VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Sunset Boulevard shows that the pursuit…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Billy Wilder's 1950 film noir ‘Sunset Boulevard’ offers an insight into the cut throat film industries predominant…
Billy Wilder's 1950 film noir ‘Sunset Boulevard’ offers an insight into the cut throat film industries predominant within Hollywood exposing the dark underside shrouded by the glamorous surface. Wilder presents the journey for fame within Sunset Boulevard as one of moral ambiguity and erosion whilst simultaneously exposing Hollywood's role in the creation of dangerous situations through the commodification of artists and pushes into desperate ploys to survive, however Wilder highlights how dedication and ambition can lead to the journey becoming less unfavourable however it is still stained by countless risks. Firstly Wilder portrays Hollywood as an opportunistic industry that acts to maximise profitability through the commodification and cruel disregard of artists, Building on this Wilder emphasises how the relentless pursuit of fame ultimately leads to morality and integrity gradually becoming eroded due to the necessity to survive, however Wilder exemplifies how through ambition and dedication along the journey to fame can create a favourable experience however this journey is still stained and marked by the dangers of Hollywood.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: There is no morality in high ground. To…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Subverting the western genre, Stephen Maxwell Johnson’s neo-western film “High Ground” delves into the notion of…
Subverting the western genre, Stephen Maxwell Johnson’s neo-western film “High Ground” delves into the notion of morality being a complex dynamic that is often difficult to display due to ingrained societal views and values already in place. The film, set in 1930’s Arnhem Land explores the ongoing conflicts between the differing cultures of the First Nations Peoples and the European settlers whose inherently contrasting lifestyles and past discrepancies contradict one another, stripping the ability for either side to act morally to end the ongoing cycle of violence. Hence, Johnson commends those who are able to disregard the immoral values of their peers, instead striving to achieve justice and equality.
In “High Ground” those who display unwavering loyalty to the colonial ideology are prone to demonstrating malicious acts of violence based on their superficial belief that people of colour are inferior. Eddy, the tyrannical police officer immediately displays his blatant disregard of the First Nations Peoples as after the initial 1917 massacre that left “17 dead,” he is only concerned with the fact that "they're dead. What matters is that we act as a unit.” This statement is accompanied with an extreme close up of Eddy’s serious expression, demonstrating his immoral viewpoint that the First Nations Peoples are the inferior race due to their skin colour and hence don’t deserve the same rights and justice that someone of European descent would receive. Furthermore, Moran, the leader of the Colonial ideology attempts to cover up these past crimes by refuting Gutjuk’s attempts at getting justice “for the man who killed my family,” as he is apparently “just an officer of the law.” This irony reveals Moran's duplicit, deceptive nature that makes him turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings of his own, yet seeking to take the lives of the apparent “black bastards wreaking havoc.” Yet, in reality this destruction was caused by Moran and his inability to recognise and punish the officers for taking the innocent lives of the Yolngu community who were unbeknownst to the ambush. Johnson exposes the unjust ability of European settlers to abuse their power to distort modern day perceptions of past history and conflicts with the First Nations Peoples.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “Not I, I’m not the man to yearn for…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Set in the fifth century BCE, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King interrogates the fraught relationship between power and…
Set in the fifth century BCE, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King interrogates the fraught relationship between power and happiness. The tragedy reveals that while power may take many forms, it is ultimately fragile in the face of divine will. Any joy or comfort it provides is fleeting, as true authority rests with the gods, and the way power is exercised is shaped not by logic but by human emotion.
Sophocles demonstrates that the comfort power provides is only temporary. Jocasta refutes prophecies to protect herself and Oedipus, telling him to “free yourself of every charge” and mocking the gods, “you prophecies of the gods, where are you now?” Though this denial offers momentary relief from unbearable truths, Sophocles highlights how such wilful ignorance blinds rulers to reality and accelerates their downfall, ultimately driving Jocasta to hang herself and take her own life. Similarly, the Shepherd’s reluctance to reveal Oedipus’ origins stems from terror rather than reason. His attempts to flee from the "plague," as he says, reflect panic at the king’s fury rather than careful judgment. Oedipus himself mirrors this deflection, lashing out at Tiresias as a “scum of the earth” who’d “enrage a heart of stone”, clinging to ignorance, only to discover the truth cannot be avoided. Together, these moments demonstrate that the fleeting comfort of power is always undermined by the inescapable consequences of fate, with disastrous results for all who attempt to evade it.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “What will come will come.” Does…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Set in the city of Thebes in Ancient Greece, Sophocles in his play Oedipus the King follows the tragic story of…
Set in the city of Thebes in Ancient Greece, Sophocles in his play Oedipus the King follows the tragic story of Oedipus who attempts to outsmart and fight against the Gods and their prophecies. In doing so, Sophocles displays the dual nature of “what will come will come” as whilst fate is often a determiner of the future of Ancient Greeks, there are those that attempt to challenge their own inescapable fate. This is reinforced as Sophocles displays how prophecies set out by the Gods determine the fate of an entire population, how fate significantly impacts the lives of specific individuals, and how fate is perceived as flexible and is actively resisted by some members of Theban society.
Sophocles uses the prophecies of the Gods to display how fate can control a population’s perception of the future. As the playwright introduces the city of Thebes as a city in which the “fiery god of fever” has sent out a “raging plague in all its vengeance,” an early link is drawn between the superior rule of the Gods and the fate of Theban residents. In doing so, Sophocles displays how the outcome of the future is out of control of the regular human population as they must obey and find out the truth of Laius’ death to stop the plague – as ordered by the Gods. This sense of control is further amplified through the testament of Apollo who orders to “banish the man” that murdered Laius or “pay back blood with blood.” This power of the Gods to supposedly shape the fate of the residents exemplifies how the future of a whole population can change in trajectory as the focus of the play switches to following the Gods’ request which ultimately leads to the adhering of fate for those involved in the murder. Ultimately, the playwright attempts to illustrate how fate and destiny are closely bound by the Gods of Ancient Greece and their commands change the whole perception of society on a large scale.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Fate controls every aspect of oedipus the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 70%: Fate controls every aspect of oedipus the king, to what extent do you agree Sophocles' play “Oedipus the King” a…
Fate controls every aspect of oedipus the king, to what extent do you agree
Sophocles' play “Oedipus the King” a classic tragedy set around the 13th century BCE explores the idea that one's fate can never be changed, or avoided through Oedipus and many other characters. Sophocles' uses of dramatic irony, prophecies all undermine how fate controlled every aspect of Oedipus the king. From the beginning the fate of Oedipus and his parents had already been decided, Oedipus destined to murder his father and marry his mother. However it may seem as though fate controls every detail of the tragedy. Throughout the play Sophocles also presents Oedipus as a flawed character, whose choices and big ego ;ead to his avoidable downfall. The play reveals to us that Oedipus' fate could never have been avoided but his ignorance led to his ultimate downfall.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Sunset Boulevard reveals the destructive…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder, is a 1950s noir melodrama that investigates how the popularity of the…
Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder, is a 1950s noir melodrama that
investigates how the popularity of the Hollywood film industry encouraged a
social fixation on the glory of celebrity. Throughout the film, Wilder explores
the nuances of success and fame, sometimes pitting the two qualities against
each other. Sunset Boulevard demonstrates that striving for career success
can have both positive and negative outcomes; however, it suggests that
those who are swept up in Hollywood’s preoccupation with fame will almost
always experience negative consequences. Furthermore, the film interrogates
the role of the audience in this destruction, insinuating that audiences
perpetuate Hollywood’s obsession with fame through an intense fascination
with gossip and scandal, in a way that conceals its true costs.
Wilder uses the character of Joe Gillis to warn the audience about the
harmful effects of self-interest and an obsession with success. At the
beginning of the film, Joe, a struggling screenwriter, devises ‘a little plot’,
lying that Norma’s ‘silly hodgepodge’ script is ‘fascinating’ so she will
hire him as an editor. This suggests that Joe’s self-interest has destructive
implications, as he is willing to indulge Norma’s self-delusion in order to
gain money and eventual success, even though the relationship he establishes
with Norma is founded on dishonesty. Wilder also uses the ‘dead monkey
upstairs’ as a symbol of Joe’s impending doom. When Joe refers to the
monkey as Norma’s ‘only child’ and ponders the emptiness of Norma’s life, he
acknowledges that the monkey was a wild animal that had been kept locked
in the house as a pet – a plaything for Norma. As Joe watches over ‘the last
rites for that hairy old chimp’, the close-up shot of Joe’s face, framed by the
blinds and the bars of the window frame, implies a sense of confinement,
signalling to the audience that it is now Joe who is trapped in the house.
Wilder’s implicit comparison between Joe and the monkey can be seen as
a warning to the audience that Joe’s desire to get ahead could lead to him
sharing the monkey’s fate. The characterisation of Joe, and his character arc,
demonstrate that ambition and selfishness can be disastrous for an individual
and their relationships.
However, the film does not always show ambition and a desire for success
to be wholly negative. In particular, it juxtaposes Joe’s self-interest with the
characterisation of Betty Schaefer, an aspiring writer who has ‘not once’
wished for fame, and who ultimately views success as writing ‘true’ and
‘moving’ screenplays. Betty’s emphasis on creating work that holds its value
contrasts with Joe’s choice to work on Norma’s ‘idiotic script’ for short-term
gain; Betty’s ambition is presented as being more admirable than Joe’s. Near
the end of the film, Joe
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: isolation is a necessary protection for…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Isolation in Shirley Jackson's gothic novella 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' serves as both a necessary…
Isolation in Shirley Jackson's gothic novella 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' serves as both a necessary protection and confinement as well as the potential source of destruction. Published in the 1960's during Witchcraft and rituals for empowerment, Jackson suggests that seclusion composes the step for security and peace, and how its prolonged exclusion can lead to a negative environment.
Jackson endorses the concept of isolation as an imperative safeguard against a society governed by hostility. The Blackwood sisters' withdrawal from their town forms a physical and psychological barrier that shields them from persecution and cruelty after the arsenic poisoning. Merricat justifies this withdrawal by hyperbolically exaggerating the world full of "terrible people", reflecting her awareness and the dangers of engaging with a hostile society. The sisters' self-imposed isolation is vital and coherent after being acquitted of murdering their family. Through this, Jackson emphasizes Merricat's phrase to justify this commitment as a national protective measure. This protection is further reinforced through "Merricat's perpetual rituals of burying a "box of silver dollars" and "[nailing] a book to [a] tree," symbolising security and regulation within her own environment. Her acts of magic refer to the early 60s Witchcraft in New England for empowerment. Merricat's rituals form her characterisation through her delusional mindset, assuming that her environment is well confined from outside threats. Jackson includes this detail to demonstrate how this act of isolation establishes boundaries against external chaos and possible threats towards the sisters, and how trauma and fear can push individuals to create their magical system for survival. Overall, Jackson suggests that isolation can serve as one's protection through different reasons.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Now you’re officially the best-looking…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Throughout the novel ‘Born A Crime’, by Trevor Noah, he explores numerous ways of defending himself during the…
Throughout the novel ‘Born A Crime’, by Trevor Noah, he explores numerous ways of defending himself during the South African Apartheid regime. Noah pushes the notion that humour is the strongest defence against racism, despite other means existing. Furthermore, Noah portrays that in the face of extreme hardships, even humour may not be strong enough of a defence.
Noah explores the power of his familial bond with his mother in overcoming hardships, as he uses it as his strongest defence, only second to his use of language and humour. Noah celebrates his mother's rebellious nature, as she takes him to “white areas” that had access to greater wealth and facilities, in order to allow him to dream for more than what most black South African children do. During apartheid, Noah exposes how black areas like “Soweto” are riddled with poverty, and “hippos” which are armed military to keep the people in control. Noah strongly condemns the restrictions imposed on black South African people, as all they see is the “ghetto”, they think the only thing the world has to offer is the “ghetto”, effectively accepting their life in it, not persevering to escape. Noah illustrates Patricia’s remark, saying that even if Noah lives in the “ghettos” for the rest of his life, he will know that the ghetto’s are not the “world”. Noah attributes his mother Patricia for his success, and celebrates the effort she put in — in order to destroy the cycle created by poverty and apartheid. Furthermore, despite the tough love showcased by Patricia throughout the memoir towards Noah, he illustrates how his mother was always there for him when necessary. Noah depicts the time his mother remarks that if she does not “punish [him]”, the “world will punish [him]”, as she believes the “world doesn’t love you.” Noah praises her approach to parenting and makes clear he does not rebuke her approach, as it effectively teaches him important lessons about the unfair society of apartheid, and ultimately her teachings taught him to be successful. Despite of Patricia’s harsh treatment towards Noah, she continued to love and care for him, while lowering her act in times where Noah truly needed her. During Noah’s time at the hood, he gets arrested due to driving an unregistered car from his stepdad’s shop, despite not calling his mother for help in fear of her punishment — she finds out through his friends father, and pays fully for his bail in order to get him back home. Noah praises her for her unconditional love, and how in spite of her tough love, she continuously demonstrates that she still cares and shows him affection. Through this, Noah effectively showcases his bond with his mother as a cornerstone in his life, and a strong defence against the hardships of his life.
Despite the strength of Noahs familial bonds with his mother as a defence — he reiterates throughout the memoir that language and humour acts at his strongest defence throughout his life. During his childhood, Noah depicts how his use of language and humour has gotten him out of bad situations. Noah depicts a moment in his life where he felt as though he was going to get mugged, but spoke up in the perpetrator’s own language, and asked to “mug someone together”,
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Brontë explore gender roles in…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Set against the bleak moors of the Victorian Era society, Charlotte Brontë's 1847 bildungsroman, Jane Eyre, charts…
Set against the bleak moors of the Victorian Era society, Charlotte Brontë's 1847 bildungsroman, Jane Eyre, charts the journey of a young woman upbringing in a society that refutes her existence. Brontë discusses the gender inequities present in the Victorian era. Brontë employs first person narration to portray the dichotomy between genders. Brontë exemplifies protofeminist ideas through metaphors and symbolism, while portraying the advantages of an equal world through imagery.
Brontë underscores the power imbalance between women and men through retrospective narration. Jane's altercation with John Reed highlights the inequities of the Victorian era. Jane's first person narration reflects a "physical inferiority" to John which is exploited when he abuses her. This behaviour is then marked as acceptable by Mrs Reed and Ms Abbot, foreshadowing the unjust treatment that Jane endures throughout her life. Reported speech "Ms Abbott say I am worth less than a servant" to reinforce that in the Victorian era, women were treated as less than compared to males, and made simply to be housewives and servants to the males. Jane internalises this narrative in her younger years leading her to insecurities when she is shipped off to Lowood. Brontë employs this to exemplify her readers of the importance of gender equality. Helen's assertion to Jane that if someone is rude to her then it will be her "duty to bear it" highlights the pressures placed on young women to be forgiving of those around them. Brontë utilises this to lead her audience to question societal expectations. However, Brontë underscores womens strength through Miss Temple's assurance to Jane after she is accused of being a liar that as long as she is of clear concience she will "not be without friends" portraying women's ability to come together in tough times and support one and other, subtly hinting to readers to help those around them as true strength is found in each other. Therefore, Brontë explores the importance of women in society, juxtaposed with the role many men play.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Oedipus the King ultimately suggests that…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 70%: In Sophocles' Oedipus the King, ignorance is displayed as being inferior to knowledge. While ignorance is portrayed…
In Sophocles' Oedipus the King, ignorance is displayed as being inferior to knowledge. While ignorance is portrayed as being able to deliver safety and strength to the characters who possess it, this is only a temporary boon. Knowledge is clearly communicated by Sophocles as being far superior than ignorance, which ignorance in the end only worsens the final fate of the play's characters.
In the opening scenes of Oedipus the King, Sophocles establishes ignorance can deliver both safety and strength, at the cost of these advantages being temporary. Initially, this is conveyed to the audience via the oration of the priest, who describes Oedipus as "King of the land, our greatest power" and the "best of men" entrenching in the audiences minds that the King of Thebes is a powerful character who is safe in the presence of his citizens who deeply respect him. Simultaneously, due to Sophocles writing of Oedipus as a traditional ancient greek tragic hero, the opening of the play is dripping in dramatic irony, hinting that his strength and influence will quickly run out. Oedipus himself calls himself "Oedipus the ignorant" and that "there is not one as sick as I" before his reversal of fortune and in different contexts than his fate. Although, this irony would not be lost on an audience who already knows of Oedipus' fate. Hence this dramatic irony, purposely placed by Sophocles to subtly hint to the audience that Oedipus' power, allowed by the ignorance of knowledge, will soon run out. Sophocles ultimately establishes that while ignorance can provide a boon to some, this is only temporary, suggesting that ignorance may be preferable to knowledge in the short term.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Discuss the interplay between identity and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between…
Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between Hollywood, ambition, and identity. Through the downfall of characters like Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond, Wilder critiques the illusion of success in the film industry and the cost of fame. Wilder's perspective was shaped by his own experience as an émigré who fled Nazi-occupied Austria. This history as an outsider in a powerful system likely informed his critical view of Hollywood, an opportunistic nature that he explores through the film's characters.The film suggests that unchecked ambition-particularly when shaped by Hollywood’s exploitative systems-can consume an individual’s identity and lead to inevitable ruin. While ambition itself is not inherently negative, Wilder argues that within the context of Hollywood, it becomes dangerous, especially when the pursuit of fame becomes an identity in itself.
Through the character of Joe Gillis, Wilder demonstrates how ambition, when divorced from moral integrity, initiates a corrosive process that hollows out one's identity At the film’s outset, Joe admits to fabricating praise for Norma Desmond’s outdated script, calling her “silly hodgepodge” of a screenplay “fascinating” purely to secure a job. His willingness to deceive reveals how his ambition overrides moral integrity. Joe’s decision to stay in Norma’s mansion and accept her financial support further illustrates his exploitation of her delusions in exchange for personal gain. This transactional relationship speaks to how ambition can hollow out a person’s identity, reducing them to a role-playing opportunist in a system built on illusion.
The symbolism of the “dead monkey upstairs” reinforces this dynamic. Initially introduced as Norma’s exotic pet and “only child,” the monkey represents a creature stripped of its natural instincts and turned into a spectacle for Norma’s amusement. As the film progresses, Joe mirrors this role—he becomes another of Norma’s possessions, emotionally and physically confined to her decaying mansion. His identity as a writer and a man deteriorates under the weight of his ambition, much like the monkey’s. The metaphor captures how Hollywood domesticates and commodifies those who seek fame, reducing them to dependent caricatures of their former selves.
Norma Desmond, too, exemplifies how the pursuit of fame can warp identity and fuel psychological decline. Once a silent film star, Norma clings to a delusional belief in her continued relevance. Her ambition is no
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Discuss the interplay between identity and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between…
Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between Hollywood, ambition, and identity. Through the downfall of characters like Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond, Wilder critiques the illusion of success in the film industry and the cost of fame. Wilder's perspective was shaped by his own experience as an émigré who fled Nazi-occupied Austria. This history as an outsider in a powerful system likely informed his critical view of Hollywood, an opportunistic nature that he explores through the film's characters.The film suggests that unchecked ambition-particularly when shaped by Hollywood’s exploitative systems-can consume an individual’s identity and lead to inevitable ruin. While ambition itself is not inherently negative, Wilder argues that within the context of Hollywood, it becomes dangerous, especially when the pursuit of fame becomes an identity in itself.
Wilder explores the complexity of ambition through Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter whose desire to “get ahead” ultimately leads to his demise. At the film’s outset, Joe admits to fabricating praise for Norma Desmond’s outdated script, calling her “silly hodgepodge” of a screenplay “fascinating” purely to secure a job. His willingness to deceive reveals how his ambition overrides moral integrity. Joe’s decision to stay in Norma’s mansion and accept her financial support further illustrates his exploitation of her delusions in exchange for personal gain. This transactional relationship speaks to how ambition can hollow out a person’s identity, reducing them to a role-playing opportunist in a system built on illusion.
The symbolism of the “dead monkey upstairs” reinforces this dynamic. Initially introduced as Norma’s exotic pet and “only child,” the monkey represents a creature stripped of its natural instincts and turned into a spectacle for Norma’s amusement. As the film progresses, Joe mirrors this role—he becomes another of Norma’s possessions, emotionally and physically confined to her decaying mansion. His identity as a writer and a man deteriorates under the weight of his ambition, much like the monkey’s. The metaphor captures how Hollywood domesticates and commodifies those who seek fame, reducing them to dependent caricatures of their former selves.
Norma Desmond, too, exemplifies how the pursuit of fame can warp identity and fuel psychological decline. Once a silent film star, Norma clings to a delusional belief in her continued relevance. Her ambition is no longer about
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Discuss the interplay between identity and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between…
Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between Hollywood, ambition, and identity. Through the downfall of characters like Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond, Wilder critiques the illusion of success in the film industry and the cost of fame. This is mainly shown through both his own personal experience, and view of hollywood as an external observer perspective- fleeing from austria to america in order to escape hitler, while also leaving his family behind- showcasing his opportunistic nature which later shines through in the film sunset boulevard he directed. The film suggests that unchecked ambition-particularly when shaped by Hollywood’s exploitative systems-can consume an individual’s identity and lead to inevitable ruin. While ambition itself is not inherently negative, Wilder argues that within the context of Hollywood, it becomes dangerous, especially when the pursuit of fame becomes an identity in itself.
Wilder explores the complexity of ambition through Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter whose desire to “get ahead” ultimately leads to his demise. At the film’s outset, Joe admits to fabricating praise for Norma Desmond’s outdated script, calling her “silly hodgepodge” of a screenplay “fascinating” purely to secure a job. His willingness to deceive reveals how his ambition overrides moral integrity. Joe’s decision to stay in Norma’s mansion and accept her financial support further illustrates his exploitation of her delusions in exchange for personal gain. This transactional relationship speaks to how ambition can hollow out a person’s identity, reducing them to a role-playing opportunist in a system built on illusion.
The symbolism of the “dead monkey upstairs” reinforces this dynamic. Initially introduced as Norma’s exotic pet and “only child,” the monkey represents a creature stripped of its natural instincts and turned into a spectacle for Norma’s amusement. As the film progresses, Joe mirrors this role—he becomes another of Norma’s possessions, emotionally and physically confined to her decaying mansion. His identity as a writer and a man deteriorates under the weight of his ambition, much like the monkey’s. The metaphor captures how Hollywood domesticates and commodifies those who seek fame, reducing them to dependent caricatures of their former selves.
Norma Desmond, too, exemplifies how the pursuit of fame can warp identity and fuel psychological decline. Once a silent film star, Norma clings to a delusional belief in her continued relevance. Her
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Discuss the interplay between identity and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between…
Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) is a noir melodrama that interrogates the destructive relationship between Hollywood, ambition, and identity. Through the downfall of characters like Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond, Wilder critiques the illusion of success in the film industry and the cost of fame. The film suggests that unchecked ambition—particularly when shaped by Hollywood’s exploitative systems—can consume an individual’s identity and lead to inevitable ruin. While ambition itself is not inherently negative, Wilder argues that within the context of Hollywood, it becomes dangerous, especially when the pursuit of fame becomes an identity in itself.
Wilder explores the complexity of ambition through Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter whose desire to “get ahead” ultimately leads to his demise. At the film’s outset, Joe admits to fabricating praise for Norma Desmond’s outdated script, calling her “silly hodgepodge” of a screenplay “fascinating” purely to secure a job. His willingness to deceive reveals how his ambition overrides moral integrity. Joe’s decision to stay in Norma’s mansion and accept her financial support further illustrates his exploitation of her delusions in exchange for personal gain. This transactional relationship speaks to how ambition can hollow out a person’s identity, reducing them to a role-playing opportunist in a system built on illusion.
The symbolism of the “dead monkey upstairs” reinforces this dynamic. Initially introduced as Norma’s exotic pet and “only child,” the monkey represents a creature stripped of its natural instincts and turned into a spectacle for Norma’s amusement. As the film progresses, Joe mirrors this role—he becomes another of Norma’s possessions, emotionally and physically confined to her decaying mansion. His identity as a writer and a man deteriorates under the weight of his ambition, much like the monkey’s. The metaphor captures how Hollywood domesticates and commodifies those who seek fame, reducing them to dependent caricatures of their former selves.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Discuss the interplay between identity and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Sunset boulevard, directed by billy wilder, is a 1950’s noir melodrama that investigates the ambition to get into…
Sunset boulevard, directed by billy wilder, is a 1950’s noir melodrama that investigates the ambition to get into Hollywood's film industry encouraged on social fixation on the glory of being a celebrity. Throughout the film, Wilder explores the nuances of success and ambition, sometimes pitting the two qualities against each other. Sunset Boulevard demonstrates that striving for career success extensively can have both negative and positive outcomes; however, it suggests that those who are swept up by Hollywood's preoccupation with fame and have ambition to achieve a pastime will almost always experience negative consequences and lead to their downfall.
Furthermore, the film interrogates the role of the audience in this destruction, the role of the audience in the development of ambition between the characters, such as norma desmond, or joe gillis, to desire fame, is a quality of ambition. Through this, the audience perpetuate Hollywood's obsession with fame through an intense fascination with high success and achievement, anything below absolute perfection is unideal. This is done in a way which hides the true costs of Hollywood's ambition, and even worse, achieving said ambition.
Wilder uses the character of joe gillis as a central figure to display a warning to the audience how ambition and ‘getting ahead’ can be harmful towards the figures that pursue it. At the beginning of the film, Joe, a struggling screenwriter, devises ‘a little plot’, lying that Norma’s ‘silly hodgepodge’ script is ‘fascinating’ so she would hire him as an editor, and he would be paid generously; that was his ambition, to ‘get ahead’.
This suggests Joe's self interest with self ambition has destructive implications, as he is willing to indulge norma’s self delusion in order to gain money, and eventual success, even though the relationship he establishes with norma desmond is simply a means to an end of his goal, to ‘get ahead’. Wilder also uses the ‘dead monkey upstairs’ as a foreshadowing of Joe's eventual role in the film. The monkey, displayed to be a wild animal that is domesticated by norma desmond, shows a symmetry between joe and the monkey. The monkey, dancing on norma desmonds mansion with its reward weaved overhead, its ambition being to achieve said reward; is a profound symmetrical figure with Joe's position throughout the noir. As Joe goes through the movie, Joe too, takes the position of the monkey; dangling under Norma's promise of a ‘reward’ to him.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘In Rainbow’s End, hope ultimately…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Set amidst the oppressive environment of 1950s Australia – which lauds a “mad[ness] with whiteness” – Jane Harrison…
Set amidst the oppressive environment of 1950s Australia – which lauds a “mad[ness] with whiteness” – Jane Harrison denounces such engrained social mores in her play ‘Rainbow’s End’, propounding that hope ultimately triumphs over pain for the First Nations characters in her text. Indeed, Harrison maintains that, although the corruption of Australian systems manifests bleakly for the prospects of First Nations individuals, it is the utilisation of family and friendship as a protective factor that prevents yielding to pain. Moreover, Harrison contends that although opportunities are lacklustre, First Nations ways of knowledge and knowing are essential in creating hopeful prospects. Finally, Harrison contends that connection, and the concurrent application of both Aboriginal and Western education is vital in creating a hopeful future.
Harrison lauds the ability of family and kinship in fighting against the cyclical nature of oppression introduced by corrupt systems, and ultimately highlights hope. Certainly, the introductory scene of the play is set in the [aftermath]; whilst this is a literal response to the preliminary events of the flood within the lore of the play, Harrison implements the title to implicate that First Nations individuals have been condemned to live in the “[aftermath]” of colonisation. Indeed, the flood itself comes as a tragedy to the family due to the abuse of systemic powers that continually subject Aboriginal people into vulnerable positions, for it was the lack of adequate housing that forced the family to find refuge at the riverside. Moreover, the characterisation of Nan Dear as [bitter] substantiates this, as Harrison aptly notes the profundity of which traumas brought forth by systemic racism affects First Nations communities, as Nan Dear looks [suspiciously] at the introduction of Errol Fisher – a white man – into the family dynamic. Harrison demonstrates how systemic corruption within Australia creates [bitter[ness]] and mistrust particularly for First Nations women, as Nan Dear rebukes the presence of the white male, who typically holds the vast majority of power, and whom aims to create a society that bolsters the privileged, whilst further subjugating vulnerable communities. The effects of the stolen generation correlates to the necessity of kinship and family, exposed most explicitly through the characterisation of Esther, who “lays down by the cork trees drinking” as a result of losing her children. In this way, Harrison exposes how family connection is essential in assuring pain does not conquest one’s hope. The lack of hope within Esther is what delineated her from the primary family of the text, as Harrison concurrently lauds the importance of family in maintaining hope for First Nations communities, and cautions the profound impacts of losing one’s connection to others within the community.
Moreover, Harrison celebrates the importance of
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 'I made her a star, I cannot let her be…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: The turbulent social landscape of 1950's post-war America sparked paranoia and created fertile ground for…
The turbulent social landscape of 1950's post-war America sparked paranoia and created fertile ground for Hollywood’s exploitation of the American dream. Billy Wilders 'Sunset Boulevard', a film noir serves to expose the devastating lengths the industry and its followers would go to in order to maintain perfection. Through his critique of Hollywood culture, Wilder illuminates the effects of a society that creates stars as quickly as they leave them. This gothic horror film becomes not only a self-portrait of Hollywood’s vanity, but a warning to one’s own value of being seen, and the importance of truth in order to keep with society.
Wilder prominently establishes a devasting story in his presentation of characters ambition, and its effect of deception for personal gain. From opening scenes with our main characters, Wilder demonstrates the damage caused from deception. As due to Joes lies about his car being "on a holiday" Wilder cuts to his next scene of his introduction to Norma, illustrating his deception was the earmark to destruction. However, through Joes narrations, Wilder is able to highlight the struggles he intends to put Norma through, such as labelling this as a "hook" an easy pedestal to reach his goals. Additionally, her butler max, despite putting her best interests at heart, reinforces Norma's fantasies with letter writing, as Norma still encapsulates these as "fans." max is aiding to Norma's ultimate descent into madness, as he puts his own ambitions - to love Norma, over her wellbeing. Despite Norma's inability to accept her fate, Wilder highlights her ultimate belief in herself was caused by delusions reinforced by those who surrounded her.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: the characters' actions are primarily…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Constructed within the sombre sphere of gothic mysteries, Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle,…
Constructed within the sombre sphere of gothic mysteries, Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, situates hate and envy as powerful yet ultimately symptomatic forces: they catalyse cruelty, suspicion and violence yet they are inseparable from deeper motivators and the desire for control. Rather than reducing her characters to simple embodiments of hatred or jealousy, jackson uses these emotions to reveal the instability of social bonds and the corrosive effects of exclusion, suggesting that human actions are always entangled in anxieties about belonging, survival and power.
Shirley Jackson constructs hate and envy not as mere emotions but as ritualised social forces, symptomatic of deeper anxieties around conformity, privilege, and survival. While hate and envy undeniably motivate acts of cruelty and withdrawal, Jackson resists reducing human behaviour to such emotions alone; instead, she reveals them as distortions produced by oppressive structures, intertwined with fear, loyalty, and a longing for autonomy. Thus, the novel complicates the claim that characters’ actions are “primarily” driven by hate and envy, suggesting these emotions are simultaneously masks, symptoms, and consequences of broader forces
by ritualising hate to function as a social immune system, jackson exposes hatred as structural violence used to maintain cohesion in society. within the mccarthyism era in 1960’s america, jackson emerges hate as a vehicle to maintain communal order by marking individuals resemblant to feared caricatures as ‘others’. the ‘ugliness’ of the village is revealed not just in the taunting of the children but by the ‘talons’ of their mothers, serving to infantalise the outcasted blackwood sisters, and also showing that the very strucures meant to nurture, instead perpetuate cruelty. the nursery rhyme ‘o merricat, said connie, would you like a cup of tea?’ adopts a candence that transforms hate into folklore, stripping the sisters of fantasy and instead rendering them as moral fables. these supposendly innocent songs of children are guilefully delineated as ‘rhythmic and insistent’ chants of evil, conveying the ubiquitous hatred for those who stand out within an andocentric society, so ingrained that even children who are inherently naive and innocent, are conditioned it. jackson thus demonstrates how hate masqeuerades as innocence, recasting cruelty as play while stripping ‘others’ of individuality. as such, the anthromorphised villagers ‘descending, striking, gashing [merricat] with razor claws’, externalises communal hatred as akin to the relationship of a predator and prey, rather than an expression of personal grievance. the metaphoric likening of the village mob as a flock of birds further dehumanises their traits and thus morality. jackson exposes the insidiousness of such systems - relaying hatred as transformed into a normalised, even necessary instrument of conformity. such hateful systems are even weaponised within the familial sphere, where hatred is manifested through belittlement and erasure. Uncle Julian, embodying the emasculation of men who fail to accumulate power in the patriarchal society is restricted to taking "little enough from [John]" and later dismissed as "silly" by Cousin Charles. his attempt to exert control through his endless recounting of “papers” and memories is framed as pathetic rather than authoritative, showing that in Jackson’s world, hate diminishes and delegitimises identity, functioning as systematic violence disguised in … thus, jackson warns of how easily communities disguise structural violence within the veer of folklore and ritual, transforming hatred not as chaotic rather a disturbing cultural practice oto maintain moral order.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: edipus’ excessive pride and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 92.5%: Within the contemporary context of 429 BCE Athens, a period marked by intense social and philosophical upheaval,…
Within the contemporary context of 429 BCE Athens, a period marked by intense social and philosophical upheaval, the advent of rationalist thought and Sophistic philosophy challenged entrenched religious and cultural paradigms. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles interrogates the nature of hubris and the perils of unwarranted self-assurance, warning against the dangers of transgressing divine limitations. Through his examination of the psychological and moral struggles caused by pride and arrogance, Sophocles lays bare the human tendency towards fallibility and the inescapable sway of fate.
From the outset, Oedipus is presented as a paragon of intellect and authority. His insatiable quest for knowledge, coupled with his determination to unveil the truth about his origins, embodies the quintessential manifestation of hubris. Sophocles deftly manipulates dramatic structure to cultivate a sense of mounting tension, gradually aligning human testimony with divine prophecy. The prologue establishes Oedipus’ dual roles as both civic ruler and family patriarch, while simultaneously highlighting a subtle but potent foreshadowing of his eventual ruin, embodied in the "telltale limp"—a corporeal manifestation of his concealed identity. In this sense, Oedipus’ intellectual prowess is not exalted as the savior of Thebes, but rather as a deceptive and flawed pretense that renders him blind to the ominous signs of fate. His dismissal of Tiresias, epitomises this tragic misjudgment. Tiresias’ stark pronouncement, “You are the murderer you seek”, not only implicates Oedipus in his own tragic fate but underscores his inability to perceive the divine forces at play in his life. At this moment, Oedipus rejects Tiresias' insight, responding with a venomous accusation: “You’re a blind man, a fool”. This line illustrates his arrogance and dismissive attitude toward the wisdom of those who cannot see in a literal sense, even as it becomes evident that his own intellectual blindness blinds him to the truth.Through the use of dramatic irony and symbolic imagery, Sophocles draws attention to the paradox of Oedipus’ physical sight, which contrasts sharply with his inability to grasp the truth of his situation. This interplay of knowledge and ignorance permeates the narrative, as Oedipus’ obstinate refusal to accept his fate renders him the true blind man, despite his physical vision. His final realisation, upon learning the truth of his parentage and his role in the prophecy, underscores the painful irony of his previous confidence. As he cries out, “O light, may you never look on me again”, the full weight of his tragic ignorance is revealed, solidifying his transition from a man of sight to a figure of symbolic blindness.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Love and respect are shown to overcome…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: BP1: Arnott reveals that grief cannot be silenced, and must instead be shared through vulnerability and human…
BP1: Arnott reveals that grief cannot be silenced, and must instead be shared through vulnerability and human closeness, rather than concealed in destructive seclusion. Characters choose not to share their feelings with others, due to the belief that it makes them appear weak resulting in them becoming trapped in a silent, distant sorrow. Karl's response to losing his 'other half' is magnified by his inability to go 'beyond the break of the wave' highlighting his separation from the sea, a setting he has a deep, almost spiritual connection to. He chooses to 'gargle rum' and resorts to 'mushing his thumbs in his ears' isolating himself in his destructive grief. Arnott criticises the modern stereotype that men choose to neglect their emotions, choosing to struggle in silence, resulting in distant connections. Similarly, The detective pursues a 'masculine' career as a private investigator, emphasised by Levi's belief that “(she) was a man,” highlighting the casual misogyny she faces in her work. She is conscious of her unusual appearance, her "hard eyes, dark lips and short hair" which sets her apart from the average rural Tasmanian, yet she embraces this difference, using her differences to isolate her from the grief of being cheated on during her long term relationship. Her refusal to conform to expectations of feminine delicacy separates her from her peers as she chooses a profession built on danger and independence, aiming to blur the line between masculinity and femininity. Her lack of connection results in self-imposed isolation that fails to resolve her grief, showing that detachment only deepens suffering. Arnott reveals that grief cannot be silenced, and must instead be shared through vulnerability and human closeness, rather than concealed in destructive seclusion.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "Hardships shape the lives of the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Trevor Noah's memoir 'Born A Crime' is a reflection on his life as a mixed race child against apartheid, both post…
Trevor Noah's memoir 'Born A Crime' is a reflection on his life as a mixed race child against apartheid, both post & during, within South Africa. In the memoir, adversity is a significant factor in shaping one's life. It is ultimately defiance, relationships and empowerment that are the key influences. Hardships impose restrictive barriers that arrogate one's ability to thrive in life and can significantly detriment one's life. However, resisting inequalities through empowerment can allow one to transcend restrictions. In contrast, hardships provide opportunities for one to shape their own lives and succeed against predicaments.
Hardships impose diverse despondancies that halt one's ability to thrive in society and create their own future. In the memoir, apartheid's 'architects' recognised that all leaders who preached an anti-apartheid movement all learnt from Bantu schools, and subsequently were 'shut down' as a result to halt any form of resistance for black South Africans. This underscores education as a tool of empowerment as it is deemed a vital resource to withstand institutionalised racism by enabling the opportunity to cause a revolution against apartheid, like Nelson Mandela. In doing so, Bantu Schools being closed highlights how black South Africans are restricted the power to 'think' and escape the intergenerational poverty cycle that apartheid has caused black South Africans to take up stereotypical jobs such as being a 'maid' or a 'factory worker'. This illustrates how institutional racism oppression limits one's ability to escape their situation and holds them to a burden onto them, resulting in them not being able to decide their own future. Furthermore, apartheid's 'police state' led to 'everyone' thinking that 'everyone else was the police', and due to this fear, this kept Trevor away from his friends and going out at an early age, leading to him being 'alone', as well as alienated for an overwhelming majority of his life. This underscores the societal inequalities placed upon Trevor's families as a restrictive force that restricts one from equality in apartheid, as a result, leading to face long-term issues such as an identity crisis and a lack of belonging. This emphasises hardships as a dominating factor that cultivates one to face challenges and restrict them to directing their own life, despite one's will. Conclusively, adversity limits one's will to achieve what they want and can be a restrictive force.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "for no one else of humankind is fit to…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: Oedipus the King, the Greek tragedy written by Sophocles set in 5th century CE, elucidates the tragedy of Thebes…
Oedipus the King, the Greek tragedy written by Sophocles set in 5th century CE, elucidates the tragedy of Thebes is simply a response, to certain human action. In demonstrating despite the grave sins that are foreshadowed, the inevitable power of fate overcomes all, underscoring the fatality of placing blame of humanity on a singular man. The play operates with dual functionality - as a warning of hubris and impiety and to provide moral education, in order for the polis to prosper. Sophocles aims to encapsulate the meaning of tragedy and whether it is a product and the burden of one or all.
Sophocles explores tragedy as a consequence to human flaw, its tool unknowing of who merited it. After the Peloponnesian War and the loss accounted for by overconfidence of battle, Sophocles' rendition of Oedipus functioned as a warning. Poor decisions of leadership resulted in many deaths of Athenian soldiers. In a similar manner, Thebes also experienced adjacent suffering. Sophocles' ability to contextualise the myth in 5th century CE allows the playwright to sympathise with Athenians and insinuate tragedy is the product of an accumulation of sins. From the outset, Oedipus adopts a 'proxy god' role, encouraging the embodiment of an Athenian audience to let him grant their prayers. This hubristic nature is simply the beginning of the exposing of his hamartia. This is framed through the Aristotelian model of a tragedy, which intensifies catharsis. Exemplified through impiety, Jocasta mimics these sins in denying the god's omnipotence that "prophecies are hollow". Her selective faith and lack of autonomy during peripeteia propels Oedipus along his journey. The chorus also demonstrates blind loyalty to Oedipus, promising to "never convict their(my) king". Sophocles highlights through the multitude of errors suffering is for all humankind to bear, being a result of several actions.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Sunset Boulevard encourage the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: In Billy Wilder's 1950 film, Sunset Boulevard, he explores themes of breaking taboos as the audience follows Joe…
In Billy Wilder's 1950 film, Sunset Boulevard, he explores themes of breaking taboos as the audience follows Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter, and how his life is entangled with Norma Desmond, a silent film star who was cast away by the film industry, and Hollywood, the root of everyones issues with their high expectations and disposal of people as if they were tools.
Wilder is able to achieve this by using many camera angles, intertextual connections, and other film techniques to strengthen his message to the audience on how people and characters break taboos for just reasons.
Initially, Wilder establishes the first taboo early in the film when Joe meets Norma for the first time.
This scene is shot in two different camera angles to show how the two of them see each other, Norma being observed by Joe from a low angle, whereas Joe is being viewed by Norma from a high angle.
Wilder uses this interaction to describe their relationship moving forward, as Joe is constantly viewed as a gigolo or Norma's trophy husband, as she pays for him and houses him.
This dynamic is further explored as Wilder attempts to position the audience into empathising with them as characters such as Cecil DeMille, a director most known for working with Norma in the past, constantly push her down the film industries hierarchy due to her age, even having her group with the other waxworks, a group of silent stars turned failed talkies, such as Buster Keaton.
Wilder uses Norma’s status as a silent film star who failed the transition into becoming a talkie star to affect how the audience sees Norma and why she keeps Joe around, and that is for the company of a young man with ‘Hollywood connections’ to make her feel less lonely as an unwanted and aging actress with cash to burn.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Rainbows End demonstrates a large amount…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 65%: In her contemporary Indigenous play Rainbow’s End, Jane Harrison reflects the oppressive historical realities for…
In her contemporary Indigenous play Rainbow’s End, Jane Harrison reflects the oppressive historical realities for Yorta Yorta people in 1950s Victoria, following the Cummergunja Walk Off in 1938, and during the period where Aboriginal protection and assimilation were government priorities. Through the experiences of the Dear women, Harrison highlights the entrenched exclusion of Aboriginal Australians through systemic government policy, societal attitudes, and personal dislocation, yet ultimately portrays the resilience and dignity of Indigenous identity as a form of quiet resistance against imposed marginalisation. The Australian government’s oppressive policies and institutional control serve as mechanisms of exclusion. Assimilationist policies in Rainbow’s End offer Aboriginal characters a false choice, and ultimately, despite enduring systemic exclusion and hardship, the Aboriginal characters in Rainbow’s End draw strength from cultural identity and family, prompting admiration for their resilience rather than pity for their suffering.