Question

describe the metaphor that Winfrey uses toward the end of her speech. Why, do you suppose, she chose this image to represent the #metoo movement? Is it effective

Answer 1

Winfrey makes a reference to the characters she has portrayed throughout her career and how when faced with adversity, they all seemed to share one trait: "the ability maintain hope for a brighter morning even during our darkest nights". She makes a metaphoric use of night and day to signify bad and good times respectively.

She chose to use this metaphor in order to signify the dawn of a new era in which abuse and harassment towards women will no longer be tolerated or excused. In this case, Winfrey implies that the current state of affairs regarding sexual abuse and harassment, especially in the entertainment industry, is like the night, dark and grim. The #metoo movement is represented by the sun in the horizon, as it is meant to signify the social and cultural change that is envisioned.

The metaphor used is very effective because she manages to both acknowledge the current state of the situation and convey a sense of hope for the future.

Answer 2

Winfrey Oprah is the first black woman to receive the award since it was first given out, to DeMille himself, in 1952. During the Golden Globes she gives an important example based on the hidden influence of speaking the truth infact through examples, allusions, and metaphors, she makes an implicit argument that we should speak out.

Even though we might not see a direct impact. In the final paragraph, Winfrey leans heavy on a sunrise metaphor, asking that women maintain hope in a “brighter morning.” This “new day is on the horizon” and when it “finally dawns” then “nobody ever has to say ‘Me too’ again.”

Winfrey never asks listeners directly to have a “Me too” moment. Nevertheless, the argument is quite clear and stronger than any other because in this way it reaches many people that are in front of the television that special night .

Using induction through examples and metaphors, Winfrey invites listeners to risk speaking their truth, even if they can’t see the impact of doing so.

I think that this is a useful and important moment because when we use a method like this, I suppose that context helps a lot and the words will remain impressed in audience’s memory and history.