The Poem “Still, I Rise” by Maya Angelou Essay

The person addressed by “you” in the poem is the oppressor of the Woman. The tone of the poem can be described as arrogant. The Woman tells her oppressor that she will rise like dirt despite the unfair treatment she receives. She confronts the oppressor using accusing dialogue. The Woman goes ahead to ask if her arrogance bothers them. The effect they had on her oppressor is that they had surrounded the Woman with despondency. In my view, the tone does not remain consistent. This is because she does not show any hostility to anyone but rather stands steadily in her position, and finally, the tone at the end is joyful and relieved.