VCE · Text Response
Text Response: High Ground explores the heavy cost of…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: Steven Maxwell Johnsons film High Ground examines imperial conquest and its destructive nature, impacting both the…
Steven Maxwell Johnsons film High Ground examines imperial conquest and its destructive nature, impacting both the coloniser and the colonised. Set in Arhnem land, 1919, the film waves between the lives of both First Nations peoples and the colonisers through the characterization of Gutjuk. Johnson seeks to reveal the true nature of colonisation through his uncomfortably close to the truth fictional film, in order to challenge the Australian narrative of a peaceful settlement. Through his depiction of colonial violence and the lack of morality as a result Johnson implores that reconciliation will only occur through acknowledging the foreign doctrine the colonisers brought, and the undeniable destruction along with it. Ultimately, Johnson enlightening film endeavours to expose the true historical events of colonization in order to encourage viewers to challenge systemic racial oppression and re-evaluate its ongoing legacy.
In response to the atrocities of colonisation, Johnson unequivocally condemns the settlers calculated violence, predominantly destructive for the First Nations peoples, but also for the colonisers themselves. Through a postcolonial lens, Johnson uncovers the horrific violence disguised under the Australian narrative and exhibits its brutality. The commencement of the film depicts an aerial shot of the rising sun on serene Arnhem land, although this shortly shifts to the abrupt synchronised starting of the colonist footsteps, whose desire to avoid “trouble” is swiftly abandoned with the impassioned cry “what are we waiting for?” through signifying the colonisers as an approaching threat, Johnson reveals the systemic brutality of colonisation, a consequence of conquest to forebodingly warn viewers of its inevitable bloodshed. Additionally, Eddie’s command “nobody shoots but him” is abruptly met with the piercing shrill of gunshots, uncovering the encompassing and possessive nature of warfare, leaving behind lasting destruction, a heavy cost of conquest. Despite the commotion of “killing a white woman”, the settlers exploitation of Gulwirri remains overlooked, revealing the racialized hierarchy of colonial justice and exposing the systemic xenophobia stemming from colonisation with a harrowing ongoing legacy. By reinforcing the brutality of violent colonial conquest, Johnson reveals the consequences on victims as well as the colonist systemic issues to encourage viewers to challenge colonisations enduring legacy in contemporary Australia.
Having established colonial brutality, Johnson asserts that conquest leads to fleeting morality and loss of spirituality. As depicted by the settlers religion as well as the First Nations deep connection to country, Johnson illuminates the consequences of colonization as deep wounds not only affecting both cultures physically but spiritually and ethically. The spiritual advisor of the colonists, John Braddock embodies the Christian image, adorned in
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Wilder shows Hollywood to be an industry…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Billy Wilder’s 1950s classic film noir, “Sunset Boulevard”, follows an aspiring b-list writer and a forgotten star,…
Billy Wilder’s 1950s classic film noir, “Sunset Boulevard”, follows an aspiring b-list writer and a forgotten star, while exposing the dark underbellying of Hollywood. Set during the Golden age era, Wilder acknowledges how Hollywood can create dreams of fame and fortune, however, he ultimately condemns Hollywood’s destructive nature of destroying people who are chasing after their dreams and those who already achieved their dreams Ultimately, Wilder intends the audience to see how corrupt Hollywood is towards people behind and in front of the camera.
Wilder underscores Hollywood does create dreams, as it has provided success and fame to those who are able to get into the industry. Norma, a famous silent actor, showcases how Hollywood was able to make her successful, through the use of Norma’s “Isotta-Fraschini” car, her pool, and her dead monkey. Wilder symbolizes these ideas as excessive wealth, over exaggerating how far rich people would spend their money on. Hence, Wilder wants the modern audience to realise the post-war economic boom has brought people to become consumerism. Wilder highlights Hollywood for giving opportunities to young actors, leading them to gain fame and wealth. This is evident through Norma, as a “lovely little girl of 17”, bringing her huge success for herself and paramount studio, as Norma emphasises “without [her], there wouldn’t be any paramount studio”. Additionally, Wilder utilises the camera panning the workers sending a message to Demille about Norma’s arrival. Giving the impression that Demille is a busy and important person that he relies on people giving him the message rather than directly. Wilder’s depiction of Demille’s and Norma’s success, portrays how Hollywood gives people hope in succeeding like them. Wilder presents this through Joe and his apartment; it's small and not fully furnitured. Wilder showcases how Joe’s desperation for a better financial state, despite the significant sacrifices he has made, demonstrates how alluring Hollywood could be. Therefore, Hollywood does give people the chance to create dreams as it gives them success and fame, but it is never a guaranteed pathway.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: discuss the ways GW portrays identity
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: The conflux of ancient sacrificial practice and contemporary gendered violence is explored through Sarah Moss'…
The conflux of ancient sacrificial practice and contemporary gendered violence is explored through Sarah Moss' novella 'Ghost Wall' enabling her to underscore characters' journey to find their sense of self - both through violent and empowering methods. Moss first condemns character development of a fabricated past in order to fill their self desire for power, along with how characters look their sense of self when under the influence of unjust power figures. Yet Conversely, Moss celebrates characters ability to explore individuality, ignoring their confined gender roles set by manipulative figures.
Moss first demonstrates how characters their desire for power through establishing their identity, by romanticising a fabricated past. Through the characterisation of Bill, and his extreme, authoritarian attitude, Moss explores how his inability to obtain present day power - his unfulfilling proletariat role as a 'bus driver' - allows him to exert dominance over the Hampton women. This is through his patriarchal figure as the security and provider for the women, thus the Hampton women are forced to abide by his synthetic ideals of the subservient position of women, akin to Iron Age societies , he forces upon the girls. Yet, Moss condemns Bill's ability to imagine a fake past, where unlike the present, he believes in the past he would obtain agency, symbolising his faux ideals and ‘claim on something’ through 'bog bodies'. Whilst the 'people' are indicators that ancient sacrificial practice was in fact real, their skin being intact, thus they are hollow on the inside are representative of Bill's nostalgia for an extremely romanticised past - all a facade for him to believe his male status and power identity would give him control. Thus, Mss illustrates Bill's identity soley shaped by a romanticised past by his constant indictment of abuse upon his own daughter. Bill's control and constant authoritarian grasp over Silvie is so extreme, that when Silvie leaves camo early to 'relive herself' , an act as universal and fundamental as a human right becomes fraught with danger, depicting Bill's invasive reach of his traditional, patriarchal control. Silvie's thoughts begin to 'flicker' as she searches for a place to hide, her visualisation of Bill catching her urinating. Her fear, which is circled around Bill's patriarchal image that Silvie would be 'consorting with men' embodies his patriarchal beliefs that Silvie's worth is bound to chastity, enabling his patriarchal control to turn Silvie's environment depicts a world of fear and disgust. Hence, Moss's depicts how characters that build her identity upon patriarchal, faux versions of the past.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘The actions of Oedipus are irrelevant; he…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Sophocles’ timeless tragedy Oedipus the King examines the tension between humanity’s desire to act as individuals…
Sophocles’ timeless tragedy Oedipus the King examines the tension between humanity’s desire to act as individuals and the destiny that guides our lives. In the context of Ancient Greece and the Athenian audience, it is irrefutable that Sophocles asserts the power of the gods as an inescapable force that governs human life, suggesting that Oedipus was never to avoid his fate. However, through the endeavor of his protagonist, the playwright emphasizes that one’s choices and flaws can lead to further suffering. Finally, then, Sophocles asserts that there are limits to human understanding in the face of the divine will of the gods. Ultimately, Sophocles’ presents Oedipus as a tragic figure whose flaws are deeply relevant and reveals that human agency in inseparable from the workings of fate.
Sophocles asserts that human beings are powerless against the will of the gods; fate is predetermined and immutable. He explicates the limitations of human power as '[Jocasta's] son was doomed to kill [her] husband', and that she believes that 'he never had a chance to kill his father'. The power of divinity is elucidated here - although Jocasta attempted to prevent the prophecy by ordering the murder of her son, her attempts were futile in the face of divine power, as the prophecy was fulfilled when Oedipus killed King Laius. Sophocles presents the prophecy as inescapable and predetermined to demonstrate the restrictions of humanity in the face of the gods. Moreover, Oedipus states that “What will come will come. Even if I shroud it in silence.”. Oedipus’ himself recognises that fate cannot be avoided or altered, regardless of his actions or attempts to suppress the truth. Despite Oedipus’ persistent efforts to outwit the prophecy, he ultimately fulfils it, reinforcing the tragic irony of the play. Here, Sophocles underscores the inevitability of destiny, suggesting that human agency is insignificant in the face of divine will.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "Que Sera Sera". Rainbow's End argues that…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Set against the racial systemic, in the 1950s, where First Nations were discriminated against in all three…
Set against the racial systemic, in the 1950s, where First Nations were discriminated against in all three generations. Throughout the play, Rainbow’s End, playwright Jane Harrison highlights the impact across the generations of those Indigenous individuals who faced constant racism and their rights were stripped away. Harrison constructs the life of Aboriginal families, by emphasising on the harsh reality through the lens of Dolly, Nan Dear, and Gladys–each encountering numerous limitations and obstacles set by the white government in rural Australia. Harrison showcases that First Nation communities tolerate the acts of the white government and accept the paternalistic policies into their lifestyle, resulting in the absence of agency–nonetheless, some Individuals of the First Nation fight for their value and rights, in spite of the oppressive authorities.
Harrison depicts the reality of older generations that have faced numerous traumas from paternalistic policies, as many Indigenous individuals have accepted their hopeless life. By the utilisation of Intertextuality in the play, “Que sera sera” is heard initially and after–Harrison highlights the acceptance of the Indigenous individual’s fate in the presence of oppression, as they have not yet attained agency and power of their land. Additionally, Nan Dear is constructed to be fully against the idea of learning, particularly in a suppressed environment, Nan Dear expresses her hatred that “French verbs” will get Dolly nowhere in life, as she is solely a Indigenous girl accommodating in “The Flats”. Harrison showcases the lack of agency that many Aboriginal individuals have during oppression, because of their suppressed situation set by white authorities. Furthermore, Nan Dear is shown negatively impacting Dolly, as she limits her from experiencing the dance at “The Miss Mooroopna-Shepparton Ball”, where the whites gather. As expected, Nan Dear restricts Dolly as she is anxious of Errol, because of her own traumatic experience with “Clem Fisher”, who sexually harassed her at a young age. Harrison emphasises that as a result of trauma, this can be restricting for younger generations and their reach for freedom.
Ultimately, Harrison demonstrates that First Nation communities accept their limitations as they encounter numerous trauma, and are afraid to obtain agency for a greater future.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Sunset Boulevard suggests that in…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: Billy Wilder’s 1950 film noir, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, follows a struggling screenwriter who encounters a faded star,…
Billy Wilder’s 1950 film noir, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, follows a struggling screenwriter who encounters a faded star, trapped in their delusions. Narrated by a cynical and jaded protagonist, Wilder reveals the importance of ambition and self interest in Hollywood. Through his film, Wilder suggests that while having a strong desire for success in Hollywood can be achieved at times, lacking other values and morals impacts the ability of individuals to find fame in Hollywood. Wilder first portrays how a strong desire for ambition and self interest are essential to securing success in Hollywood. However, Wilder conveys that without integrity, having ambition and self interest for success in Hollywood can lead to losing one’s sense of control and autonomy. Finally, Wilder explores how without discernment, a strong ambition and self interest in Hollywood can result in a distorted sense of reality and self perception.
Wilder first portrays how a strong ambition and self interest are essential to securing success in Hollywood. Set against the backdrop of 1950s American society, characterised by consumerism, many Americans desired to achieve the American dream. With this, Wilder exposes how success was not entirely impossible within the Hollywood film industry, if individuals had values of ambition. Wilder depicts this during an intimate conversation between Betty and Joe in which a two shot is used to capture her reassuring and honest facial expression. Here, Betty reveals that despite getting rejected by Hollywood even after a “nose job”, she found it “more fun” being on the “other side of the camera”, suggesting how a genuine ambition for success in the Hollywood film industry can be rewarding. By employing a highkey lighting on Betty’s face combined with the non diegetic sound of the violin’s sweet tone, Wilder mirrors Betty’s current emotional state of finding joy and success in Hollywood. In doing so, Wilder highlights the importance of having ambition and self interest in Hollywood, revealing how such values lead to success. Wilder builds on this notion through a mise en scene of Sheldrake’s office, styled with mahogany and leather, with large framed photographs of Paramount stars and an Oscar on his bookshelf. Through his office, Wilder demonstrates Sheldrake’s luxury and fame in Hollywood, suggesting how it was ultimately his ambition and self interest that allowed him to survive in a toxic film industry. By pairing this with a high angle shot of Sheldrake lying on the couch juxtaposed with Joe’s anxious posture, reinforces his untouchable status and success in Hollywood. In doing so, Wilder further demonstrates how the only values that count in Hollywood are ambition and success, emphasising that without such morals, individuals cannot secure success in the film industry.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Shakespeare presents disguise as both…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Shakespeare presents disguise as both liberating and dangerous. Discuss. Intro: More than just a festive comedy,…
Shakespeare presents disguise as both liberating and dangerous. Discuss.
Intro:
More than just a festive comedy, William Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ (or What You Will) explores the nature of disguise and deception as both liberating and dangerous. Shakespeare prompts the Elizabethan audience to be aware of both the necessities and extremities of disguise. Thus, Shakespeare portrays disguise as a liberating protective tool, yet cautions that it inevitably produces disorder. Additionally, Shakespeare demonstrates how disguise can generate comedy and foolishness, whilst recognising the torment that can be inflicted upon others at that cost. Ultimately, Shakespeare illustrates the necessity of disguises being unveiled for restoring balance, order, and harmony.
P1: Mistaken Identity → Disguise as safety, but disordered.
Shakespeare presents disguise and deception as a source of safety, but warns against the chaos which can result. The shipwrecked Viola's decision to "conceal me what I am" and adopt the identity of Cesario as an "outward character,” highlighting the protective function of disguise, which allows her to navigate a patriarchal society that would otherwise limit her to the boundaries of her gender. Similarly, the "virtuous maid” Olivia adopts a material disguise by wearing a “veil,” introducing the motif of clothing as a tool of concealment. However, when Olivia becomes infected with the “plague” of love for Cesario, Shakespeare illuminates the chaos of false identities. When Malvolio delivers Olivia’s ring with claims of Cesario’s ownership, Olivia remarks in her soliloquy “I left no ring with her.” Through this, Viola realises “she loves me,” which transforms her protective disguise to the cause of the play’s central love triangle which is “too hard a knot for [her] to untie,” with the metaphor of the knot symbolising the complex nature of disguise as both liberating and dangerous. Ultimately, disguise is presented as a powerful force which can often safety and freedom, but generates confusion and unintended consequences.
P2: Disguise for comedy → but harmful
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Harrison expose the constraints…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Jane Harrison’s Indigenous play Rainbows End through the power of story exposes the restrictions of First Nations…
Jane Harrison’s Indigenous play Rainbows End through the power of story exposes the restrictions of First Nations People in 1950s Australia. Through the experiences of the three Aboriginal family of Dear Women she reveals that they lack opportunities and voice faced in a white dominated society, whilst celebrating the resilience in having ambitions when exposed to a lack of choice of their own lives. Harrison ultimately explores the importance of maintaining determination to persevere through injustices.
Through the constraints imposed on First Nations people in Rainbow’s End, Harrison reveals their social exclusion from society. Following the “well-dressed white man” inspecting the Dear Women’s household who are instilled with “nervous anxious energy”, the inspector continues to questions and dehumanisingly looks around, “pleasant but distracted”. While the women are being questioned the inspector takes little to no notice of the women whilst they act vulnerable. The comparison between the behaviours suggests the power indifference and the lack of control in the assessment report for the Government of Victoria. Their restriction is further supported when he mentions “things will change” and Gladys and Nan Dear exchange worried looks as well as the mention of assimilation rises the tension in the house. The mention of “Your whites are so white solidifies the push from white society to force the concept of “being more white” as being white is superior. Harrison aim’s to show people of colours’ lack of ability and choice to control their own situation and must be silenced to survive their dire situation.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: ‘Several characters choose ignorance over…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, several characters attempt to avoid or ignore the truth because they fear the…
In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, several characters attempt to avoid or ignore the truth because they fear the consequences it may bring. However, the play shows that the truth cannot be escaped, and those who try to remain ignorant either suffer more greatly or fail to prevent fate. While some characters receive temporary relief through denial, in the end they are punished for refusing to accept reality.
Oedipus himself demonstrates the dangers of rejecting the truth. From the beginning, he insists on finding the murderer of Laius in order to save Thebes, but as clues begin to point to him, he becomes increasingly defensive. When Teiresias tells him he is the killer, Oedipus chooses ignorance, accusing the prophet of treason rather than confronting the possibility of guilt. This choice delays his self-awareness but does not protect him from his destiny. Instead, when the truth is finally revealed, Oedipus suffers even more severely. He blinds himself and accepts exile, proving that his earlier denial has only made his downfall more dramatic.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In Flames, Arnott suggests that grief is…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: In Flames, Arnott suggests that grief is never straightforward.” To what extent do you agree? In Flames, Robbie…
In Flames, Arnott suggests that grief is never straightforward.”
To what extent do you agree?
In Flames, Robbie Arnott portrays grief as a multifaceted and unpredictable force, revealing how it manifests differently across individuals and situations. To begin with, Arnott elucidates how toxic societal expectations surrounding masculinity and femininity shape the ways in which men express grief, highlighting the influence of cultural norms on emotional expression. Moreover, Arnott depicts how experiences of grief vary across humans and nature, highlighting the diverse responses to loss. Although, Throughout the novel, Arnott portrays grief as a complex force, however, ultimately he demonstrates that although grief is highly subjective, it compels all individuals to act in ways that deviate from their usual behaviours.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In what way does Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the…
As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the inescapable influence of destiny. Juliet's desperate attempt to assert autonomy is encapsulated in her defiant resolution to use 'this knife' to end her own life rather than submit to a forced marriage. This act builds upon the repeated foreshadowing of her death, highlighting a struggle she is destined to lose. However, this act of defiance - intended to rewrite her fate - paradoxically aligns her with the tragic destiny she seeks to avoid, with every action fulfilling her tragic prophecy. By intertwining free will and fate, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to underline destiny's all-encompassing impact,. Thus the playwright evokes pity as the audience watches characters act on incomplete information, evident when Juliet relies on Friar Lawrence's expertise which is in itself incomplete. The Friar's plan, an exercise in human agency, ironically requires Juliet to simulate 'a thing like death', thereby acknowledging fate's
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In what way does Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the…
As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the inescapable influence of destiny. Juliet's desperate attempt to assert autonomy is encapsulated in her defiant resolution to use 'this knife' to end her own life rather than submit to a forced marriage. This act builds upon the repeated foreshadowing of her death, highlighting a struggle she is destined to lose. However, this act of defiance - intended to rewrite her fate - paradoxically aligns her with the tragic destiny she seeks to avoid, with every action fulfilling her tragic prophecy. By intertwining free will and fate, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to underline destiny's all-encompassing impact,. Thus the playwright evokes pity as the audience watches characters act on incomplete information, evident when Juliet relies on Friar Lawrence's expertise which is in itself incomplete. This dynamic is evident in the Friar's plan, an exercise in human agency that ironically relies on simulating what the Friar calls
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In what way does Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the…
As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the inescapable influence of destiny. Juliet's desperate attempt to assert autonomy is encapsulated in her defiant resolution to use 'this knife' to end her own life rather than submit to a forced marriage. This act builds upon the repeated foreshadowing of her death, highlighting a struggle she is destined to lose. However, this act of defiance - intended to rewrite her fate - paradoxically aligns her with the tragic destiny she seeks to avoid, with every action fulfilling her tragic prophecy. By intertwining free will and fate, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to underline destiny's all-encompassing impact,. Thus the playwright evokes pity as the audience watches characters act on incomplete information, evident when Juliet relies on Friar Lawrence's expertise which is in itself incomplete. This dynamic is evident in the Friar's plan, an exercise in human agency that ironically relies on simulating what the Friar calls
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In what way does Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the…
As the play continues, Shakespeare explores how individual efforts to assert autonomy are overshadowed by the inescapable influence of destiny. Juliet's desperate attempt to assert autonomy is encapsulated in her defiant resolution to use 'this knife' to end her own life rather than submit to a forced marriage. This act builds upon the repeated foreshadowing of her death, highlighting a struggle she is destined to lose. However, this act of defiance - intended to rewrite her fate - paradoxically aligns her with the tragic destiny she seeks to avoid, with every action fulfilling her tragic prophecy. By intertwining free will and fate, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to underline destiny's all-encompassing impact, evoking pity as the audience watches characters act on incomplete information.This dynamic is evident in the Friar's plan, an exercise in human agency that ironically relies on simulating 'a thing like death' to subvert fate.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Act 3: To what extent do characters in the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Shakespeare highlights how fate and Elizabethan societal constraints erode the characters' autonomy. Romeo's…
Shakespeare highlights how fate and Elizabethan societal constraints erode the characters' autonomy. Romeo's despairing cry of being 'fortune's fool' encapsulates his belief that he is merely a pawn of destiny, rather than an agent of his own will. In this way, Shakespeare argues the pre-determined nature of human life, subtly introducing an element of luck in the course of events. Despite this, Shakespeare reveals Romeo's tendency to deflect personal responsibility for his impulsive actions onto an external force. Furthermore, the Friar's description of Romeo's tears as "womanish" reflects the rigid social expectations of masculinity. Shakespeare's use of this gendered term constructs a vivid image of the 'normal' man: rational, stoic, and incapable of showing weakness. In critiquing the era's hegemonic gender expectations through careful characterisation of protagonists, Shakespeare reveals that
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 1. ‘Sophocles’ Oedipus the King provides…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Sophocles highlights that individuals who embody human fallibility will make unguided decisions. In “Oedipus the…
Sophocles highlights that individuals who embody human fallibility will make unguided decisions. In “Oedipus the king” Sophocles uses Oedipus’ characterisation to showcase how unbridled pride leads to the rejection of beneficial advice. During Oedipus’ conversation with Tiresias, Oedipus states that “[His] words are futile”, demonstrating his reejction of the truth. Sophocles illustrates Oedipus’ rejection of this truth as a result of his initial arrogance, foregrounding his criticism of individuals who are unable to set aside their hubris to view a situation from an objective perspective. Sophocles continues by juxtaposing Oedipus with Creon. Through their interaction during the first episode where Oedipus accuses Creon of plotting against him with no evidence with Creon urging Oedipus “to think rationally”, Sophocles uses this juxtaposition to highlight Oedipus’ emotional impulsiveness and Creon’s ability to remain objective even under pressure. Through this Sophocles exemplifies the detrimental actions of those who act irrationally through the explication of their human flaws which prompted
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Sumn about the truth i forgort
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: In 5th century BCE, humility and wisdom were two qualities that the ancient Greeks herald as of great importance,…
In 5th century BCE, humility and wisdom were two qualities that the ancient Greeks herald as of great importance, where in order for one to live a life of Eudaimonia, one must “know thyselves” - as written in the temple of delphi. This is reflected in Sophocles' Oedipus the king where the story revolves around the tragic hero Oedipus and his pursuit for truth. Whilst he initially began this journey with good intentions, it was ultimately one that propelled him to his tragic end. It is upon learning the truth of his identity where he transforms from an individual blinded by his own hubris, to one who understands the truth behind his world. His story of transformation is one which Sophocles created to illustrate how accepting the truth, regardless of how tough a pill to swallow, can reveal the bad side of one’s character that they may have been ignorant of which allows them to know more about themselves. It is also when their mistakes are known where they are able to help others in preventing such from reoccurring. Additionally, when one accepts the truth about their own limitations, especially accepting the fact that they will not be able to rival or exceed those of divine beings, where they gain wisdom by again knowing themselves.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: To what extent does Sophocles in Oedipus…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Sophocles' pioneering tragedy “Oedipus the King”, first staged in fifth-century Athens, encapsulates the tragic…
Sophocles' pioneering tragedy “Oedipus the King”, first staged in fifth-century Athens, encapsulates the tragic futility of human defiance against the inescapable degree of fate. Ardently underscoring the satirical nature of the play, Sophocles emphasises the inevitable subversion of Oedipus’ downfall, under the authoritative decree of the gods, exposing the vulnerability of human agency. Through this, Sophocles skillfully depicts Oedipus’s distressing journey for truth as both a blessing and a curse, illuminating his quest for veracity while simultaneously sealing his tragic downfall. Initially, Sophocles forthrightly declares that Oedipus’ attempts to uncover his true identity foster a sense of ignorance, thus leading him to act irrationally. In this way, Sophocles partially denounces fervent individuals who elusively struggle to uncover the truth, revealing the immense suffering and self-destruction that lies ahead. Ultimately, however, Sophocles vehemently commends those who justly chase the truth, indicating the moral responsibility and human growth resulting from true insight into one’s identity. By staging the play during the Peloponnesian War and amid a devastating plague, Sophocles prompts Athenians to reflect on how denial of truth, whether personal or political, can worsen civic suffering, suggesting truth-seeking is vital for both moral clarity and communal survival.
From the outset, Sophocles stridently condemns Oedipus’ arrogant pursuit of truth, showcasing how his hubris blinds him to reality and isolates him from others, thus leading to irrationality. When Oedipus vows to “bring it all to light myself,” the dramatic irony of his declaration underscores his ignorance: the very “light” he seeks will expose his own guilt. In this way, Sophocles symbolises “light” as a journey of knowledge and pride, showcasing Oedipus’ actions as noble to the chorus. By stressing “myself,” Sophocles presents Oedipus’ truth-seeking as an act of pride rather than wisdom, a choice that alienates him from the collective guidance of others. Here, Sophocles vigorously critiques this relentless pursuit, implying that the ignorant search for truth leads to self-isolation and his predetermined demise, catalysed by his definite hubris. This arrogance escalates when he assures the people of Thebes that he will “grant your prayers,” elevating himself to the role of a god in a society that viewed divine power as absolute. For an Athenian audience, this blasphemous comparison would have been shocking, as a mere human levels himself to the sovereign gods, highlighting Oedipus’ hubris and foreshadowing his fall. Indeed, Sophocles crucially highlights that this blasphemous comparison creates unwavering tension as Oedipus’s god complex conflicts with the societal ideology of Greek belief, symbolising Oedipus’s excessive ignorance and irrationality. His scornful retort to Tiresias — “You dare tell me to listen to you, you who are blind?” infenstifies this irony. While Oedipus mocks physical blindness, the audience recognises his deeper, metaphorical blindness to the truth. Sophocles’ juxtaposition of sight and blindness not only anticipates Oedipus’ self-inflicted blinding, but also exposes his hamartia: an inability to accept truth from others. Through this, Sophocles warns that a stubborn, prideful pursuit of knowledge leads not to wisdom but to irrationality and destruction. Overall, Sophocles fervently highlights Oedpius’ journey of truth as one that cultivates ignorance, leading to impulsiveness.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “For a man to help others, with all his…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Performed at the festival of Dionysia during the 5th century, Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus the King serves as a…
Performed at the festival of Dionysia during the 5th century, Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus the King serves as a cautionary tale warning against selfish reasons for action-taking. Set against the backdrop of a plague-ridden city state of Thebes, Sophocles probes at the notion of noble and virtuous leadership. From the prologos, individuals who act in the face to serve others are rewarded. Yet, Sophocles also warns hubris to be a driving force for the process of achievements. Ultimately, Sophocles poses humanity’s attempt to conceal the truth to be fundamental **** . Essentially, Sophocles celebrates humanity in the capacity to help others thus fuelling action, however, he also reveals the true spark for accomplishment to be excessive pride and manipulation of truth.
Ostensibly, Sophocles stipulates the desire to support others to be a significant motivator in action-taking. Indeed, this notion is particularly characterized through the headstrong leadership of the protagonist. Oedipus is instantly introduced to the Athenian spectators and modern audience as an authoritative figure whom the Thebans look up, ‘huddling at [his] altar’. His genuine concern for his citizens is projected in his statements ‘You can trust me. I am ready to help, I’ll do anything’ in tandem with ‘what preys upon you so?’ Thus the deliberate punctuation echoes his worries and readiness to aid his dying people. Further, his admirable swift action-taking is driven by his impulse to save Thebes. Through the nautical imagery personifying Thebes to be unable to ‘lift her head from the depths, the red waves of death’, the city-state is depicted to be of dire and urgent help. Oedipus ‘act[ing] at once’ after ‘groping, labouring over many paths of thoughts’ insinuates the burdens on his people have affected him similarly as he has ‘wept through the nights’. Therefore, the first episode elucidates Oedipus’ willingness as king to search for the cure that beset Thebes. Furthering this notion is through Creon’s moral righteousness as an influential figure. Although accused as a ‘traitor’ by Oedipus, his ability to maintain his reason is lauded by Sophocles and the Athenian audience, as this sophrosyne was valued to be a virtuous man during the Golden Age. His concern for the Thebans is revealed in his statement ‘Not if you rule unjustly’ therefore insinuating Oedipus’ unmoderated ruling to be unjustified, thus he acts to serve the good of his city. This notion is also mirrored by the play’s denouement as Creon exhibits mercy in face of Oedipus’ ‘former failings’. The act of sending Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus’ own ‘flesh and blood’, at his desire, champions Sophocles conception that Creon’s actions are driven by the desire to help others as he disregards Oedipus’ incestuous and parricidal acts by showing leniency. Therefore, the desire to assist others is a powerful incentive for taking action.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In Sunset Boulevard .Wilder shows us…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Betrayal is examined in Billy Wilder’s 1950s Sunset Boulevard through the actions of characters driven by…
Betrayal is examined in Billy Wilder’s 1950s Sunset Boulevard through the actions of characters driven by controlling desires. Wilder critiques the selfish intentions behind these self-destructive behaviours, showing how they harm both the individual and those around them. He condemns the self-delusion his characters live in, demonstrating how their desires and illusions ultimately result in tragic consequences.
Wilder demonstrates the extent to which characters go in order to obtain control and power over others. Norma Desmond is presented as a domineering woman who exploits Joe’s weakness for his car to entrap him in a romantic relationship. Her repeated dismissal of his financial concerns—“don’t worry about the money”—symbolises her control, as she substitutes his independence with her gifts, including the “camel hair coat.” Wilder emphasises this imbalance through mise-en-scène: Joe is frequently shown in Norma’s grand, decaying mansion, framed against lavish décor that highlights how suffocatingly she surrounds him with wealth. Norma’s insistence on using “we” and “us” illustrates her psychological manipulation, reinforced visually by close-up shots of her clinging to Joe, positioning them as one entity. Even in her seemingly affectionate remarks—“must you chew gum”—her control mirrors that of a partner dictating behaviour. Similarly, Max exerts control, but Wilder distinguishes his loyalty through softer lighting and low, steady camera angles when he tends to Norma, which contrast with the harsher shots of Joe’s reluctant compliance. Meanwhile, DeMille is framed in powerful, authoritative lighting at Paramount Studios, where his command—“forget about the car”—demonstrates Hollywood’s power structures. Through these contrasts, Wilder critiques not just personal control, but the way Hollywood itself manipulates and shapes its participants.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 'We Have Always Lived In The Castle is…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: Shirley Jackson’s ‘We have always lived in the Castle’ is a gothic novel which explores gender roles and societal…
Shirley Jackson’s ‘We have always lived in the Castle’ is a gothic novel which explores gender roles and societal norms in late 1950’s America. Whilst in the face of adversity, women within the text continuously rise above their hardships to establish their strength and power in the world. By establishing an ongoing legacy, both the past and present women form stable foundations for future generations to build off through their preserved spirit. Whilst following traditional roles, the women in the text complete their tasks with their own purposes, rather than following the patriarchal ideology, to prevent extreme breakdowns. Additionally, despite the social norms of the time, oppressed women within the text still retain a level of control over men in the household.
Through the preserved resilience of their ancestors, the Blackwood’s legacy after experiencing intense hardships continues throughout the novel. The cellar of the Blackwood ‘castle’ is a symbol of resilience within the novel, as it contains the ‘rarebits’ of the women who lived in the mansion before Merricat and Constance. These rarebits represent feminine power hidden within a bigger picture, such as women within a society ran by patriarchal men. Jackson intentionally includes this to criticize the patriarchy, reflecting on how women are often the foundation of larger concepts such as the house itself, however they go unacknowledged, leaving their impact buried underground and left unnoticed. This concept is supported in the destruction of the house, as the villagers rampage and destroy the interior of the house, whilst leaving cellar untouched, showing how the legacy of past Blackwood women could not be broken, even during savage attacks. Constance treasures the food in the cellar, depicting the jams and pickles as ‘poem[s] by the Blackwood women’, showing the significance they hold, as during the time the novel was set, poems were ways people eternalised memories for future generations to appreciate. Thus, Jackson highlight’s women’s ability to remain strong against the overarching dominance of the villagers and men in their lives.
Gender roles are also explored throughout the text, which allows for a contrasting view from Jackson, who advocates for the freedom of choice. Constance cooks and cleans the house whilst taking care of Merricat and Uncle Julian, which is the traditional role of a women in the 1950’s. Yet Constance does this for
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: To what extent does ‘The Memory Police’…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Yoko Ogawa’s post-war dystopian allegory The Memory Police explores the unsettling atmosphere of a society governed…
Yoko Ogawa’s post-war dystopian allegory The Memory Police explores the unsettling atmosphere of a society governed by authoritarianism and the gradual erasure of both individual and collective memories. Despite the willingness of individuals to resist totalitarian systems, Ogawa recognises that the relentless attempt to exert control limits their overall ability to overcome these forces. Foremost, Ogawa critiques the unyielding power a government may hold to overpower those under it, where resilience is seen as unattainable. Furthermore, she criticises individuals who demonstrate no effort to challenge oppression, thereby avoiding disruption of authority. However, while Ogawa acknowledges that power can attempt to decay one’s purpose, there are still opportunities for people to act in defiance.
Foremost, Ogawa stresses that power can be overbearing to the point where people struggle to find any possibility of standing against it. On an unnamed island, a place controlled by men ‘determined to see things disappear’, Ogawa establishes a setting where the vanishings of flowers and birds occur ‘beyond [the citizens’] control’. Through this construction, Ogawa distorts the boundary between the existence of human agency and the necessary submission towards hidden forces. This emphasises the uncertainty individuals face in recognising the extent of power imposed upon them. Thus, Ogawa underscores the inability of individuals to withstand insidious forces that appear to distort the natural order. This is strengthened through Ogawa’s use of the Memory Police’s coats, even after searching ‘every clothing store on the island’, the jackets are positioned beyond reach for the inhabitants. The coats symbolise the authority’s ability to adapt under suppressive conditions, leaving citizens helpless and reinforcing the dominance of the regime. Therefore, Ogawa insinuates that a system holding onto too much authority may physically inhibit those around it from evading such power. Overall, Ogawa recognises that control can be employed so coercively that individuals are stripped of the capacity to resist.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Theme: Belonging, Creative Expression…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: In this scene, Waititi conveys how creativity and shared experiences foster a sense of belonging in an individual.…
In this scene, Waititi conveys how creativity and shared experiences foster a sense of belonging in an individual. From the outset, he establishes Ricky's displacement through costuming: the vibrant yellow of Ricky’s jersey is visually isolated against a dark background, symbolising his difficulty integrating into the family. This visual juxtaposition, which renders Ricky the focal point, draws attention to his bright clothes and, in turn, elicits a corresponding sense of displacement in the viewer. Yet this same technique also foreshadows the emotional transformation he is poised to undergo as he becomes part of the family dynamic. Waititi reinforces this narrative shift through the diegetic sound of Ricky joining Bella’s birthday song—an act of shared creativity that signals his growing emotional connection. Through this, the director explores the idea that artistic expression can become a bridge to emotional intimacy, allowing Ricky to connect with others and reclaim a sense of individuality previously stripped away by institutional structures. Connection, in this context, is shown to go beyond physical presence;
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “King Oedipus suggests destiny is a direct…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: The Greek tragedy 'Oedipus Rex', written by Sophocles and originally presented in 429 BCE in Athens, explores the…
The Greek tragedy 'Oedipus Rex', written by Sophocles and originally presented in 429 BCE in Athens, explores the tensions between fate and human agency in a society influenced by rationalist and Sophist thoughts. During this time of intellectual and political change, Sophocles critiques the Athenian faith in reason by presenting Oedipus' relentless quest for truth, a pursuit driven by pride, which paradoxically leads to his downfall. Using tragic structure, dramatic irony, and invocation of Greek religious values, Sophocles asserts the inevitability of fate, while simultaneously highlighting how Oedipus’ own choices accelerate his destruction. Thus, while human decisions shape the path to ruin, Sophocles ultimately suggests that destiny triumphs over free will, demonstrating that Oedipus’ downfall is both self-inflicted and divinely ordained.
In exploring the tension between fate and free will, Sophocles utilises the theatrical conventions of tragedy to affirm the inevitability of Oedipus's destined downfall while exposing how his hubris hastens this fate. In doing so, Sophocles discloses Oedipus' inherent flaw of hubris in which he resists the divine decrees of fate, nullifying his evasion from preordained misfortune. Oedipus' perilous duality as the "best of men" threatened by unchecked arrogance in his sovereignty is highlighted in the Prologos. By echoing the first-person pronouns "mine" and "myself", Sophocles highlights Oedipus’ arrogant egoism as he patronisingly asserts himself as the sole "saviour" of Thebes. The boastful style of dialogue reflects his self-perception as the "man of experience." However, for the Athenian audience, aware of his tragic destiny, his self-proclaimed "triumph" elicits dramatic irony since he is, in fact , the "murderer that he hunts". In this way, Sophocles critiques Oedipus' "blind [ness] to misery" as both the "father murderer" and one "coupling with [his] mother." Although regarded as the "first of men", his hamartia of intemperate pride negates his ability to comprehend "how far [he has] gone in guilt", compelling him to pursue the truths behind his life and ultimately gravitating towards calamity. In a stichomythic dialogue, Oedipus's adherence to his fatal flaw deteriorates into blasphemous conceit, as he dismisses Tiresias, Apollo's prophet, as "a pious fraud" and derides the blind prophet's vision as "lost in the night" rather than metaphorically "see[ing] the light." Resounding the dramatic irony of Oedipus' eventual blindness, the metaphor reveals his delusion of equating sight with truth and how his excessive pride in "stopping the Sphinx" has paradoxically blinded his capability to recognise the veracity of destiny. By defying divine prophecy and mocking the Gods’ moral decrees, Oedipus attempts to assert free will, yet Sophocles shows that such defiance only hastens his submission to fate. The frenetic verbal combat jarringly highlights that Oedipus' childish "rage" is powerless against divine knowledge and is ultimately governed by forces beyond his control. In this way, Sophocles reinforces the tension between human choice and predetermined outcome, demonstrating that Oedipus’ downfall is both a product of his decisions and the inescapability of fate.