“The song is called “Girl on Fire”, by Alicia Keys.
This song portrays women – strong women, who are presented as the unsung heroines of society. They struggle to prove their worth every day in different roles, such as being a mother, as a daughter and as a wife. This song celebrates their achievements and appreciate them for who they are. It describes the women of today’s society and acknowledges them for their willpower and determination. Furthermore, it encourages the audience to also appreciate them for their contributions and hard work.
This song highlights the strength of women, through literary devices, such as metaphors. An example is in this line “Looks like a girl, but she’s a flame”. It compares women to innocent girlhood and to the power of fire at the same time. In other words, it means that on the outside, women may seem weak physically, true to stereotypes about women being the weaker gender in comparison to men. However, there is a twist to it, where women are described as powerful and strong beings on the inside, emotionally and mentally. This is significant, as it tells the audience what the writer believes about women – that they are strong figures who should never be looked down upon. While delivering the message in a very direct manner, it also helps audiences and listeners to break free from the belief in stereotypes about women being weak.
Another example of a literary device used is a hyperbole. An example is in the line “So bright, she can burn your eyes”. It exaggerates the idea of the potential in women. This means that women are actually stronger than many of us think. It describes the supposedly true nature of women as being powerful and almost dominating should they be given the chance to live up to their fullest potential. Through this hyperbole, the writer tells the audience in a subtle way to respect women as part of today’s society, and even to fear them in a positive way. The writer feels that women should never be underestimated in today’s context, as they have as much potential to be as successful as men, even while juggling all their other roles in their families.
The song also places emphasis on the power of women through sensory language, especially through visual imagery.
Visual imagery that places emphasis on “fire” includes lines such as “This girl is on fire”. This is, in fact, repeated throughout the song and it gives the audience a mental image of a girl being literally on fire, yet not being consumed or affected by it at all. It only highlights the determination and power of women and helps the audience to understand the message of this song. Another line that supports this is “Cause they can see the flame that’s in her eyes”. Again, it pictures the powerful nature of women, and how they can be noticed and valued in society.
Additionally, the tone of this song is simply one of pure awe and respect. It is a little moody and serious, to bring across the message in a serious way. It makes the audience feel connected to the song in a way, relating it to themselves or family members. The use of language contributes to the mood of the song, hitting the audience again and again with the message of women being powerful, women being strong, and women being irreplaceable. The metaphors, hyperboles and visual imagery help to bring the same message across, as such a message is not easy to bring out to our modern society. All these paint a picture of how women should definitely be respected for how they are able to cope with family and work at the same time, and how they manage their priorities everyday. It also mentions the dreams they want to fulfill, as seen from “Oh, she got her head in the clouds” and how they will work tirelessly to achieve it, no matter what the cost.
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