"Hanging Fire" by Audre Lorde write about the rites of passage that individuals in the selections confront. Provide evidence by including names of characters as well as specific details from the text to support your claim.
In "Hanging Fire" by Audre Lorde, the speaker, a young girl, is going through various rites of passage as she navigates her life.
Firstly, the poem illustrates the speaker's confrontation with the changes in her physical appearance, a common aspect of adolescence. The line "I am fourteen" suggests her age, and she expresses her concern about her height by saying, "My age is the same as Larry's/ last birthday party." This indicates her awareness of her growing body and the importance she places on reaching a certain height.
Another rite of passage the speaker experiences is her longing for romantic relationships. She mentions wanting a boyfriend and being preoccupied with her appearance, stating, "I have nothing to wear tomorrow/will I live long enough/to grow up?" The emphasis on her clothing and her desire to grow up highlights her yearning for maturity and the initiation into the world of romantic experiences.
The speaker also confronts the rites of passage related to finding her identity and expressing her individuality. She admits, "I have nothing to say," indicating her struggle to find her own voice and assert herself among her peers and in society. Furthermore, the line "I have to learn how to dance" reveals her desire to participate in conventional activities and conform to societal expectations of femininity and societal rituals.
Additionally, the mention of the speaker's mother being "...drinking beer /and smoking cigarettes," suggests a rite of passage and the idea of passing down certain behaviors or habits from one generation to another. The speaker's observation of her mother engaging in these activities highlights her awareness and understanding of the adult world and the complexities of adult actions and choices.
Through the speaker's reflections, "Hanging Fire" depicts the numerous rites of passage that individuals confront during their journey towards adulthood. The specific details and the mention of characters such as Larry and the speaker's mother support the portrayal of these rites and emphasize the speaker's emotional and psychological growth and development.
In Audre Lorde's poem "Hanging Fire," the speaker shares her adolescent struggles and the rites of passage she confronts. Let's analyze the poem to find evidence of these rites of passage and the specific details that support this claim.
1. The speaker's changing body:
- In the second stanza, the speaker mentions "my breasts sprouting hair." This physical change signifies the beginning of puberty and the transition into womanhood. It is a common rite of passage that individuals face during adolescence.
2. The speaker's concerns about her appearance:
- In the third stanza, the speaker states, "I have nothing to wear tomorrow." This line reflects the typical teenage worry about clothing and appearance. It shows the speaker's preoccupation with fitting in, which is another aspect of the rites of passage that individuals often confront during their teenage years.
3. The speaker's struggle with loneliness and isolation:
- Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses her feelings of isolation and disconnection. In the first stanza, she mentions how "no one ever listens to me." This sense of loneliness is a common experience during adolescence when individuals often feel like their thoughts and emotions aren't understood or acknowledged by others.
4. The speaker's contemplation of death:
- In the fourth stanza, the speaker says, "I have to learn how to dance in time for the next party." This line reflects the pressure the speaker feels to live up to social expectations and fit in. The use of the word "have to" suggests that there is a sense of urgency or obligation. The speaker's desire to learn how to dance could symbolize the need to learn the skills and behaviors expected in society, which is another aspect of the rites of passage.
Overall, "Hanging Fire" presents multiple rites of passage that the speaker confronts during adolescence, including physical changes, concerns about appearance, feelings of loneliness, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The specific details from the text support these claims and provide evidence of these rites of passage.