Year 12-English-Invictus & Ransom -A

Both texts showcase words as a powerful weapon that is used to transform and build up
individuals through the toughests of trials.Similarly, Mandela’s speech-for the NSC committee to
restore the name and emblem of the Springboks- influenced a transformation among the group
from a ‘unanimous vote’ to ‘twelve’ voting against the regime. As the shot becomes tighter,
Mandela inspires the group through his experience of ‘stud[ying]’ the Afrikaners in prison, and
how ‘build[ing] the nation’ should be a higher priority than ‘petty revenge’. Mandela encourages
the group to ‘be better’ and ‘surprise’ the Afrikaners by coming together to bind the nation.
Through Mandela’s speech, many frustrated black NSC committee members saw the truth
behind Madiba’s words and realized the importance of their action in this time.Through
language,in Ransom, Somax is an influential figure who transformed the king from living a life of
ritual to living one with purpose and intention. Somax’s guilt and grief for his son’s death made
Priam reflect on the true affection he thought he had for his sons that had died over the ‘last
months and years’. Priam had never had the ‘memory’ or pleasures Somax experienced as a
father such as ‘wiping the milk from [their] mouths’ or seeing any of them ‘sweating and racked
with fever’ as such ‘violent intimacy’ was barely ‘within his comprehension’. As Somax talked,
readers see a shift within Priam as he realizes he has been ‘saved something’ for his new life as
he steps into a more active role as a father with the first task to ransom Hector’s body.
Unknowingly, Somax’s simple words transformed Priam role as a father as he became a ‘man
remade’ realizing the great importance and responsibility it held.Words and stories hold
incredible power to transform and influence individuals to act in a reverse and new manner than
before which was evidently seen in both texts.

CONTRASTINGLY Ransom and Invictus both present words as a destructive force that can
devastate and haunt individuals and can bring the greatest despair.Invictus displays how past
experiences can lead to prolonged hatred for a certain group such as Jason’s disgust for the
white population. Jason’s exclusive language as he distressingly complains about how ‘they’
‘once tried to kill us’ and ‘often succeeded’. Jason represents the fear one has due to carrying
degrading words spoken to him the past-due to certain characteristics he holds-and these words
and experiences greatly affect the words we speak in the future.The diffuse lighting in the scene
highlights Mandela fatherly concern as he teaches Jason that the words that were spoken need
to be forgotten as ‘reconciliation starts here’. Jason bitterly agreed as he understood that
forgiveness is a more stronger weapon against the destructive force of words and holding
grudges is the intention of the white population. In Ransom, as Achilles killed Hector-Hector
tormented Achilles as he took the ‘last of his breath’ and spoke his final words- where he said
Achilles ‘will not long outlive [him]’ as in Phthia they are ‘preparing to mourn’. This statement
troubled Achilles as he realized his fate was inevitable and with the killing of Hector, he
symbolically defiled his own body foreshadowing his own death. Achilles ‘soul change[d] colour’
afterwards as he watched ‘himself like a dead man’ troubled by the affirmation by Hector whose
voice was replaced by ‘the voice of a god’, sealing his destiny. Through this, readers are given a
glimpse into Achilles’ twisted mindset-where these words continue to worry him- as he waits for
his inescapable death and even with some change in fate, his predestined death is guaranteed.
Collectively, both these texts struggle with the destruction of words and the healing process
from such deep wounds can be difficult but worthwhile.
The power behind words can incite action and motivate individuals to do the unexpected and
change history through their conduct. In Ransom, Priam had suffered from the bitter knowledge
that the gods had complete power over his existence and he surrendered living as the ‘royal
symbol’ at the centre of his kingdom, but the idea of ‘chance’, the embedded word, from Iris
proved irresistibility alluring. One word made Priam feel ‘bold’ and ‘defiant’-a sensation ancient
Greeks rarely felt due to the belief behind ‘free will’- but he accepted the workings of fate and
the interference of the gods as he followed his gut instinct on his journey to ransom Hector’s
body. Iris’ choice of words, opened a pathway for Priam by speaking one influential word which
urged him to act surprisingly-thereby changing his course of his life forever- bringing a new-
found appreciation and wonder for the future this ‘uninhabited’ lifetime held. Similarly,Invictus
displays two forms of expression that provoke action among the characters. The soft window
lighting in this scene suggests the immense potential for such soft-spoken words by Mandela to
penetrate and transform Francois. Mandela and Francois assert how the words in both the
Invictus poem and song on the bus instigate action and force the protagonists to strive for
success and achieve the impossible. The poem helped Mandela to ‘stand’ when all he wanted
to do was ‘lie down’ and the song for the rugby team helped them to ‘prepar[e]’ them before
their various match. The word ‘stand’ is a metaphor first for Mandela, then for South Africa and
he is ‘stand[ing]’ for a united South Africa built on reconciliation- a very new idea indeed after
the destructive apartheid era. Both these devices which were filled with inspirational words
proved as mechanisms for Mandela and Francois to perform and move forward- even though
life was difficult in that season- further influencing others around them through to persevere.
Both texts shone a light on how words can inspire individuals to act unpredictably- when
feelings and the struggles of life stand in the way- and how this undertaking can motivate others
to do the same.