Rabbit Proof Fence

Question:

“Once we learn to walk in someone else’s shoes we can truly understand the meaning of freedom”

How have the set texts explored the idea of freedom?

You should refer to examples from all three texts in detail, as well the techniques used by each composer to communicate their ideas.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimari and I have a Dream (speech) by Martin Luther King Jr. all explore the idea of freedom. Freedom is being able to act at will and having social and political liberty. They are all set in the 1930’s when there was great racial inequalities and discrimination in society. To Kill a Mockingbird explores the idea of freedom through the themes of courage, prejudice and symbolism. Rabbit Proof Fence explores freedom through denied freedom and the individual’s journey to obtain it. I have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr is about the desire for freedom by promoting racial acceptance, racial equality and justice for all. These themes are explored through the use of techniques of symbolism, perspective, dramatic incident, dialogue, use of costume, music and character development.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Rabbit Proof Fence and I have a Dream (speech) all explore the courage needed to obtain freedom, both physically and mentally. Courage is the ability to face danger or pain without fear. Freedom is explored in To Kill a Mockingbird through Mrs Dubose’s courage to fight against her morphine addiction in order to be free from it before she dies, even when she knows she will die in the process. Atticus tells his children that despite her faults, Mrs Dubose was the bravest person he knew, for real courage is “…when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what…”. The technique used in this scene is dialogue and character development. Dialogue is used to show Atticus’ respect of Mrs Dubose’s courage in facing death and character development is based on the response of Mrs Dubose’s addiction on the children and how they are able to in some ways