Personal Essay: Major Change

Part 1: Question 1

Change affects us all and many paths can be taken to achieve this. "Change is never easy but always worthwhile." This statement holds true to an extent. Firstly, change is caused by many stimuli, whether it is a self change, or change caused by a different factor. In addition, the process of change can be either an easy process, or a difficult process. As mentioned earlier, change can take many paths. So, depending on the situation, the degree of difficulty varies. Finally, change is worthwhile, to an extent. Although most change works out in the end due to adaption to the new environment, sometimes change does not totally work out in the end. The texts used to justify the points mentioned will be The Color Purple (TCP) by Alice Walker, the movie Finding Forrester (FF) directed by Gus Van Sant, and Sky High of the Resource Booklet.

Seeing things from a different point of view can result in an arousal, revival or an epiphany. This is all influenced by one's experience, age, education and mental maturity. Certain composers have encapsulated this statement perfectly through the use of several techniques. Les Murray in his poem "An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow" uses imagery in his language, whereas Keith D Edwards in his online medical journal article "Death in the emergency department: a not so absolutely ordinary rainbow", uses the metaphor of a 'Ned Kelly suit of armour' to describe what he must go through to protect himself from his job becoming too personal. Oodgeroo in her poem "No More Boomerang" uses a set pattern of rhyme scheme to keep interest throughout the poem but also makes comments on the she has changed her perspective along with her fellow indigenous Australians due to external pressure. This is similar in Mohamed H Khadra's essay "What Price Compassion" published as part of the anthology Stories of Manhood where he uses his personal experience and the motif of compassion to put forward his gained knowledge due to his changing perspectives and attempts to change our point of view. These four composers have all been affected by a change in their perspective which has led to create awakenings.

Part 1: Question 2

The concept of changing perspectives carries with it the suggestion that we my see things or perceive things from one point of view, but that by looking at different events, people and ideas from different points of view, we may change our perspective on them. The next two composers by representing their own views also attempt to change the responder's perspectives therefore enlightening them. In Oodgeroo's poem "No More Boomerang" the responder is exposed to the loss of the traditional Indigenous culture due to the colonisation of Australia by the British in 1788.

The cause of the change differs depending on the catalyst of it. In TCP, Celie undergoes change due to her situation. Being an African American woman, she has no respect whatsoever. Early in the story, she is raped by her own step-father ...