Ursula K. Le Guin uses the contrast between the beautiful city of Omelas and the suffering child in “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” to explore deep questions about morality and societal happiness. Omelas is described as a perfect city filled with joy and celebrations. Everyone seems to live in harmony, but the happiness of the entire city depends on the misery of one child locked in a small, dirty room. This stark difference forces readers to think about whether happiness is worth it when it comes at the cost of another’s suffering. One example of this is when the narrator describes the child’s condition in detail. The room…

In Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif,” the lack of clear racial markers helps explore themes like identity, memory, and race. By not telling us whether Twyla and Roberta are black or white, Morrison makes readers confront their own assumptions and biases, showing how our views on race are often subjective. One way Morrison uses this ambiguity is through Twyla and Roberta’s different memories of Maggie, the mute kitchen worker. Twyla remembers Maggie falling, but Roberta says she was pushed by the other girls and even suggests Maggie might have been black. This difference shows how memory can be shaped by our own identities and perceptions, making us question what’s real. Morrison also…

James Baldwin uses the motif of jazz music in Sonny’s Blues to explore themes of identity, community, and the power of artistic expression. Jazz becomes a way for Sonny to express his identity and deal with his struggles, serving as a bridge between his inner pain and the world around him. Early in the story, the narrator doubts Sonny’s desire to become a musician. He views the life of a jazz artist as unstable and risky, fearing it will lead Sonny back into trouble, especially with drugs. For Sonny, however, music is essential. It’s not just a hobby but a way to process his emotions and find meaning, even if…

In Act III of The Tempest, Ariel and Caliban provide contrasting perspectives on servitude and freedom. Ariel serves Prospero willingly in exchange for freedom in the future. This reflects his belief that loyalty and fulfilling obligations will lead to liberation, as Prospero did save Ariel. Caliban, in contrast, despises his servitude and views Prospero as a tyrant who stole his freedom. He seeks to reclaim his autonomy through rebellion, allying with Trinculo and Stephano in a plot to kill Prospero. There is an underlying message which implies that true service and loyalty can only come from someone’s own choice rather than compulsion. Ariel has known what true imprisonment truly feels,…

Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” beautifully explores the interconnectedness of the individual and the collective. Not only through the commute itself, but through the human experience overall. Whitman says “These and all else were to me the same as they are to you, I loved well those cities, loved well the stately and rapid river, The men and women I saw were all near to me.” Our experiences will be shared by those around us, even those in the future long after. Our steps will be retraced, and the places we leave will be filled by others.