In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. LeGuin, the author uses the difference between a happy city and a suffering child to talk about the idea of fairness and what is right or wrong. Omelas is a perfect, joyful place where everyone seems happy. However, the happiness of the city depends on one child who lives in misery, locked away in a dark basement. First, LeGuin describes the happy city of Omelas, with its festivals, music, and celebrations. The people of Omelas enjoy their lives and are full of joy. However, there is a dark secret: all this happiness only exists because one child is suffering…

In Recitatif, Toni Morrison uses ambiguity and the absence of explicit racial markers to explore themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of race. One example of ambiguity is when Twyla and Roberta first meet at the shelter. Hints about their backgrounds, such as Twyla’s mother being “too busy” and Roberta’s family being more “well-off,” Morrison never explicitly states whether they are Black or white. Early on, Twyla mentions how people assumed she and Roberta were of different races, but the story never confirms it. This ambiguity forces readers to question their own assumptions about race and class and highlights how racial identity can be constructed based on appearance or…

Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” masterfully employs ambiguity and the deliberate absence of explicit racial markers to explore themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of race. By presenting the protagonists, Twyla and Roberta, as racially ambiguous, Morrison challenges readers to confront their own assumptions and biases about race, revealing how deeply these influence perceptions of identity and memory. First, Morrison deliberately obscures which character is Black and which is white, forcing readers to rely on stereotypes to fill in gaps. For example, Twyla’s mother is described as someone who “danced all night,” while Roberta’s is ill and religious, with a large cross. These details might lead readers to assign racial identities…

In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” the motif of jazz music serves as a powerful tool through which the author explores themes of identity, community, and artistic expression. Through the character of Sonny, Baldwin delves into the impact music can have on one’s life. Jazz becomes important to Sonny’s identity. It allows him to explore his individuality and express himself. As a young boy, he immerses himself in the world of music, finding solace and purpose in its rhythms and harmonies. His dedication to the piano speaks to his desire to shape his own identity through artistic expression. However, societal pressures and expectations threaten to stifle his creativity. The harsh judgment…

James Baldwin uses jazz music in “Sonny’s Blues” as a central motif to explore themes of identity, community, and the transformative power of artistic expression. Through Sonny’s relationship with jazz, Baldwin illustrates how music becomes a vehicle for self-understanding, connection, and survival. First, jazz serves as a reflection of Sonny’s identity. When Sonny declares his desire to be a musician, he articulates a need to explore and express his inner turmoil. His brother struggles to understand this choice, associating jazz with chaos and irresponsibility. Yet, for Sonny, jazz is not just music—it is a lifeline. It allows him to channel his pain and make sense of his experiences. This is…

In Sonny’s Blues, James Baldwin uses jazz music as a powerful symbol to explore themes of identity, community, and the power of artistic expression. Music, especially jazz, helps the characters express feelings and experiences that words cannot fully capture. Through Sonny’s love of music, Baldwin shows how it can provide a sense of identity and connect people to each other. First, Baldwin uses jazz to highlight Sonny’s struggle for personal identity. Sonny turns to music to express the pain and hardships of his life, particularly his addiction and the struggles of growing up in Harlem. The narrator learns that Sonny’s music is a way for him to communicate his deep…

Toni Morrison utilizes ambiguity by withholding the explicit racial identities of Twyla and Roberta. This forces readers to rely on their own preconceived notions and biases, inviting multiple interpretations of the characters’ racial backgrounds. The opening scene, where Twyla recalls her mother’s comment about the other girls’ unwashed hair and peculiar smell, is begging for racial interpretation. The ambiguity surrounding Twyla’s mother’s racial identity and her attitude toward the other girls further complicates the narrative. Later, as Twyla recollects Roberta’s inability to read but her exceptional skill at jacks, readers may draw parallels to historical contexts of racial inequality in American education, where Black children were often denied access to formal…