience sees Orsino's petulant nature, a kind of madness brought on by 'the plague' which is love. In his pursuit of Olivia, he urges Cesario, Viola in disguise, as his messenger, to 'leap all civil bounds', in a sense urging Cesario to act in a way that is unreasonable and thus to a degree mad. Another character who is described as 'mad' by Olivia's household is Malvolio. He believes he is in such love for Olivia, when in reality he is in love with himself for a higher position of status. He dreams of 'calling officers about' him, and a 'watch' and 'some rich jewel'. As a result, he loves Olivia for what she can give him status wise, and also for her body, as he dreams of seeing her in a 'daybed' sleeping. Regardless the true nature of his love, it is so strong that it leads him to believe a loosely worded letter, forged by Maria in Olivia's handwriting, as proof of love reciprocated. The letter explains he should dress with 'yellow stockings' and 'cross-gartered', which leads Olivia to believe he has gone mad and as a result he is sent to the dungeon. Whilst Malvolio does not believe he is mad, his vulnerability to act in a mad manner means he is to a degree. Therefore Shakespeare suggests that love is an emotion which can easily lead to madness.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Oedipus and Oedipus only is to blame for…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: 'It is my destiny, mine alone. I am Oedipus!’ Universally recognised as a masterpiece in Greek theatre, Sophocles’…
'It is my destiny, mine alone. I am Oedipus!’ Universally recognised as a masterpiece in Greek theatre, Sophocles’ 429 BCE tragedy ‘Oedipus the King’ is a reflection of “action and life”, as spoken in the words of renowned philosopher, Aristotle. Revolving around the downfall of the titular protagonist in Thebes, the tragedian depicts that Oedipus is not the sole agent of his downfall. This notion is conveyed through hubris and free will as a driving force for destruction, however revealing the inevitability of fate which is the ultimate cause of downfall.
Initially, Sophocles presents excessive pride as a catalyst for downfall, warning his Athenian audience that hubris breeds impiety and defies their values. The playwright constructs this notion in the prologue, where Oedipus is established as ‘majestic for a telltale limp’ and boastfully declares, ‘You all know me, the world knows my fame. I am Oedipus!’ Sophocles immediately presents Oedipus’ inflated self-importance to the Dionysian audience, foreshadowing how his arrogance will blind him to the truth and lead to his ruin. Drawing on the notion that pride will lead to his defeat, Sophecles uses the chant of the chorus when saying ‘Pride breeds the tyrant’ in the second stasimon, as a further warning to his audience about the danger of excessive pride. Emphasising this, during the agon between Oedipus and Tiresias, the protagonist exclaims, ‘It cried out for a prophet… but I came by, Oedipus the ignorant. I stopped the Sphinx! The flight of my own intelligence hit the mark.’ This remark displays how Oedipus has allowed his hubris to cause him to be arrogant, and thus, show disrespect. His disrespect does not correlate with the Athenian value of sophrosyne, which Athenians had strong beliefs in thus denoting excessive pride as a driving force for destruction.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Sunset Boulevard criticises the act of…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Billy Wilder's Hollywood on 'Sunset Boulevard' explores the outcomes of being profitably driven in the film. Wilder…
Billy Wilder's Hollywood on 'Sunset Boulevard' explores the outcomes of being profitably driven in the film. Wilder exhibits creating films in means to generate profit. Wilder throughout the film exhibits how Hollywood drives its artists to sacrifice morality to survive. Moreover, through Hollywood's age disposal system, Wilder exhibits the presence of gender roles as a mechanism to make money. However, Wilder showcases how authenticity can still exist within Hollywood's capitalism.
Wilder undermines the decaying creativity in Hollywood as artists sacrifice their morality for survival. During the scene where Joe pitches his 'bases loaded' script to Sheldrake, Sheldrake displays his dismissive behaviour towards Joe's script through his seemingly unbothered behaviour through a mid-shot. Wilder defies a usual cinematic power dynamic where a standing character appears more dominant than a seated one. Joe's stance evokes a calm, and despite standing before Sheldrake who evokes a calm and seated posture. Wilder's use of defying cinematic dynamic suggests that ideas are controlled by executives who are profit-driven. Wilder also implies that creativity is not valued in Hollywood, but rather an idea's level of profitability. Thus, Wilder condemns the purpose of survival, and money. Moreover, Max's role as Norma's butler encapsulates on an individual sacrificing their creativity for survival. Max's choice to serve Norma after her career had faded reveals how the decaying creativity in Hollywood corrupted his identity as a director, sacrificing his morality to survive while giving his dependency to Norma. Hence, Wilder alarms the audience how Hollywood's profit-driven mechanism can result to an artist's loss of motivation towards creativity, due to its corrupted system, enforcing one to sacrifice their principles as a way out of the industry.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Wilder critique the world of…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Seen as the quintessential success factory, 1950s American society viewed Hollywood as a place where glamour,…
Seen as the quintessential success factory, 1950s American society viewed Hollywood as a place where glamour, fame and success flourished. Billy Wilder’s allegorical film Sunset Boulevard critiques aspects of the world of Hollywood through its construction and film noir genre. Throughout the film, Wilder builds tension and a sense of shock towards the harsh realities of Hollywood and awakens 1950 audiences to them. Ultimately, Wilder conveys that Hollywood is a place that gives rise to a damaging celebrity culture, sexism towards women, and opportunism and greed.
Wilder displays that the world of Hollywood gives birth to a damaging celebrity culture that sets unrealistic expectations on 1950s American society. Celebrities during this time had to be glamorous, beautiful, and wealthy to adhere to Hollywood’s strict star system rules, thus setting an unrealistic example on American society. This message is amplified through Norma’s intense beauty regime, and the ‘army of beauty experts’ who invaded her so that she could undergo a ‘merciless series of treatments’ to get ready for ‘those cameras that would never return.’ Throughout these beauty scenes, Wilder implements close-up camera shots of Norma’s face to amplify the notion that she appears to be struggling and in pain due to the harsh expectations that celebrity culture in Hollywood have put on her. Wilder’s use of black and white cinematography contributes to the overall film noir genre of the movie and helps to build further tension through these closeup shots of Norma and the torture that she forces herself to undertake. This tension allows the audience to reflect on the glamorous appearance of Hollywood and to look at it from a darker perspective. Additionally, through these scenes, Wilder portrays Norma as lady Frankenstein, through the bandages on her face and the clothes that she wears as well as the magnifying glass placed over her eye which acts as a metaphorical closeup into Hollywood’s damaging nature, to further exemplify the idea that societal expectations can leave one looking physically scary and exhausted. Furthermore, Betty’s attempts to ‘get [her] nose fixed’ and the sheer fact that it costed her ‘three hundred dollars,’ the price of Joe’s car, further amplifies the notion that Hollywood’s celebrity culture causes individuals like Betty to pay large amounts of cash to change their appearances and personalities to fit the restrictive moulds that studios have made for actors in Hollywood. Ultimately, Wilder employs a variety of construction techniques to depict that individuals who try to adhere to societal expectations that arise from Hollywood’s celebrity culture pay a price and awakens society to these harsh realities.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In Rainbow's End, racism appears in many…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 62.5%: in complex ways on every day basis from dislocation to sexual assault and to societal exclusion, Harrison…
in complex ways on every day basis from dislocation to sexual assault and to societal exclusion, Harrison suggests all the tragic experiences have shaped the Aboriginal women's view of white Figures however pushing racism and discrimination aside and through great optimism, the women decided not to be a victim of racism instead draw From it and change their destinies through resilience.
how the government always turned a blind eye to the problems of Aboriginal families. When Nan Dear opens up about her getting raped by a white man, it gives some courage to Dolly as she will also be able to care for the child as Nan says "you still em the same, no matter how they come into the world." however, as it also affects Dolly's relationship with Errol due to his last name being Fisher. Errol although not willingly demonstrated subtle racism when he thought he's just trying to help Dolly. "Why do you even live here. I'm offering you a better life." The segregation between ways of living of white figures and Aboriginal families made Errol think he knows better as apparently his way of living was better according to him. However Dolly thought although their humpy is vulnerable it's where people are looking out for each other." and that she doesn't need any help from Errol.
The Aboriginal women face racism
When the women face to evacuate them without their consent, the racist white authorities hold all the control. When Nan and Gladys heard the sound of bulldozer, it represents the forcefulness and control imposed on their families. The humpy was more than a house, the humpy 'was a home' for the women, where they supported and uplifted each other.
Through all the dislocation, sexual assault faced by Dolly & Nan and through normalized acts of racism, Harrison suggests
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In Oedipus the King, Sophocles explores…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Sophocles’ classical Greek tragedy play Oedipus the King, performed in 429 BCE, follows the downfall of a king in…
Sophocles’ classical Greek tragedy play Oedipus the King, performed in 429 BCE, follows the downfall of a king in Thebes as he learns that he has fulfilled a prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother. The play explores how the gods control human fate and how people respond to divine will. Written for an Athenian audience who believed in Apollo and the power of oracles, the play uses dramatic irony to show how characters are blind to the truth even when the audience can see it clearly. Sophocles reveals that while Oedipus’s downfall is destined by the gods, it is his own pride and refusal to accept the truth that seals his tragic fate.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In what ways does Oedipus embody the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King, performed in 429 BCE, follows the hamartia of a king in Thebes as he learns that…
Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King, performed in 429 BCE, follows the hamartia of a king in Thebes as he learns that he has fulfilled a prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother. The play explores how the gods control human fate and how people respond to divine will. Written for an Athenian audience who believed in Apollo and the power of oracles, the play shows how humans rely on gods for guidance yet also suffer under their command. Oedipus is a typical tragic hero because his noble status, pride and pursuit of truth leads to his downfall in contrast with Medea, whose tragedy happens from deliberate passion and revenge. Sophocles uses dramatic irony and foreshadowing to highlight the power of the gods over humanity and the flaws that bring Oedipus to ruin.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Anger Works both as a motivaton and a…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 65%: In the film High ground directed by Wittiana Marika and Stephen Maxwell Tohnson. Set post world war 1, Anger is a…
In the film High ground directed by Wittiana Marika and Stephen Maxwell Tohnson.
Set post world war 1,
Anger is a prompting force towards motivation and achering goals. Although for some anger eaten creates a barrier towards sucess. this is shown through a response to trauma prevention of reconciliation and ultimatey hau anger prevents
In the film highground trauma acts as a primary Source of anger enaoling motivation and empowering those Who are traumatised to fignt. Early in the film the colonisers (ses violently perpetrate a massaure, slaughtering majority of the Yolnau tribe.Throuah pain and violence the Massacre acts as a motivater for Yolngu people to retalare and fight back for their culture, Some with anger, Some more Strategically. This is depicted through the character of Bayuara Where he leads a Wild mob' in an act o revenge because its
our land we should fiant, This demonstrates how Baywaras anger is driven by a deep sense of injustice and connection to land. hignliting how dispossesion and trauma fuels anger' as a means of reclaiming power. Johnson and Marika aim to highlight the destructive legacy of colonial power and the effect it can have on Austratian indigenous witure.
At the start of the film baywara is portrayea as the "greatest teacher" and an influential figure for young