IntroductionThe conflict between the pursuit of personal desire or the choice to conform is a common human experience that is explored in both Stephen Daldry's film " Billy Elliot" and Margaret Atwood's best-selling novel “A Handmaids Tale”. Both composers present the protagonists with situations of heightened adversity to test character, perseverance and resilience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Individuals are often forced to overcome adversity to experience growth. “Billy Elliot” is no exception: throughout the film Billy is constantly reminded of the gender roles, social expectations, and poverty that characterized the financially stricken and economically weakened era of the 1980s. His father facilitates gender stereotypes and breeds toxic masculinity as he pushes his son into the masculine sport of boxing. As exemplified by the choice of costumes, the boxing gloves hanging around Billy's neck accompanied by his facial expression of utter bluntness reveal to the audience that boxing is not of his interest 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 hall". Billy's feelings of confusion and desperation culminate in the simple but affective phrase "I don't want to box, I want to be a dancer." A close-up of Billy's face along with an uplifting use of lighting captures his passion and his secret desire to express it. As a consequence of Billy's expression, Jacky shows her displeasure when she shouts, "Boys do boxing, football, wrestling, not damn ballet"; the use of swear words reflects 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 results in his growth as a dancer and individual. His transformation is evident through close-ups on Billy's feet at the beginning and end of the film which contrast his dancing skills and depict his evolution as a dancer. His journey is further highlighted through the recurring theme of Swan Lake, which symbolizes his transformation from a naive boy to a refined, world-renowned dancer. Additionally, Daldry uses the pirouette to symbolize the beginning of Billy's journey, describing his initial struggle to both become a classical 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 his overcoming the obstacle of acceptance by his family and society. Offred, the main protagonist of Margaret Atwood's bestselling novel, "The Handmaids Tale", showcases the process of achieving identity against the most extreme odds. She faces great oppression living as a fertile handmaid in the newly formed republic of Gilead. Throughout the novel, Offred displays her resilience as she is able to adapt and overcome every obstacle placed in her path. A struggle with 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 the background context of Billy's family through the use of panning shots and piano symbolism. The piano reflects Billy's bond with his deceased mother,.