The overall tone of this poem is one of cool defiance. In that sense, one could say that it expresses considerable strength and fortitude. At the same time, such strength and defiance emerge out of sadness at the memory of centuries of racial oppression. The speaker cannot and will not ignore this oppression, despite the immense sadness it must evoke.
But out of this sadness arises strength—the strength that enables the speaker to assert her identity as an African American woman in the face of the continued oppression of her race. It is impossible to put aside sadness completely without erasing the past. And yet, as the speaker clearly realizes, sadness can also serve as a motivation to dig deeper into her soul and affirm herself in the midst of a society still rife with racism.
Although the speaker uses images that are troubling in the poem "Still I Rise," the overall tone is one of strength as the speaker narrates a firm determination to rise above all persecution and thrive.
The speaker uses several similes to convey this tone. In the first stanza, she relates that many lie about her and attempt to beat her down; however, "like dust," she rises above all these attempts to suppress her spirit. Imagine trying to hold down a dust cloud—that is the image conveyed here. It would be impossible to contain the particles stirred up by the wind. This is representative of the speaker's spirit of perseverance.
Later, the speaker conveys that the unnamed "you" in this poem wants to see her "broken," with "bowed head and lowered eyes." However, she is never defeated; she even laughs like she has gold mines in her backyard.
The speaker faces harsh words, harsh looks, and harsh hatred with the same determination. She is never broken, never defeated. Because of the strength of her ancestors and because of the strength within herself—noted in the metaphor of a "black ocean"—she is able to meet every attempt to hold her back with a fierce strength. She will never be defeated or overcome.
She is a strong and proud black woman. And she will always rise.
Maya Angelou's famous poem "Still I Rise" has an empowering, self-assured tone that illustrates and emphasizes how marginalized, oppressed minorities rise up against prejudice and injustice despite their unfortunate circumstances. In the poem, the speaker questions her white oppressors, which include America's racist politicians, the prejudiced justice system, the military, and the police force. Angelou's brilliance is revealed in her ability to take such a sad topic and create sympathy for oppressed minorities while simultaneously illustrating her persistence and hope to overcome her circumstances. Angelou also continually repeats the phrase "Still I'll rise" after each statement addressed to her white oppressors, which illustrates her defiance and triumphant attitude. Her tone expresses her confidence, pride, and power as she vividly describes her glowing personal attributes, which include her haughtiness, sexiness, and laughter. The speaker's playful, confident tone is an expression of hope in response to centuries of oppression and discrimination. She also employs humor by mocking her oppressors at various moments, which adds a playful component to the serious subject matter. Overall, Angelou's famous poem "Still I Rise" utilizes a confident, empowering tone to convey how marginalized, discriminated minorities have hope to challenge and overcome their white oppressors.
No comments:
Post a Comment