The enduring value of speeches lies in its ability to evoke emotions and persuade audiences with conviction while addressing controversial and complex issues. This is explored in Margaret Atwood’s speech, “Spotty Handed Villainess” (1994) and Doris Lessing’s speech, “On not winning the Nobel Prize” (2007) which heavily explores the differences between first world and third world countries. Both these composers address the issues of injustices in their society and they are driven to deliver their speeches with the desire the challenge the audience’s perceptions and shift their understanding of the world. Atwood’s speech was published after the third wave feminism which embraces contradictions and conflicts, accommodating for diversity and change,
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Lessing encourages the audience to appreciate what they are given. Zimbabwe’s education facilities are also heavily juxtaposed to that of London, “school in blowing dust (….) library may be a plank of wood on bricks, under a tree.” And “library bigger than a supermarket” the contrast reinforces the struggle of social criticism in the impoverished world, the imagery of “school in blowing dust” enhances our understanding of the extremely harsh conditions the less fortunate individuals are forced to learn in, supporting the idea of social criticism. Furthermore, Lessing states, “There is a gap. There is the difficulty” the truncated sentence elucidates her absolute dissatisfaction of the unavoidable inequality on two different sides of the world. Her use of pathos and anaphora of “there is” reinforces the current global issues of social inequality, she speaks with conviction to encourage her audience of intellects to not take things for granted, and take into consideration those who have none and are constantly begging for the human need for …show more content…
Atwood’s contrast between the role of male and females is further elucidated in the statement, “her job is to run away or else to combat sharks, displaying courage and fortitude, or else cowardice and stupidity (…) Once upon a time, the first would have been probably, but times have changed (…) other possibilities have now entered the picture”. The contrast in roles then and now reinforces the impacts of the third wave feminist movement, accommodating change and challenging the views of women in fiction and in society. The fairytale reference “Once upon a time” also suggests that previously before the feminism movements, women were perceived as being simplistic and vulnerable. However this is does not accurately depict women, hence Atwood felt the desire to change the representation of women in literature, and make it more realistic. Speakers are able to make their audiences understand the concerns they address in their speeches, as evident through Atwood’s effective use of language, persuading the audience to shift their views on women in fiction
Lessing encourages the audience to appreciate what they are given. Zimbabwe’s education facilities are also heavily juxtaposed to that of London, “school in blowing dust (….) library may be a plank of wood on bricks, under a tree.” And “library bigger than a supermarket” the contrast reinforces the struggle of social criticism in the impoverished world, the imagery of “school in blowing dust” enhances our understanding of the extremely harsh conditions the less fortunate individuals are forced to learn in, supporting the idea of social criticism. Furthermore, Lessing states, “There is a gap. There is the difficulty” the truncated sentence elucidates her absolute dissatisfaction of the unavoidable inequality on two different sides of the world. Her use of pathos and anaphora of “there is” reinforces the current global issues of social inequality, she speaks with conviction to encourage her audience of intellects to not take things for granted, and take into consideration those who have none and are constantly begging for the human need for …show more content…
Atwood’s contrast between the role of male and females is further elucidated in the statement, “her job is to run away or else to combat sharks, displaying courage and fortitude, or else cowardice and stupidity (…) Once upon a time, the first would have been probably, but times have changed (…) other possibilities have now entered the picture”. The contrast in roles then and now reinforces the impacts of the third wave feminist movement, accommodating change and challenging the views of women in fiction and in society. The fairytale reference “Once upon a time” also suggests that previously before the feminism movements, women were perceived as being simplistic and vulnerable. However this is does not accurately depict women, hence Atwood felt the desire to change the representation of women in literature, and make it more realistic. Speakers are able to make their audiences understand the concerns they address in their speeches, as evident through Atwood’s effective use of language, persuading the audience to shift their views on women in fiction