Jul 17, 2020

I May destroy you

By Emma Landsburgh and Eleni Kontou

**TRIGGER WARNING: MENTION OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT**

**Spoiler Alert**

Michaela Coel’s new series I May Destroy You has been met with acclaim as the talented writer has woven a plot together that encapsulates the life of a sexual assault survivor. The tv series starts with the main focus being Arabella and her experience with rape. However, the tv series evolves into focusing upon racism, sexual assault laws, the cases reported/charged, microaggressions, and homophobia. The characters within the series become symbolic figures that reflect contemporary life whilst they tackle social media, dating, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexual assault.

Coel details the culture of dating, sex, drugs, and alcohol whilst intertwining it with work, goals, and the character’s relationships. The protagonist Arabella deals with all these whilst struggling with the impact of rape. The tv series delves into the mental and physical impact rape can have on a person, whilst also considering society’s view of rape. Coel ensured to directly tackle the way rape cases are handled with the scenes in the police station, especially once Arabella’s case is closed. The ending of the show makes the viewer realise that, like most rape cases, the rapist has been let off.

The main focus turns to Arabella’s retaking of control, which is symbolically shown in the gender reversal scene. The ending scenes of the show are shockingly brutal and hard hitting, it shows the many different ways in which Arabella is desperate to regain control over her rapist. This man’s face has been haunting her for months, in her fantasies she imagines different scenes in which she takes control of him and the effects it has had on her. She displays the stages of getting over her trauma through her fantasy of finally seeing the rapist in the bar. The bar in which she has been going to for months in the hopes of seeing him. In her first vision she brutally murders her rapist, conveying the stage of anger at getting through her trauma and all that he put her through. In her next fantasy, she consoles the rapist when he breaks down, taking him back to her house to discuss his past. This is another stage of Arabella slowly getting closer to healthier coping mechanisms, it is perhaps seen as bargaining in which she tries to negotiate the details and reasons for why it happened to her. The third vision is more complex, it shows Arabella having sex with the rapist in a role reversal scene. This is where her control is regained, and she finally starts to accept what has happened to her by sending all of the versions of him away at the end. When the vision appears to start again, Arabella takes a different path by choosing not to go to the pub, thus accepting that she needs to try and refocus on herself and her life. The law didn’t provide her justice but through her own actions she has regained control of her life.

The show also addresses society’s approach to rape culture. For example, the condescending manner that Kwame’s case was dealt with and the scene where Zain commits rape by stealthing. This is considered rape in the UK as a non-consensual act happened during sex. However, this is sadly still legal in the United States. The tv series makes the viewer aware of the impact that sex education has upon society as many are unsure of what is consensual and what is not. Not only that, it approaches how the blame is placed upon the victim, especially when Biagio blames Arabella for not looking after herself and for not making sure her drink didn’t get spiked. Often this rhetoric places the blame on women, what they were wearing, how much they had to drink, etc. This is a typical response to somebody being sexually assaulted or raped. Victim blaming is a very real issue that Coel tackles by emphasising the absurdity of Biagio’s claims. She also shows the harmful effects that can become of victim blaming by trying to say that the victim had control all along. Control is a recurring feature throughout the show and exists to signify all the different ways in which certain social and political identities can bring you either privilege or oppression. Coel navigates identities extremely well by exploring how society interacts with them negatively or positively. For example, Zain being given a career under an alias proves that men’s careers are not ended due to accusations. They carry on and thrive, unlike so often the women whose life they damage. Arabella’s contract was ended due to her trauma, but Zain’s career was able to thrive. He went on to sell a novel, albeit under an alias, but he still had his life continue after being outed as a rapist. This shows the different ways in which society discriminates against gender, social class, and the different opportunities presented to them.

Rape by deception is also explored in the show when Terry is tricked into having a threesome with two men who she thinks are strangers to one another. This type of rape is often ignored and not recognised due to the lack of education provided on rape and sexual assault. The lack of knowledge impacted the characters handling of situations throughout, like Kwame deceiving Nilufer. In a way of coping with his own sexual assault Kwame believed that by ignoring his sexuality and sleeping with a woman that he would regain control. The show deals with the blurring of lines when it comes to sex, no one is entirely sure of what is consensual and non-consensual.

Within each episode the tv series impeccably addresses topics that are heavily debated such as abortion. This is briefly spoken about when the viewer realises Arabella had to go through an abortion, as a viewer it has a profound message. In the momentary dialogue Arabella’s flatmate, Ben, asked if she had made a mistake to which Arabella simply said no. This dialogue breaks down the debate surrounding abortion as it shows the necessity of reproductive rights. A topic that is sadly very current, with countries such as Poland recently changing their laws to make abortion available solely to victims of rape, incest, or under extreme medical reasons. I May Destroy You explores the simplicity in allowing women to have abortions through example of Arabella’s experience.

Racism and microaggression is dealt with in the show as it illustrates the damaging ignorance that black people have to deal with daily. From Terry’s first audition and casting’s ignorant approach to her hair and then the company Happy Trees using Arabella in order to gain an audience. This is known as tokenism. Watching it as white women with white privilege, we can never fully understand what black people go through, but this tv series intricately highlights the systemic racism that causes damage and the microaggressions that impact black people’s daily lives. It also highlights the issue of white feminism in the character of Nilufer. She highlights the hypocrisy of white feminists not taking into account the differences that black women face in comparison to white women. Many ‘feminists’ do not take race into account when it comes to feminism because they see it as being solely about gender, however, race is an important part of women’s lives. It dictates whether they have privilege or not. For example, a white woman will not be treated differently for her natural hair, a white woman will not be treated as though they are being aggressive for simply standing up for themselves. There are many issues that black women face that white women simply do not. As there are many issues that black women face that black men do not. As well as the difference in oppression between black women and women of colour. This is why intersectional feminism is needed in order to take into account all identities when discussing gender equality. Coel uses the character of Nilufer in order to portray the hypocrisy and ignorance of white feminism and being fake ‘woke’.

I May Destroy You approaches head on the culture of rape and sexual assault within our society. Coel has written and performed a masterpiece of a show, being able to combine a mixture of people’s experiences while raising awareness about a range of topics. The show brings to light how to make a distinction between consent and exploitation, especially within the contemporary setting. Michaela Coel has been able to cover many different important and hard hitting topics such as racism, rape, sexual assault, drugs, gender, sexuality, white privilege, feminism, mental health, birth control, toxic relationships, social media, society, abortion, and tokenism. Coel provides the audience with a narrative of hard-hitting truth in this powerfully moving and relevant show. Thank you, Michaela Coel.