IntroductionThe conflict between the pursuit of personal desire or the choice to conform is a common human experience that is explored in both the film “Billy Elliot” by Stephen Daldry and in that of Margaret Atwood. bestselling novel “A Handmaids Tale”. Both composers present the protagonists with situations of heightened adversity to test their character, perseverance, and resilience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Individuals are often forced to overcome adversity in order to experience growth. "Billy Elliot" is no exception: Throughout the film, Billy is constantly reminded of the gender roles, societal expectations, and poverty that characterized the financially and economically weakened era of the 1980s. His father facilitates stereotypes of gender and breeds toxic masculinity by pushing his son towards the male sport of boxing. As evidenced by the choice of costumes, the boxing gloves hanging around Billy's neck accompanied by his completely frank facial expression reveal to the audience that boxing is not of interest to him but rather a burden. Frustrated by Billy's inability to conform and meet expectations. George expresses his disappointment “you are a disgrace to the gloves, to your father and to the traditions of this boxing gym”. Billy's feelings of confusion and despair culminate in the simple but affecting phrase "I don't want to box, I want to be a ballet dancer." A close-up of Billy's face along with an inspiring use of lighting captures his passion and secret desire to express it. Due to Billy's expression, Jacky shows his displeasure when he shouts, "Boys do boxing, football, wrestling, not bloody ballet", the use of profanity reflects and highlights the society's attitude towards those who challenge the gender stereotypes of the time. Billy ignores the stigma surrounding male dancing and replaces his gloves with ballet shoes. This final act concludes his journey to enlightenment and culminates in his growth as a dancer and individual. His transformation is evident through the close-ups on Billy's feet at the beginning and end of the film, contrasting with his dancing abilities and illustrating his evolution as a dancer. His journey is further highlighted through the recurring theme of Swan Lake which symbolizes his transformation from a naive young boy into a refined and world-renowned ballet dancer. Additionally, Daldry uses the pirouette to symbolize the beginning of Billy's journey, depicting his initial struggle to become a ballet dancer and receive recognition from his family. The juxtaposition between his pirouette at the beginning and end of the film signifies not only his growth as a dancer, but also the overcoming obstacle of acceptance by family and society. Offred, the main protagonist of Margaret Atwood's bestselling novel, "The Handmaids Tale." , presents the process of acquiring identity in the face of the most extreme adversity. She faces great oppression and lives as a fertile servant in the new republic of Gilead. Throughout the novel, Offred shows her resilience as she is able to adapt and overcome any obstacles placed in her path. A struggle against adversity increases an individual's maturity and has the potential to change their perception of the world around them. In “Billy Elliot,” Daldry provides the audience with contextual background about Billy’s family through the use of panning shots and piano symbolism. The piano reflects the bond between Billy and his mother.