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Analysis Of Spotty Handed Villainesses And Paul Keating's Redfern Speech

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Experience leading to vision is a theme that lends itself to speeches becoming valuable texts. Both the Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s 1994 speech ‘Spotty-handed Villainesses’ and Labour Prime Minister (1991-1996) Paul Keating’s ‘Redfern Speech,’ 1992, challenge audiences’ preconceived often discriminatory, ideas based on experience of minority groups in an attempt to achieve equality. They inspire their audiences for the hope and vision of possible future change. Despite Atwood’s speech targeting middle class women, specifically dealing with feminism, and Keating addressing the largely aboriginal community of Redfern, Sydney, their universal relevance in the ideas they promote demonstrates their textual integrity and ability to transcend their limited contexts, remaining powerful over time. Atwood challenges preconceived beliefs about the role of women in society and …show more content…

He emphasises the unfair treatment of Aboriginals, what has been done in the past and explains why common discriminatory beliefs are held. He uses rhetorical questions, “How would I feel if this were being done to me?” to challenge the way people have thought about this issue. “Imagine if… imagine if… imagine if…” he uses the anaphora also to challenge preconceived ideas and force the audience to realise that what has been done is not fair or equal, this being experience. Using the juxtaposition and opposing binary of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, Keating demonstrates the inequitable treatment Aboriginal people have received compared to what they have given “war… sport… literature… art… music.” Through the use of self-depreciation “our failure” he encourages that what has been done “degraded all of us.” Keating highlights the past marginalisation of Aboriginal Australians and warns of the need for change to provide a better

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