In Recitatif, Toni Morrison uses ambiguity in the form of a missing outward trait—the race of individuals—to discuss themes of identity, memory, and intricacies in issues of race. Morrison gives her readers no racial clarity, provides them no racial detail to be racist or unbiased, and in doing so makes the point racial identities are not also fixed; they are constructed. Three examples underscore these dynamics. First, the bond of friendship that exists between Twyla and Roberta defies any clear determinants of race. Morrison states they are of different races, but she never says which character is black and which one is white. For example, Twyla remembers her mother was…

James Baldwin in his Sonny’s Blues applies jazz music as a recurring theme to convey messages relating to self, society, and the impact of art on individuals. Sonny’s inner self, his battles within, and his eventual completion are all illustrated through jazz, which helps him build a bond with himself as well as others. Baldwin emphasizes the ability of music to help Sonny cope with his inner self and his story through Sonny’s use of jazz. Sonny, for instance, depicts jazz in the process of identifying his brother’s reasons for his performance: Why does he play the music? It appears that it gives him order and alleviates his malaise. The…

Act I of The Tempest opens with a brushed-up portrayal of a shipwreck emphasizing the characters’ incapacity to read what nature will throw at them and serving in some way as a prelude to the emotional conflict to come. The undertone of moral degradation, in this case, usurpation of power by individual Prospero, is uncovered as he recounts how he became the Duke of Milan together with his daughter Miranda. When there is a struggle within her to seek freedom from Prospero, Ariel’s appearance makes the contradiction between liberty and servitude very clear. The pull of Caliban’s entrance also broadens the naive humanistic approaches to power, with the uprise aside.…

In Act II of The Tempest, several key themes emerge through the characters’ interactions. Gonzalo tries to uplift Alonso, who is feeling defeated after the shipwreck, showcasing a sense of optimism amid despair. He presents an idealistic vision of a society free from hierarchy and servitude, which foreshadows the play’s exploration of power dynamics. Meanwhile, Antonio and Sebastian plot to assassinate Alonso while the others are asleep, highlighting themes of betrayal and ambition, as Antonio continues to demonstrate his treachery. Caliban’s curses against Prospero reveal his deep resentment and emphasize themes of colonization and the exploitation of native peoples. Caliban’s mocking celebration of his “freedom” with Stephano and Trinculo both…

In Act III of The Tempest, Shakespeare explores servitude and freedom through Ariel and Caliban, who both serve Prospero but in contrasting ways. Ariel loyally follows Prospero’s commands with the hope of eventual freedom, seeing his service as temporary and bound to a promise. Caliban, however, resents Prospero’s control, viewing him as a usurper and seeking liberation through rebellion, even conspiring with Stephano and Trinculo. Ariel’s hopeful obedience contrasts with Caliban’s bitterness, highlighting two responses to servitude—one motivated by loyalty and future freedom, the other by defiance and a desire for independence.