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…

In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” Ursula K. Le Guin uses the stark contrast between the idyllic city of Omelas and the suffering child to explore the ethics of societal happiness and the nature of morality. Le Guin presents Omelas as a utopian paradise, where the people live joyful, harmonious lives without suffering or poverty. However, this happiness is revealed to depend on the horrific suffering of an innocent child. Through this contrast, Le Guin invites readers to confront the troubling implications of a society that relies on sacrifice and raises questions about collective happiness and moral responsibility. Three examples in the story highlight this contrast and its…

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.