The years leading up to the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden were marked by unprecedented change. In the wake of the pandemic and widespread calls for racial and political justice, the United States was undoubtedly divided. During Biden’s inauguration, poet and activist Amanda Gorman stood at the White House to deliver a poem directed to the American people, shedding light on recent turmoil and the new beginning represented by Biden’s presidency. In “The Hill We Climb,” Gorman uses metaphor, anaphora, and symbolism to communicate that America can indeed remain resilient through hardship and work together towards a more unified future. Through this poem, Gorman aims to inspire the American people to reject despair and look towards hope, despite the differences they may share.
At the beginning of her speech, Gorman introduces the issue surrounding her address and illustrates the central idea that as American society has moved far forward, though it is imperfect, people should look to the future and strive to be better. The Trump administration and the controversy surrounding his exit from office following the results of the 2020 election left the country in a state of uncertainty, especially after the January 6th insurrection just 2 weeks prior to the inauguration where she delivered the poem. The audience of her poem consists of the politicians and leaders physically attending Biden’s inauguration, but also the rest of America, waiting to see what the new president will make of this turbulent time. That is why Gorman starts off her speech by asking the audience “Where can we find light in this neverending shade? The loss we carry, a sea we must wade. We’ve braved the belly of the beast […]” Her use of metaphor, comparing the past to a shadow, an ocean to traverse, and a monster to defeat from within highlights her acknowledgement of the turmoil America has gone through in the recent past. But she then contrasts those dark metaphors with light by stating that “the dawn is ours before we knew it, somehow we do it, somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken but simply unfinished.” By first illustrating the hopelessness many Americans feel by comparing it to being unable to find light in the dark, she can seamlessly transition to the next part of her speech by comparing the present to dawn, subtly reminding the audience that what the inauguration stands for is new beginnings and a new future. She then moves on to show how far American society has come by stating that we are now in a time where she as “a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one.” Her use of a personal anecdote connects the audience to her as a person, not just as an inaugural poet. She, the speaker, draws on her past to show America’s alleged great advantage, the dream that keeps immigrants coming here- anyone can be anything they can imagine in the US. She uses her past to show how much progress America has made over time; in a country where less than 200 years ago Black Americans were enslaved, she as a young Black woman is now performing at a presidential inauguration. But she concludes this segment by recognizing the work that Americans still need to do while maintaining her hopeful tone. She asserts that “we are striving to forge a union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all [..] so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another, we seek harm to none and harmony for all.” Her use of anaphora with the word ‘we’ is used to connect herself and her audience, united in their goal of striving for a better future, as well as establishing a steady rhythm in her words. This makes the purpose of what she is saying clear; she wants Americans to unite and leave the country a better place by abolishing division and hate, the very practices that had been on display in the months leading up to this inauguration. Through rhetorical devices like metaphor, anecdotes, and anaphora, Gorman shows the central idea that though American society has made great strides to where it is now, there are still improvements to be made, and we should all try to have hope for the future.
Gorman continues building her claims through the middle of her speech. In this section, she explores how the inauguration is a unique opportunity for America to wield the hardships it has faced in order to rediscover its strength, rebuild its unity, and in turn, foster its progress. To begin developing this idea, Gorman uses anaphora; she urges her fellow Americans to let the world confirm “that even as we grieved, we grew, even as we hurt, we hoped, that even as we tired, we tried.” First, Gorman frames the fragmented state of America through the rest of the world’s perspective. She may have used this strategy to appeal to the prideful nature of the American people, who would naturally want to maintain a strong reputation on the world stage. When she uses anaphora, Gorman confirms that, indeed, the period prior to the inauguration was marked by unprecedented turmoil. But she’s also asserting that the US does not have to come out of it broken. Through these techniques, Gorman starts out outlining one of the most important visions she holds for the American people: for them to see hope in even the most difficult times—to, in that moment, be brought together by all the difficulties they’ve endured rather than torn apart by them. Thereafter, Gorman hones in on a similar vision: an end to pervasive division and distrust in America. Gorman masterfully weaves in the symbol of a biblical vine and fig tree, penning that if America is expected to live up to its full potential, then “victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all of the bridges we’ve made.” Similar to how it is used in the Bible, the vine and fig tree symbolizes an ideal of peace and prosperity. Gorman connects this back to her calls for unity by redefining how peace and prosperity come about in modern times: through “bridges” or connection. Here, Gorman emphasizes the role that togetherness has on the progress of the United States. This is when Gorman finally reveals the “hill we climb,” which is, essentially, a journey towards the unity of the American people, each step upward bringing progress. She alludes to the January 6 Capitol insurrection, and perhaps, the Trump administration, referring to them as forces that “shatter[ed] our nation” and its democracy–forces that “nearly succeeded” in destroying us for good. This not-so-subtle callback to recent examples of upheaval would have been striking to Inauguration Day listeners, as it flawlessly addresses and condemns the most prominent causes of division weighing on American minds at that point in time. This allusion places the entire poem in context, crystallizing the specific forces Gorman’s visions are in direct opposition to. Further, she proceeds to assert that we as a nation–and as a democracy–can “never be permanently defeated” by any of these efforts. In doing so, she defines the insurrection and its various causes not as immovable barricades on the “hill we climb,” but hurdles we can mount and ultimately, overcome on our trek towards a “union with purpose.” Labeling divisive forces in America as “impermanent” emphasizes the nation's intrinsically resilient nature, perhaps setting the stage for her subsequent calls for the American people’s resilience in accord.
Towards the end of the poem, Gorman reestablishes the idea that Americans must embrace the future, acknowledge differences, and unify to overcome difficulties and make progress towards a better country. To support this idea, she uses diction to define America’s current position, explaining that “we did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour but within it we found the power to author a new chapter.” Her unique choice of words serves to place importance on the weight of America’s responsibilities in light of all the social and political division and to evoke a feeling of empowerment amongst her audience. Gorman then proceeds to describe the implications of not taking action as a country, citing that “our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation.” Here, Gorman’s language creates a sense of urgency, which further enhances her claim that the problems faced by present-day America must be confronted and taken in stride to prevent future generations from bearing similar burdens. By presenting the issue directly as she sees it, Gorman forces her audience to think critically about their actions and to understand their role in being the change longed for by America. Gorman then transitions to discuss the need for peoples’ differences to share the limelight, using imagery to depict this contrast: “We will rise from the golden hills of the West; we will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution…” Here, Gorman’s masterful use of language helps to illustrate the importance of diversity within the country and serves as a tool to enhance her call to action. Her ideas about coming together from different geographical regions connect back to her previous dialogue about embracing differences and removing the divide, which is thwarting the country’s ability to progress on a united front. By continuing to reference her earlier notions, Gorman emphasizes the values that she deems significant, and further implants the merits of commitment and resilience in her audience. Finally, Gorman uses symbolism to offer strength and courage, stating that “the new dawn blooms as we free it; there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it.” In this instance, “dawn” and “light” are representative of new beginnings and hope; Gorman uses these symbols to shape her audience’s perceptions to reflect a more optimistic outlook on the future of the country and to give them the confidence to work together and be the change makers that will give purpose to the nation.
Throughout her poem, Gorman uses various devices like metaphor, anaphora, and symbolism to convey both the extensive hardships posed by events prior to the inauguration and the possibility of progress towards a better nation. Through her calls for unity, she instills faith and courage in the American people as they welcome a new presidential administration and embark on a new beginning. After listening to Gorman’s poem, many Americans will feel that the top of “the hill” looks a bit closer and the trek to get there less steep.