VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Desire is the most dangerous force in…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 67.5%: The film Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder released in 1950, explores the themes of greed and fame…
The film Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder released in 1950, explores the themes of greed and fame throughout Hollywood. The film raises important question about whether desire leads to greed prompting us to consider whether it leads to danger. The film strongly conveys the idea that desire prompts to danger, positioning the audience to understand that desire is the most powerful force, Firstly, the film reveals how wilder conveys strong characterisations of characters to depict how the desire for fame and money leads to danger. Secondly, the depiction of the film industry highlights the importance of its influence on character in Hollywood causing the desire that leads to danger. However, throughout the film Wilder exhibits a characterisation of a character as still desiring more, but also humble with what they already have. Through the above topis Wilder explores the dangers of desire, revealing how ambition for fame and money can lead to moral compromise and greediness.
One key way the film explores the dangers of desire is through the characterisation of fame and money hungry characters. This idea is significant because it revels how personal reasons and dreams in the characters life affects their passion for desire. This is evident in Norma’s quote “There’s nothing else. Just us, and the cameras and those wonderful people out their in the dark.” This moment reveals how Norma aspires to be recognised and seeks for attention by the audience, illustrating her reason for wanting fame which ultimately leads her to her mental corruption. Joe Gillis also exhibits similar traits, for example, when he says “the poop dope, he always wanted a pool. Well, in the
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: While unconventional, We Have Always Lived…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Influenced by the societal expectations regarding gender defiance and a women’s place in society, evident in the…
Influenced by the societal expectations regarding gender defiance and a women’s place in society, evident in the 1950’s America, Shirley Jackson’s highly nuanced portrayal elucidates to the juxtaposition of what is seemingly an isolated and tormented life, as a ‘happily ever after’. Whilst Jackson argues the importance of making one’s own decisions, in her gothic novel, she alludes to the fallacy of the broken ‘American Dream’, and how the fractures apparent in such can ultimately provide the gateway to an arguably better life. Conveying a modern view, condemning the stereotypical gender roles, heavily supported by traditionalism, Jackson champions the idea that strong female figures can be in charge of their own destiny, and thus, giving them a positive end to conflict. The voluntary isolation explored by Jackson promotes one’s own idea of a personal victory in deciding what is a benevolent success, however, she also highlights how this very isolation leads to torment and destruction, hence arguing that the Blackwood sisters ending was far from the ‘happily ever after’ it can be viewed as.
In highlighting the power of female strength in a patriarchal society, suppressant of women’s needs, Jackson explores how the escape from such challenges the stereotypical archetype of females, resulting in a lifestyle far better than conforming to the gender expectations. Throughout the coure of the novel, Jackson follows two protagonists, Mary Katherine Blackwood (Merricat) and Constance Blackwood, sisters, and the only females alive in the Blackwood lineage. In their day to day life, struct by repetitive routines, the sisters are strictly reserved to the tasks of the homemaker, supporting the gender roles heavily pushed at the time. Despite seemingly being complicity in these roles of cooking, cleaning and gardening, Jackson ensures the sisters disvalue in these tasks, describing Merricat as a “wicked, disobedient child”, embedding particularly Merricat’s own disapproval of the current life they live. The Blackwood house itself is symbolic of the patriarchal view the family holds, with the females of the generation limited to parts of the house such as the kitchen, cellar and pantry, whilst male figures adorned in economics and politics as they reserved in the study. However, once the fire breaks out, lit to remove Charles Blackwood, cousin who asks to be court to Constance, both remaining Blackwood women, Merricat and Constance close off the male dominant sections of the house and purely reside in the kitchen, pantry and cellar, arguably a means for the sisters to ignore the patriarchal hold their lives have been moved by. Through Jackson’s symbolism of the Blackwood house, it is referred to as ‘the castle’ after the fire “open and turreted to the sky”. By making this distinction between the house and the castle, Jackson champions the
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Jackson employ gothic conventions…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: Shirley Jackson’s ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ from 1962 draws on gothic meanings to create an atmosphere…
Shirley Jackson’s ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ from 1962 draws on gothic meanings to create an atmosphere that reveals deeper meanings about human behaviour. Through the isolation of the Blackwood house, the corruption caused by fear, and the destructive presence of violence, Jackson unsettles the reader. These cause the audience to feel in an eerie way and also highlight the dangers of exclusion, paranoia, and suppressed truth. Jackson demonstrates how gothic power reveals unsettling truths about both individuals and society.
Jackson demonstrates the isolation of characters using the mysterious atmosphere of the Blackwood house. The house functions as a gothic setting, described as being “set back from the road and sheltered by trees,” which displays a sense of mysteriousness. The use of “sheltered” suggests both protection and entrapment, symbolising how their home is perceived as shielding but can also trap them within unwanted ideologies. The estate is surrounded by fences and gates, which reinforces the decaying state that haunts its inhabitants from the outside world. The Blackwood home, once dominated by patriarchal principles, is turned away by Merricat and Constance, representing their desire for freedom while breaking away from the house. Through this Jackson positions the reader to experience the unsettling distance towards the sisters, creating meaning about how isolation can have effects on individuals.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In oedipus the king, there is nothing the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: Throughout ancient Greek history, authors and philosophers alike have pondered whether an individual has control…
Throughout ancient Greek history, authors and philosophers alike have pondered whether an individual has control over their fates, or it was gods who hold power over humans all along. In Sophocles’ “Oedipus the king”, he suggests that while it may seem like the world is run on ‘chance’, in fact it is controlled by gods and predetermined fate cannot be avoided. Moreover, individual who attempt to change their fate will ultimately experience tragedy. To begin, Sophocles illustrate that displays of ignorance in an attempt to divert fate challenges the divine will, drowning individuals in delusions of ‘control’, causing excessive shame and guilt. Furthermore, Sophocles suggests that while fate is predetermined, an individual’s excessive pride and rashness can accelerate their downfall. Lastly, Sophocles demonstrates that acceptance of fate rather than attempting to change it is a quality necessary in a leader, building trust among the citizens.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Hubris in Oedipus the King
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: Sophocles presents Oedipus’ downfall as inseparable from the hubris that blinds him to the warnings of gods and…
Sophocles presents Oedipus’ downfall as inseparable from the hubris that blinds him to the warnings of gods and men alike. From the prologue, Oedipus fashions himself as indispensable to Thebes’ salvation, reminding his citizens that it was he who solved the Sphinx’s riddle and “saved the city.” Such rhetoric elevates his mortal triumphs to the status of myth, fuelling a conviction that his intellect and resolve render him equal, if not superior, to divine powers. When challenged, he boasts defiantly, “Mock me for that, go on, and you’ll reveal my greatness,” a line that encapsulates the pride that converts confidence into arrogance. His declaration, “I’ll bring it all to light myself,” further reveals an obsession with control—the belief that truth, justice, and destiny are his to command. This self-aggrandising impulse blinds him to the possibility that he himself could be implicated in Thebes’ pollution, a notion that would destabilise the very foundations of his self-image as saviour and protector. When
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: To what extent does Kennedy portray…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: Cate Kennedy's Like a House on Fire is an anthology consisting of 15 short stories depicting the lives of…
Cate Kennedy's Like a House on Fire is an anthology consisting of 15 short stories depicting the lives of everyday Australians living in modern-day society. Published in 2012, Kennedy explores isolation as an inescapable aspect of human life. However, Kennedy also portrays that by overcoming loneliness, there is hope for tenacity and new beginnings. By exploring the lives of lonely mothers and deteriorating relationships, Kennedy demonstrates the unpreventable aspects of human life. Through encapsulating the aspect of hope, Kennedy further illustrates the ability to challenge strained relationships through persistence and tenacity.
Kennedy's Like a House on Fire demonstrates how isolation is an inexorable concept of existence through the theme of motherhood and toxic relationships. In "Tender," Christine describes her husband as a “third child,” illustrating the struggle she faces being a mother and having to care for her husband. Kennedy implements sarcasm here to exemplify her husband’s immaturity and his childish behaviour, further epitomising her loneliness in their relationship. Additionally, the symbol of the firebox which she “puts more wood into” displays the distance in their relationship, feeling trapped in a life of self sacrifice and gender roles with no reprieve or recognition. Similarly in “Five Dollar Family,” Michelle mocks herself, claiming she believed he had been “thoughtful that night. Thoughtful.” The repetition of the word “thoughtful” is employed by Kennedy to exhibit the ironic bitterness of the situation, illustrating Michelle’s disillusionment and loneliness of loving someone indifferent. Moreover, Des says “nah” when asked to hold the baby, presenting his emotional detachment and further leaving Michelle unsupported in her new motherhood, substantiating the distance in their relationship. In both “Five Dollar Family” and “Tender,” an isolated mother is shown despite being in a relationship with a partner. Kennedy illustrates that due to the notions of toxic masculinity and gender roles, women are forced to carry a huge load of emotional weight and must repress their own feelings. Overall, Kennedy highlights how loneliness is an inescapable aspect of relationships through the theme of motherhood and deteriorating relationships.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Communication problems are the focus of…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Cate Kennedy's collection of short stories titled ‘’Like a House on Fire’’ published in 2012 explores the central…
Cate Kennedy's collection of short stories titled ‘’Like a House on Fire’’ published in 2012 explores the central theme of contemporary everyday life in Australia. Kennedy presents communication as the main focus on some of the stories, however there are still other struggles the characters face. In Like a House on Fire Kennedy proposes communication as a struggle for many of the characters. While Kennedy presents characters who are living well she also shows characters who struggle in poverty. Furthermore Kennedy explores characters who endure physical injuries and in turn face an incapability of being masculine. Consequently Kennedy proposes characters who struggle with the idea of communication in their relationships however Kennedy still presents other struggles the characters worry about.
Although the characters are in relationships and families, Kennedy illustrates some of these characters who struggle with communication. Whether in marriage or family relationships Kennedy proposes communication as a complication in which many of the characters overcome as an obstacle over time. To affirm this, in Flexion Mr Slovak and his wife ‘’the quiet one’’ struggle to interact with one another. When Mr Slovak and his wife Mrs Slovak endured an miscarriage Mr Slovak disregarded his wife's feelings, in response to this advising her to forget it ever happened and to not speak about it especially to other people ‘’not a word spoken or confided’’. Kennedy suggests in Mr and Mrs Slovak's relationship the trouble of connecting with one another to the reader in which the reader feels shocked and inspired to seek comfort in their relationships leading to face the fear of communication as a worry of losing their relationships. In comparison in Ashes the homosexual unnamed narrator enables fake scenarios in his mind when speaking to his mother when in reality the narrator stays silent when having a one-sided conversation with his mother. From which the narrator and mother share completely different perspectives on the narrator's father-son trip he experienced in his childhood as the mother believes the trip was so memorable compared to the narrator who doesn't think much of the trip where ‘’he'd forgotten that moment up until now’’. The mother keeps photos of other people's grandchildren on her fridge in which the son exaggerates how this is a personal attack towards him as he is unable to provide his mother with grandchildren. These different perspectives between the two individuals lead to them not being able to interact with each other and damaging their relationship as a result. Kennedy juxtaposes this mother and son relationship to the readers to highlight the importance of communication in relationships and how the centre of communication is a struggle many face in their relationships enabling readers to possibly feel connected to the story Ashes leading to the conclusion of possibly reconciling any broken relationships through communication. It is apparent through Flexion and Ashes Kennedy proposes characters who struggle with the difficulty of interacting with one another as the backbone of the stories presented in Like a House on Fire.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “under her touch, I can feel the coals in…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Through Charlotte and Levi’s journey following their mother’s death, arnott promotes the importance of…
Through Charlotte and Levi’s journey following their mother’s death, arnott promotes the importance of communication and empathy when tightening familial bonds. As siblings, charlotte and levi are intrinsically connected, and it is clear that both have an undying love for one another. Yet, their lack of communication was what ultimately threatened their relationship almost past its breaking point. in a grand act of love, the ‘save’ his sister form dying in such a greusome manner, Levi pledged to bury charlotte “whole ,still and cold” in a coffin that was a “representation for (his) love” for charlotte. Levi never intended to kill charlotte and bury her, for it was only intended as an act of devotion that charlotte did not have to undergo the smae “pain” his mother did. In spite of his intentions, the coffin is utilised as a symbol throughout flames to represent a loss of agency, confinement and control over charlotte’s freedom. Due to charlotte’s interpretation that Levi was joing to murder her, charlotte runs away in another gesture of love towards Levi, knowing she was not emotionally stable enough to
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Nature does not explain, it simply exists…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 65%: In a time of vast technological development and the dominate values of materialism Mary Oliver’s poetry in New and…
In a time of vast technological development and the dominate values of materialism Mary Oliver’s poetry in New and Selected Poems emphasise the importance of a classical appreciation of nature and acts as a guide to creating a spiritual connection with the natural world. Oliver posits that nature has the ability to simply exists no matter what occurs in the human world but can also be a site for explanation. Oliver emphasises that embracing the simplicity of nature can allow one to simply live without pressure of societal norms. Furthermore Oliver showcases the power the natural cycles of the world hold as they can continue to exist despite what’s ongoing in the human world. Finally, nature can also be a place of explanation if observed mindfully.
Oliver highlights how abundance with the natural world can help one exist without constant pressures of society. In the poem ‘Wild Geese’ Oliver celebrates the vast beauty of nature by watching the cycle of geese migrating and returning home. The use of the personal pronoun “you” begins an intimate conversation with the reader where Oliver alludes to biblical stories where she expresses “you do not have to walk on your knees … repenting” doing so Oliver is emphasising nature does not hold religious expectations, accepting everyone. Instead, the readers are encouraged to “let the soft animal of [their] body love what it loves”, By refuting a common requirement of structured religions and putting forward the metaphor of one’s body being a “soft animal” purports nature as being a more suitable guide in life. Furthermore towards the end of the poem when the geese are returning home together the Poet personifies the world as “offer[ing] itself to [their] imagination” and calls to the readers like wild geese. The personification portrays the world as actively seeking to the readers to join the vast beauty it has to offer and as wild geese travel in groups this symbolises the connectiveness in being part of the natural world. Here Oliver emphasises how the natural world is available to everyone, and anyone can be a part of something beyond the materialistic norms of society. Similarly in the poem ‘August’ Oliver explores through blackberry field that engagement in nature is independent from the societal values of her time. Oliver uses dynamic verbs such as, “reaching”, and, “cramming”, to highlight the raw engagement in the “woods… nobody owns” portraying that nature is free from capitalistic control as the greedy act of “cramming” is done showing how nature is avaible for anyone to fully enjoy, the simple act of picking blackberries can help one become more connected to the simplicity of nature and live a more fulfilled life away from the traffic of the human world. Through celebrating nature’s constancy, Oliver suggests that belonging and acceptance lie not in just existing in the human world but engaging with the primal world.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Poor Strangers… They have so much to be…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Shirley Jackson’s ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’, is a 1962 gothic novel which presents a bleak exploration…
Shirley Jackson’s ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’, is a 1962 gothic novel which presents a bleak exploration of the social dynamics present within Cold War America, by exploring themes of isolation, animosity and revenge. Throughout the novel, Jackson contends that while fear can be partially justified through upbringing and protection, ultimately its presence wrongfully excuses bad acts which becomes unproductive for society. During ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ Jackson highlights how fear can be justified through an individual's upbringing and lack of exposure. Similarly, she posits that anxiety is multifaceted in its ability to both protect an individual but simultaneously induce isolation. Finally, Jackson explores how irrespective of its benefits, fear rationalises harmful acts which are ultimately damaging to society. This exploration of the varied justifications for fear enables Jackson to critique the atmosphere of anxiety and animosity cultivated during Senator McCarthy’s red scare, pronouncing to her readers the dangers behind curating an environment of hostility.
Throughout ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ Jackson compassionately portrays how one’s fear can be a product of their upbringing. Exploring an idealised vision for domesticity and compliance, Jackson employs Constance as the mouthpiece for patriarchal values which infect the Blackwood house. Forever fearful of not “doing [her] duty”, Jackson symbolically enlists the presence of food, and sanctified practice of cooking, to highlight what was most “precious to Constance”. Her fear of straying from these domestic duties is indicative of the patriarchal manner enforced under John Blackwood, a “very selfish man”. The animosity which lingers throughout the house, has its pernicious legacy displayed through Constance's prevailing desire to fulfil her domestic role. Introducing Charles to the lives of the Blackwood sisters, Jackson subverts the traditional ideal of the nuclear family revealing Constance's desire to “wear mothers pearls” and adopt a makeshift family with Charles. It is through this macabre, incestual fantasy, that Jackson reveals how Constance’s fear of independence can be justified as a byproduct of her dictatorial upbringing. A further display of fear’s malevolent effects, Jackson warily reveals the cruelty of the village children who taunt Merricat with repeated chants of “down in the boneyard ten feet deep”. While Jackson's use of first person narration does not encourage the reader to feel remorse towards the children's malicious motif, they nevertheless present readers with a warning to the dangers of being brought up within an environment of fear. Sadistically toying with the psyche of the Blackwood sisters, Jackson encourages a less charitable exploration of fear’s effects. Whilst the children themselves appear emboldened through their taunts, and lacking in heed for their mothers dull directive to not “call the lady names”, Jackson asserts that their fervent provocations are a result of the fearful upbringing instilled in them by their parents. It is through this exploration of Constance and the children's varied responses to fear, that Jackson laments the ways fear can be justified through an individual's enclosed upbringing.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Family is more important than fury in 'The…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Set on a deserted island, the Tempest was a play written by William Shakespeare during the Jacobean era exploring…
Set on a deserted island, the Tempest was a play written by William Shakespeare during the Jacobean era exploring the relationship between anger and human connections. While the play suggests that reconciliation and establishing strong family bonds are more meaningful than vengeance, Shakespeare also emphasises the potential of fury as a force to demand justice in the face of adversity. By utilising various family relationships, Shakespeare exemplifies the stability and support that they can provide to one's life in order to create everlasting lasting peace. Additionally, through highlighting the significant impact that forgiveness has on the longevity of relationships, Shakespeare accentuates how reconciliation can repair broken bonds. However, Shakespeare validates the presence of fury in certain circumstances such as betrayal in order to seek true justice.
Indicating that familial relationships create enduring tranquillity in one’s life, Shakespeare underscores the strength of family bonds and the importance of renouncing fury. Initially, Prospero reveals that he has “done nothing but in care of” Miranda, suggesting that he has done so in order to give her a better life, outside the confines of the island. Thus, through scrutinising the Jacobean society’s inclination toward a patriarchal system, Shakespeare alludes that parental guidance rooted in love rather than rage or control, fosters abiding peace. Furthermore, Ferdinand’s “most rare affections” reveals the transformative powers of love, highlighting how it enabled Ferdinand to overcome the death of his father and focus on the positive aspects of his situation. Therefore, Shakespeare presents familial love as a catalyst for peace, challenging the Jacobean norms of rigid male dominance over women, suggesting that it inhibits the formation of lasting bonds. By alluding that kinships is the root of the tranquillity in one’s life, Shakespeare cautions against falling into the trap of fury as it can destroy everything that a person loves.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Stephen Maxwell Johnson reveal…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: How does Stephen Maxwell Johnson reveal the tragic consequences of unchecked power? Stephen Johnson’s 2020 film,…
How does Stephen Maxwell Johnson reveal the tragic consequences of unchecked power?
Stephen Johnson’s 2020 film, ‘High Ground’, tells the story of the violent realities of frontier colonialism, made in collaboration with Indigenous voices to show the complexities that it had on Australia and its history. Johnson contends that the concept of unchecked power is complex and has the ability to result in catastrophic ramifications. He presents colonial power, how indigenous law, British law clash and the impacts of the power of the gun.
Johnson reveals the intricacies of unchallenged colonial power and how it impacts different groups within the film. Johnson shines a light on the major influence that colonisers have on First Nations people and the ability to control them with this power. This includes the ability for white people to change and adapt the culture of Indigenous characters throughout the missions in Arnhem Land. This can be seen when Indigenous characters on the mission are forced to attend church and are obliged to learn and take on this new religion by Claire and John. In this scene we can see a makeshift church with many Indigenous characters in attendance, but by their facial expressions, they seem confused, uncomfortable or uneasy with this change to their belief system. During this sermon John delivers a reading from Isaiah “what sorrow for you who buy house after house and field after field until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land.” The irony of this biblical warning lies in its delivery, as it is used by colonisers who are actively displacing Indigenous people from their land. This change in religion has led to many consequences now into modern day Australia as it was able to contribute to the loss of culture for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard explores…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: A part of his renowned and established oeuvre, Billy Wilder's ghoulish and dark noir 'Sunset Boulevard' (1950)…
A part of his renowned and established oeuvre, Billy Wilder's ghoulish and dark noir 'Sunset Boulevard' (1950) explores the paradigm shift in the Hollywood community. In a circular and unchronological format, the film follows protagonist Joe Gillis in his aspirations into the bestowed Hollywood industry, with Wilder forming a critique of the dangers and vast consequences of unrealistic hopes. Initially, Wilder explores the loss of independence as result of prioritising future profits. Wilder then directs his attention to condemn and critique the delusions which arise from impossible dreams. Following this, Wilder supports the correlation between truth and hope, signifying the need for realism within individual's pursuit of success.
Initially, Wilder introduces the loss of agency and individuality as result of risks. Characterised through protagonist Joe Gillis, Wilder displays to traditional and contemporary audience's the dangers associated with risking one's career for self-profit. Introduced through the clear mise en scene of Joe's apartment, Wilder highlights to the audience the difficulties present in Joe's life. Through Wilder's utilisation of a mid-shot as Joe writes on his type-writer on his bed, paired with his narration of writing "B-grade" films, the audience is positioned to understand Hollywood's mistreatment of Joe. Furthermore, Joe's narration stating he left his "truth telling job" for his desires to be apart of Hollywood's society subtly hints to the viewership his passion for writing, risking his ambitions. However, as Joe discovers the "big white elephant" of Norma's house, Wilder builds upon Joe's characterisation, illustrating him to prioritise wealth over passion. Through the subtle incorporation of Joe stating he "[is] expensive", the audience is able to identify Joe's true priority's, not writing for interest but instead because he "wanted the dough." Signifying his contrast and change, Wilder cements Joe's loss of independence as consequence of his initial ambitions when Betty arrives at the "grim sunset castle". Through choosing the "bowling alley" over Betty's offer of "if you love me," Wilder illustrates Joe's loss of independence and individuality as the film progressed. In doing this, Wilder emphasises the notion that Joe prioritised his monetary wealth over his agency, caused as a consequence of his lust for success as result of his failed ambitions.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Prompt: To what extent does Sunset…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is both a glittering satire and a haunting tragedy — a portrait of Hollywood…
Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is both a glittering satire and a haunting tragedy — a portrait of Hollywood as an industry that devours its own creations. Through the figure of Norma Desmond, Wilder constructs a woman trapped between grandeur and decay, whose delusion is both self-inflicted and socially manufactured. While Wilder’s blackly comic tone often renders Norma grotesque, his direction and Gloria Swanson’s performance evoke pity for her loneliness and the cruelty of a system that worships youth and abandons its idols. Sunset Boulevard ultimately compels us to feel both horror and compassion, revealing how a culture obsessed with image destroys those it once adored.
From her first appearance, Wilder invites the viewer to oscillate between fascination and pity. The camera’s slow tracking shot through her shadow-filled mansion introduces Norma as a relic of silent-era glamour, surrounded by her own image — portraits, film reels, and a pet monkey entombed in death. The decaying setting externalises her inner collapse; her world is literally rotting under the weight of nostalgia. Yet, Wilder’s choice to light her face with soft, diffused close-ups recalls silent cinema’s romantic lensing, granting her a fragile dignity amid ruin. When Norma declares, “I am big — it’s the pictures that got small,” her defiance reveals both ego and desperation. Wilder’s irony is double-edged: while the line exposes her delusion, it also condemns an industry that has, indeed, “shrunk” in its capacity for sincerity and artistry. Thus, sympathy arises not from her denial of reality, but from the truth embedded in her delusion.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In rainbows end, characters do not have…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Rainbow’s End suggests characters have little control over their lives. Discuss. Set amidst the oppressive…
Rainbow’s End suggests characters have little control over their lives. Discuss.
Set amidst the oppressive environment of a 1950’s Shepparton, Jane Harrison’s 2005 play ‘Rainbows End’ exposes through realist theatre that Aboriginal individuals autonomy is overridden by the values of a prejudiced society. Following the lives of 3 generations of Aboriginal women, the Dear family, Harrison maintains that this pursuit for justice is forcefully shot down by white male control, furthered by the introductions of the motif of weather as a representation of this barrier of racism. Conversely, Harrison suggests that forceful control can be triumphed by marginalised individuals with a strong sense of identity and belonging., Rainbow’s end is a significant testament to the resilience of oppressed communities, revealing the strength of these ‘unsung heroes’.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Section A- Although the end is tragic,…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 67.5%: Section A- Although the end is tragic, there is still kindness and generosity to be seen in Sunset Boulevard. Do…
Section A- Although the end is tragic, there is still kindness and generosity to be seen in Sunset Boulevard. Do you agree?
Despite the backdrop of corruption in Hollywood, Billy Wilder's acerbic 1950 film Sunset Boulevard suggests that a kinder Hollywood can exist, through fleeting and momentary. Set during the rise of the American Dream and consumerism, in a film industry succeeding the silent film era, Sunset Boulevard is a monochromatic, gothic film noir film that exposes the duplicity of Hollywood, whilst also unveiling a brighter, more compassionate side of the industry. Wilder explores the unexpected kindness displayed by the film's antihero towards a bygone star, in addition to the kindness shown by Max von Mayerling, through his humble service to the Hollywood star, Norma Desmond. Finally, Wilder portrays rare generosity and kindness in Hollywood through the generous lives of Artie and Betty, who through their determination and dedication to their craft, become role models for a young generation of Hollywood aspirants.
Despite the mendacious nature of their relationship, the kindness from a place of gratitude shown by the antihero in the film is exemplar of Wilder’s proposition that positivity and hope can exist in Sunset Boulevard. This is importantly reflected after their initial disagreements in Desmond's New Year's Eve Party. Joe Gillis's departure from the hermetic mansion of Norma Desmond, followed by his eventual realisation of Norma's suicide attempt through cutting her wrists, results in his journey back to the mansion housing a person who had previously trapped him like the ''cigarette contraption'' on her ''finger'', preventing him from encountering other people and experiencing the real world outside. His stroke of kindness to the “only person who has ever been kind to [him]” in travelling back to ensure the welfare of the ex-star, is unnatural in a Hollywood that so often gives useless, bygone stars "the brush”, relegating them to the shadows and into oblivion. His gratitude and compassion for the emotionally vulnerable and manipulated Norma, shows the humane, grateful side of Gillis, where genuine appreciation for those who cared for him is somewhat shown. Thus, Wilder reveals the possibility of kindness in a dark, mendacious industry where individuals strive to succeed at the expense of others. Moreover, in his final, fatal departure from Desmond's mansion, his rare, bold kindness in revealing the blatant truth that Hollywood had rejected her for the second time, he removed the facade of lies that had surrounded her, perpetuated by the men deemed trustworthy- Gillis, Max and other directors of the industry. Despite his tragic end in the pool of Norma's mansion, Joe's truthful response backfired, however, resulting in a more delusional Norma and Gillis's eventual murder. Thus, Wilder posits that although Hollywood ultimately is a dark mendacious industry, with individuals who manipulate others for the sake of fame, he propounds that kindness and generosity, although fleeting, can be observed in Hollywood.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: The confusion between what is real and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 62.5%: Emerging from the civil war la Violencia, Gabriel Garcia Marquez explores the complexities of truth and memory in…
Emerging from the civil war la Violencia, Gabriel Garcia Marquez explores the complexities of truth and memory in the recollection of the hours after and preceding the brutal murder of Santiago Nasar, 27 years after his death. Borrowing journalistic conventions, Marquez postulates the idea of confusion as stemming from the incoherency in the narrator's investigation as well as its self-serving nature, alluding to a more sinister reasoning behind its purpose. However, Marquez posits that the ambiguity steeped in the reconstruction, is not the result of an unreliable narrator but of the natural fallibility of memory in distinguishing truth from lies
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: in high ground a desire for control is the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: control to influence institutions and land dispossession act as a microcosm for Australian colonial history,…
control to influence institutions and land dispossession act as a microcosm for Australian colonial history, extending this to contemporary Australian viewers to reflect upon a history constructed by manipulation, and analyse a present society oblivious to discrete methods belittling Aboriginal peoples.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Isolation is a necessary protection for…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: The Blackwood sisters cling to a facade of delusion, in doing so Jackson highlights the effect of their isolation…
The Blackwood sisters cling to a facade of delusion, in doing so Jackson highlights the effect of their isolation psychologically. Jackson creates a biased narrative in Merricat’s perspective as an 18 year old girl who wishes she ‘were born a werewolf’, in a society where being different led to rumours and allegations. Merricats rigid structural routine of only shopping on ‘Monday and Friday’, are considered ‘bad days’ and contextualise how much Merricat struggles socialing with the villagers. In doing so Jackson critiques the patriarchal views of what was expected of women in a post-war American society in the 1960s. Jacksons contrast against the two sisters highlight what was expected of women and the effects of being an ‘outsider’. Merricats consistent references to ‘I wish i were on the moon’, when any circumstance did not go her way, showcase how stuck she was in her delusions to
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ii. “I dreamed that he came… but then I…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: Shirley Jackson’s novella ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle.’ delves into the life of a high class family that…
Shirley Jackson’s novella ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle.’ delves into the life of a high class family that are ostracised within their community post family tragedy. Capitalising on the backdrop of 1950s post-war America, Jackson draws upon gothic conventions, symbolism and unique narrator voice to capture the normalcy of adversity in daily life. Jackson explores the human tendency to evade threats by attempts to escape reality through delusion, although this can contribute to more detriment. Overall, this is revealed through the human tendency to retreat into fantasy and refusal to confront past trauma which can be unsuccessful and build anguish, whilst alternatively exploring how escaping reality can be successful if it's the last resort for survival.
Jackson conveys how the human tendency to retreat into fantasy and delusion when confronted with a threat can be unsuccessful as it is a temporary solution. The townspeople are portrayed as cruel, malicious people in which they mock Merricat with their sing-song chants “Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?” conveying the town's hatred for the Blackwood sisters as they torment the girls. This rhyme, along with the constant attacks towards the Blackwood sisters act as a catalyst for Merricat's avoidance and disdain of the village where she associates the stores with ‘burning black painful rot that ate away from the inside’, stating that she wishes she could ‘..walk home across the sky instead of through the village…’, hinting at delusion and a deranged mind. Jackson's portrayal of Merricat’s dreamlike lens on the world is further explored through her likings of ‘fairy tales’, reflecting Merricat’s desire to escape from reality, allowing her mind to temporarily disengage from her struggles. Merricat’s method of retreat rather than direct confrontation results in a cycle of unorthodox fantasies, where she constantly references her imaginary sanctum on ‘the moon’, dismissing the existence of her present issues and withstanding proper resolve. Overall, Jackson conveys that in the face of adversity, individuals may turn towards unconventional methods of coping such as escapism from reality for temporary relief.
Furthermore, Jackson articulates that refusal to confront past trauma can be self destructive to one's psychological sanctum in the long run. The text explores Merricat's navigation of grief and life post family tragedy, ironically which she rarely acknowledges. This irony suggests
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “He always wanted a pool. Well, in the end…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 70%: The film “Sunset Boulevard directed by Billy Wilder explores how shift from silent films to talkies affect the life…
The film “Sunset Boulevard directed by Billy Wilder explores how shift from silent films to talkies affect the life and career of many stars and real price of ambition that can override people’ decision. For one, Billy Wilder demonstrates that ambition makes you exploiter and needs you to be exploiter. Additionally, Billy Wilder demonstrates the real price of excessive pride through Norma’s character which was delusional and isolation. Furthermore, loss of identity is the true price of ambition. Furthermore, loss of identity is the true price of ambition.
For one, Billy Wilder demonstrates that ambition makes you exploiter and needs you to be exploiter to achieve it which is supported by the character of Joe in the film. Billy Wilder portrays character of Joe as exploiter to reveal the real price of ambition. At the beginning of the movie, it was supported by the narration of Joe “he always wanted a pool” which reflect the selfishness of Joe for his ambition, as “pool” represent wealth and the lifestyle of people being part of Hollywood and Joe was struggling in Hollywood and was about to be separated from the Hollywood that he did not want for which he was doing his best to survive in Hollywood. Joe's willingness to exploit others is evident when he narrated ‘time had come to take a little advantage of' when going to Sheldrick office that reveal the dark side of the Hollywood and people in Hollywood. People in Hollywood support each other and are with each other till the time they benefit from each other such as Joe, he always take advantage of others to have fame which symbolize that actual cost of achieving ambition is being selfish and taking advantage of others whether they do the same or not, it is one of the needs for getting your ambition in life and Hollywood.
Additionally, Billy Wilder demonstrates
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In The Hate U Give, the characters’…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 65%: Angie Thomas illustrates poverty’s role in the cycle of crime in *The Hate U Give (THUG)*, and the difficulty of…
Angie Thomas illustrates poverty’s role in the cycle of crime in *The Hate U Give (THUG)*, and the difficulty of escaping it. Utilising Starr Carter’s first-person narration, Thomas navigates Garden Heights, an embodiment of African American communities, reflecting the role of drugs and poverty in the cycle of crime. Through the themes of police brutality, the author provides a different perspective of crime, suggesting that fear and control by law enforcement is another contributing factor to the cycle. However, Thomas suggests that with support from a community, it is possible to overcome the circumstances of crime. *THUG* serves as a modern piece strengthening the black lives matter movement, and encouraging those trapped in a cycle of crime to spread resistance.
Depicted as a community where crime, specifically drugs, are viewed as a necessity, Garden Heights provides insight into the nature of poverty and the cycle of crime. Whilst grappling with the contradiction of Khalil selling drugs despite their role in his youth, Starr expresses-“how could he sell the very stuff that took his momma from him?”. The comment highlights the tragic reality of Khalil being forced into the trade that led to his mother’s downfall, a result of his impoverished childhood, and an involuntary event that underscores the cycle of crime in Garden Heights. Starr continues: “did he realise he was taking somebody else’s momma from them?”. The repetition of the word “momma” and “taking” further emphasise the cycle of drugs- from Khalil’s “momma” to the next, drugs keep “taking” from Garden Heights. As Starr later reflects, “you have the Khalils, who think they need to sell drugs to survive” and “the Brendas who think they need drugs to survive”. The pluralisation of “Khalil” and “Brenda” underlines the fact that Khalil is not isolated in his situation, and that his circumstances are prevalent across black communities. Furthermore, “survive” highlights the perceived necessity of drugs within marginalised communities. Starr states that “Drugs come from somewhere, and they’re “destroying our community”. Utilising the verb ”destroying”, the author characterises drugs as a catalyst for violent crime in garden heights. Through portraying Garden Heights as a symbolic representation of Black communities, Thomas likens drugs to a powerful cycle, and a catalyst to crime and poverty.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does shakespeare present ambition as…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 65%: Shakespeare presents ambition as dangerous in Macbeth. Discuss. In his Jacobean tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare…
Shakespeare presents ambition as dangerous in Macbeth. Discuss.
In his Jacobean tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare presents ambition as dangerous. The playwright underscores ambition as a root cause of downfall, displaying its danger. In ‘Macbeth’, ambition is depicted as a morally corruptive power. However, throughout the play, ambition only leads to dangerous outcomes when prompted by an external force. Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ is crafted as a cautionary tale, that warns the audience of the dangerous consequences of unchecked ambition.
Utilising the plot of the play, Shakespeare depicts ambition as a force that sets the stage for morally ambiguous ideas. The witches’ prophecy includes the phrase: “fair is foul and foul is fair”. This contradictory chant is used by the playwright to emulate the blurred moral boundaries in ‘Macbeth’. The prophecy foreshadows the play’s slow destruction of the divide between what is “fair”, and what is “foul”, a loyal man’s loss of conscience. Furthermore, the prophetical phrase mimics Shakespeare’s tragic message: that anyone driven by ambition will fall from “fair” to “foul”, losing their ability to discern between right and wrong, characterised by the character of Macbeth. After his reaction to the prophecy, Macbeth’s idea to murder the king begins to flesh out. Macbeth seeks to hide these motives, not wanting to be seen by “light”, which may refer to everything good, everything exposed to this ‘light’. This contrasts his description of said desires as “black”, highlighting the stark divide between Macbeth and everyone around him, his ambition throwing him down a spiral of blurred moral boundaries. Furthermore, these images are said to be “deep”, symbolising ambition’s deep rooted position in these conflicting events. Ambition is seen to affect not only Macbeth, but Lady Macbeth as well. Lady Macbeth’s plea to “unsex me here” demonstrates the transformative power of ambition, as she rejects traditional notions of femininity—associated with compassion, and nurturing—deeming them incompatible to her pursuit of power. Lady Macbeth wants to instead be filled “top-full of direst cruelty”; the contrast between the gentle traits of her femininity and her desired cruelty reflects the conflicting nature of ambition. Shakespeare presents the dangers of ambition, elucidating it’s ethically problematic nature.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: how does thomas present the impacts of…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: In Angie Thomas’ novel, “The Hate U give”, violence and police brutality are central themes in the novel’s plot.…
In Angie Thomas’ novel, “The Hate U give”, violence and police brutality are central themes in the novel’s plot. The story follows Starr Carter, a high-school student torn between her two worlds: her Black community of Garden Heights, and her predominantly white private school. Thomas navigates through the dangers of violence and the impacts it can have to individuals and communities through the “game” of King Lords, Khalil’s death sparking violent protests in Garden Heights, and the power of resistance in the face of adversity.
In “THUG”, Thomas presents the impacts of violence on individuals through the “game” of King Lords. Police brutality also plays a major role in fostering violence and crime, even in daily life. Starr accentuates this using a flashback of two formative talks given to her by her father, Maverick. The first was the usual “the birds and the bees”, while the second highlighted “what to do if a cop stopped [her]”. Starr recalls her father’s commands, “Starr-Starr, you do whatever they tell you to do. Keep your hands visible. Don’t make any sudden moves. Only speak when they speak to you.” Through this recollection, the Thomas accentuates the extent of police violence on daily lives. The author juxtaposes the two formative talks, solidifying the nature of police violence on African-Americans and the necessity to teach young people how to act. The constant repetition of full stops and short, sharp sentences promote a list-like fashion, indicating the utter powerlessness African-American people have against law enforcement, elucidating that any “sudden moves” will be lethal. By relating “what to do if a cop stopped [you]” with “the birds and the bees”, Thomas exemplifies the nature of police brutality by comparing it to a universal experience among readers. The King Lords also play a major part in solidifying violent culture upon individuals in Garden Heights. Maverick recalls, “I became a King Lord when I was twelve… shit, it was the only way to survive. Kinging became my life. I was down to die for it.” Thomas utilises the word “only” to elucidate the binding nature of crime and violence. It shows that Maverick’s decision to become a King Lord was not by choice, but by necessity to “survive”. The King Lords are ruthless, using anything or anyone they can to make money, fostering violence within individuals. DeVante is another prime example of this. he states, in between sobs, “I stole ‘bout 5 G’s from King.” to which Maverick replies, “Dammit, man!” DeVante’s hopelessness is depicted by Thomas through the authenticity of his language and hopes of escaping from violence. Through the nature of police brutality and the violence of King Lords, Thomas presents the catastrophic impacts violence can have upon individuals.