The Ocean
By Nathaniel Hawthorne

“The Ocean has its silent caves,
Deep, quiet, and alone;
Though there be fury on the waves,
Beneath them there is none.

The awful spirits of the deep
Hold their communion there;
And there are those for whom we weep,
The young, the bright, the fair.


Calmly the wearied seamen rest
Beneath their own blue sea.
The ocean solitudes are blest,
For there is purity.

The earth has guilt, the earth has care,
Unquiet are its graves;
But peaceful sleep is ever there,
Beneath the dark blue waves.”

Nathanial Hawthorn begins with the first stanza of the poem, “The Ocean has its silent caves, / Deep, quiet, and alone.” He is describing the “silent caves” of the ocean, emphasizing the vast emptiness of its waters. “Though there be fury on the waves, / Beneath them there is none,” is comparing the rough, wild, and wavy appearance of the ocean from above shore to the reality of peace and calm underneath. “The awful spirits of the deep / Hold their communion there,” is referring to the deep sea being the resting place of spirits or those who have passed away. “And there are those for whom we weep, / The young, the bright, the fair,” mentions that the dead we mourn didn’t deserve to pass away. They were bright, smart, and young, taken too soon. “Calmly the wearied seamen rest / Beneath their own blue sea,” describes how the sailors that have passed away rest peacefully in the ocean because it is where they consider home. “The ocean solitudes are blest, / For there is purity,” refers to those who rest alone in the sea. They get to be alone and have a unique experience of an afterlife in the calm tranquility of the deep ocean (in purity). “The earth has guilt, the earth has care, / Unquiet are its graves,” compares death on earth to death at sea. Where the ocean is peaceful, the earth is busy. There are always people passing away. We lay them to rest in graves full of others that are deceased. “But peaceful sleep is ever there, / Beneath the dark blue waves,” emphasizes the serene space and vastness of the deep sea. Those who pass on earth don’t get to rest as peacefully as in the depths of the empty ocean.

The theme of this poem is the tranquility of the deep sea.
Hawthorn capitalizes “Ocean” in the first line, giving the word much significance in reference to the rest of the poem. Hawthorn uses a lot of descriptive language to paint the central image of the deep ocean. He mentions its “silent caves” and describes it as “deep, quiet, and alone” in lines 1 and 2 to emphasize the vastness. He calls it the “blue sea” (line 10) and mentions its “dark blue waves” (line 16). In line 3, “Though there be fury on the waves, / Beneath them is none,” creates a distinct image of the rough waves above the ocean’s surface. In line 11, “The ocean solitudes are blest, / For there is purity,” portrays the pure peace of the deep resting place. Hawthorn uses “peaceful sleep” in line 15 as a metaphor for death. Hawthorn also uses assonance continuously throughout the poem. At the end of every other line, there are repeating vowel sounds that rhyme. For example, lines 1 and 3 end with “caves” and “waves”, and lines 2 and 4 end in “alone” and “none.”

The musical theme I’ve decided to create a playlist around is world peace. All of the songs I’ve included below promote peace and equality for everyone or discuss how we must work together to make this world a better place. This theme has relevance to me because peace amongst all is something I strongly believe in and wish this world could achieve someday. I chose this theme because I believe spreading the message of peace is extremely important. I think each one of these songs are very inspiring and present great examples for why we must unite together for more love and less hate.

The lyrics of “Imagine” by John Lennon encourage the listener to envision a world of peace and unity, with no heaven or hell, no countries, no religion, no reason to kill or die, no possessions, no greed or hunger. Lennon wants to create an image of a world with no barriers/borders that separate people or make them fight. He wants us to picture the world coming together as one. He ends each verse with words like, “Imagine all the people living life in peace,” or, “Imagine all the people sharing all the world.” He finally closes the song out with, “You may say I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one / I hope someday you’ll join us / And the world will live as one.” This song inspires listeners to share the world and come together in peace.

The music behind the inspiring lyrics of “Imagine” is composed of, what sounds like, just piano, drums, and violin. The lyrics and piano chords could be considered the main components of the melody, where the drum beats and violin are the harmonies behind working with them. This song has a fairly slow (lento/largo) and consistent tempo. I believe it has a degree of consonance because the tones together are soft, easeful, and pleasing. Because of the slow tempo, simple melody, and inspiring lyrics “Imagine” invokes a calm and tranquil emotion. Although it is in the rock genre, I think it would be better considered as soft rock because of the serene effect it gives off. I think the style of this piece of music helps to emphasize the heartening and serious message behind it.

Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” focuses on the wrong and hate that is occurring in the world today and how we must reverse it with the power of love, not war. Gaye sings, “Mother, mother / There’s too many of you crying / Brother, brother, brother / There’s far too many of you dying.” He stresses the struggle and sadness that mothers must face when losing a child in war. Gaye preaches that there is too much murder, hate, pain, and loss in the world. “You see war is not the answer / For only love can conquer hate,” Gaye emphasizes the importance and power of coming together in peace and loving each other to overcome the hate.

“What’s Going On” features many different instruments including the saxophone, bass, piano, keyboard, and drums. The song has a moderate tempo, not slow, but not extremely fast. It is consonant because the tones work together in a pleasing way. The main elements of the melody would be the moving lyrics and the strong bass strums and drums. The keyboard and saxophone compliment the other sounds in the background, creating a beautiful harmony of instruments together. This piece invokes a soothing mood. The smooth rhythm of sound makes you want to sway along to the music. This song falls under the category of rhythm and blues, so the effect it has fits with the classic “feel good” vibes of that genre.

“We Shall Be Free” by Garth Brooks spreads the message that we, as humanity, will be free once we have reached peace among the world. In the lyrics, Brooks mentions that we shall be free when the starving are no longer hungry, when the poorest of people have shelter, when we stop judging people based off the color of their skin, and when the air and oceans are clear of pollution. This song is spreading the ultimate message of peace in the world. Brooks includes that people are allowed to love whomever they choose. We need to be open and accepting of all different views. It’s important to welcome everyone and treat people equally. Brooks states in the last verse, “When there’s only one race and that’s mankind / Then we shall be free.” I believe this song’s message is one of the most valuable to everyone. To achieve peace in the world, we have to accept and love each other.

“We Shall Be Free”’s instrumentation includes a variety of instruments like guitar, bass, piano, tambourine, and drums. Brooks’ voice stands out as the main melody of the piece. There are beautiful background singers that harmonize with him throughout the song. This song has a fairly quick tempo. It’s more upbeat compared to the other songs featured in this playlist. The tones in this song work well together and create a very pleasing sound, resulting in a high degree of consonance. The fast pace and use of instruments, like the tambourine, invoke an uplifting emotion in listeners.

The lyrics of “Changes” by Tupac Shakur spread a message about the need for justice, equality, and peace in this world, especially for the black race. Tupac says, “I see no changes,” referring to the current presence of racism in the United States even after the Civil Rights Movement. The chorus repeats, “That’s just the way it is / Things’ll never be the same.” Throughout the song’s verses, Tupac highlights different challenges that African-Americans face that should no longer occur. Towards the end of the song he says, “We gotta make a change / It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes / Let’s change the way we eat / Let’s change the way we live / And let’s change the way we treat each other.” Tupac stresses the importance of treating everyone equally, but to reach peace among all, we must work together.

“Changes” is a representation of the hip-hop genre with its instrumentation consisting of beats made by the piano, keyboard, and drums. The piano notes are widely recognized amongst many as well as the chorus, so they could be considered the melody. “Changes” has a quick tempo. The lyrics and music are relatively fast-paced. The tones working together result in a pleasing sound, giving this song consonance. Although this song has a smooth rhythm and lyrics that flow, the quick pace and strong, firm tone of Tupac’s voice give off a serious emotion. It poses many harsh, but real situations that emphasize the need for equality and peace for this world. I believe the emotion of this piece is effective for its intended message.

In “One Day,” Matisyahu expresses his hope that one day there will be no hate or violence and we will live in a world of peace and love. In the chorus, he says, “All my life I’ve been waiting for / I’ve been praying for / For the people to say / That we don’t wanna fight no more / There will be no more wars / And our children will play.” He then repeats, “One day, one day, one day.” Matisyahu hopes that one day negativity will be eliminated and there will be no violence, no war, and no hate. He sings, “One day this all will change / Treat people the same / Stop the violence / Down with the hate // One day we’ll all be free / And proud to be / Under the same sun / Singing songs of freedom like…” He then repeats the chorus. Matisyahu hopes that in the future things will change and we will all live together in harmony and peace.

“One Day” is an inspiring song that falls under a few different genres. The instrumentation is composed of guitar, keyboard, violin, and drums. Matisyahu’s strong vocals are recognized as the melody of the piece. The tempo is moderate and consistent. This song has a high degree of consonance because of the pleasing way the different tones flow together. The medium tempo and inspiration lyrics create a relaxing vibe. However, the passion that is felt through Matisyahu’s voice and words is very moving and inspirational.

“Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas questions what is wrong with this world. It questions where is the peace and where is the love? Many issues that we face as a society are discussed including hypocrisy, terrorism, discrimination, racism, war, pollution, crime, etc. The song mentions, “Whatever happened to the values of humanity? / Whatever happened to the fairness and equality? Instead of spreadin’ love we spreadin’ animosity / Lack of understandin’ leading us away from unity.” This song discusses how we, as humanity, are steering in the wrong direction. Instead of spreading positivity and love, we spread bad values and negativity. The pre-chorus sings, “People killin’, people dyin’ / Children hurt and you hear them cryin’ / Will you practice what you preach? / Or would you turn the other cheek? / Father, Father, Father help us / Send some guidance from above / These people got me, got me questionin’” Then the chorus repeats, “Where is the love?” This makes us question ourselves. We ask “Where is the love?” because love in this world can’t be found, it’s missing. We must join together to stop the numerous issues we face from happening and to bring love and peace to all.

“Where is the Love?” is a smooth sounding song with powerful lyrics. It features instruments such as the guitar, bass, drums, and violin. The bass chords can be easily recognized as the melody of this song. It has a slower tempo compared to other songs by the Black Eyed Peas. The music is relatively slow while the lyrics remain at a moderate pace. The softer, slower music in the background helps to emphasize the powerful lyrics. The tones of the music and vocals come together to create a pleasing and smooth sound, making the song consonant. Behind the main vocals are background vocals that create a constant harmony. The slow music and powerful lyrics invoke an inspired emotion. Although the song presents a serious message, the music gives a more light-hearted effect.

The piece of domestic architecture that I am most familiar with is my home. I’ve lived in this space since the day I was born. Every day I leave to go about my daily routine and every day I return when I’ve completed my tasks. It might be difficult for me to be unbiased when discussing how I feel about this space because it is the place I’ve called home for forever (so far).

The interior of my house is relatively small compared to most homes. The living room comes first upon entrance. It flows directly into the dining room and kitchen with no walls separating the different “rooms.” The only thing that seems to divide the distinct spaces is a slight difference in flooring materials and furniture function. For example, it’s obvious where the kitchen is because there is tile floor instead of hardwood, and it’s obvious where the living room is compared to the dining room because there are couches, a coffee table, and a television, rather than a dining table and chairs. On one side of the main open space is the master bedroom and bathroom and on the other side is two smaller bedrooms with another bathroom. All of the different bedrooms and bathrooms are divided by walls, each having their own door to enter. The house is surrounded by many windows and a large glass door in the back.

I believe the way my house is divided helps to make the small space feel larger and more open. The windows also create a bigger illusion because of the natural light that comes through. I think it does serve its function as a domestic space because of the open design that creates a suitable environment for families to spend time together. It seems like wherever you are in the main area, whether it be the kitchen or the living room, you are still together because it’s all conjoined. I think the openness of the space makes it feel homey, welcoming, and bright. If a stranger were to enter for the first time, they might have a different opinion because there is still not a large amount of square footage. Although it is open, I feel like it still has a sense of privacy with the bedrooms being separate. In my opinion, that is the ideal concept for a home. I like having my visitors feel welcome, but I enjoy having my bedroom kept personal and private. The space doesn’t feel run down. It is a pretty ordinarily designed house, so it’s not very unique. The interior colors are all neutral. The walls are simple shades of white, beige, and gray. The floors, whether hardwood or tile, are different tones of brown. There are no unique textures, just plain walls, plain floors, and a plain ceiling. In my opinion, I prefer a domestic space to be more basic and not too over the top. If my house was very colorful or extravagant, to me, it wouldn’t feel like home.

One of my favorites places to go in my free time, especially as a college student, is Starbucks. I like to study, write, or read there because I prefer the background noise of a busy environment. Starbucks serves the function of a coffee shop. The interior of my local Starbucks is similar to my domestic space because it is also an openly designed concept. As soon as you enter, you can see every part of the store. It could be considered even more open than my house because it is a larger size. It isn’t divided at all. The only part of the space that is separated by other walls are the bathrooms. Even the kitchen area is open, however still inaccessible to the public because of the counters blocking passage. I believe that my local Starbucks serves it’s function well. I don’t think that a coffee shop should have a closed or complicated layout. I feel like an open concept is certainly more inviting and welcoming to new customers. It doesn’t feel cramped or uncomfortable at all because it is basically one big room. Although it is open like my house, it is different because it doesn’t have as many windows. It only has two on the storefront that don’t allow as much natural light through the building. The lack of sun actually gives the space a more cozy and intimate feel. The Starbucks interior is not a unique space at all. It has an extremely basic shape and structure. It is similar to my house because of the neutral shades throughout the area. However, Starbucks uses a darker color palette. The darker colors add to the intimate effect of the space.

I don’t necessarily prefer one space over the other because I have found so many similarities between the two. I like how both of them have basic structures with an open feeling. Although Starbucks isn’t as bright as my house, I still think it is a welcoming environment. I enjoy the simple spaces of both.

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(The images show the open concept and simple interior structure of the Starbucks shop.)

After looking for local sculptures to go out and analyze, I realized I had the perfect one in the back of my mind the entire time. This sculpture is titled Thomas A. Edison “The Wizard.” It is located on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Florida. I walk past this statue almost every day and have never thought twice about it. However, now after taking some time to truly view this sculpture, to participate with it in a new way, and after some online research, I’ve found a new perspective.

“Education is Our Brightest Light”

This work was created in 2006 by a local Fort Myers sculptor Don, otherwise known as D.J., Wilkins. At first glance, the sculpture can be seen portraying Thomas Edison standing with a cane and holding a silver ball. Upon further inspection, two plaques can be found surrounding the statue. There is one on the floor in front of it and one on a stand beside it. The first plaque on the floor features the title, states that the painting was dedicated November 14, 2006, and that Orvall McClearly donated it to the college. It also features a quote at the end, “Education Is Our Brightest Light,” that helps to emphasize the purpose of this sculpture. The second silver plaque states the title again and includes some information about the statue and Edison’s relation to the college and education. “Thomas Edison’s great enthusiasm for reading, experimentation, and entrepreneurship are as inspiring as his diverse interests and love of adventure. Edison State College is proud to share the Edison name and entrepreneurial spirit it represents.” It also credits the artist, Don Wilkins, at the end.

This sculpture’s subject is the famous American inventor, Thomas Edison. He once resided here in the Fort Myers area, and his estate still remains for people to visit and tour. The purpose of this sculpture is relatively clear. It was made to honor and memorialize Edison for his status as one of America’s greatest inventors. The title even refers to Edison as “The Wizard,” emphasizing his scholarly brains and brightness. The surrounding plaques help recognize the purpose. The silver plaque next to the sculpture states, “The silver ball in his hand is emblematic of Edison’s remarkable mind. It spins, signifying his relentless intellectual curiosity and willingness to examine a problem from all sides.”

Thomas A. Edison “The Wizard” is an important piece of art for the community. It is located in Fort Myers, Florida where Edison’s estate is popular. It is on the campus of Florida Southwestern State College which was formerly called Edison State College, named after Thomas Edison. The sculpture’s location and depiction of Edison indicate its correlation to the value of education and intellect. Again, the statue’s plaques help to further express the significance of its meaning within the community. The floor plaque features a short quote, “Education Is Our Brightest Light.” This quote illustrates education as one of the most important things that guide this community (our brightest light). The standing plaque states, “‘The Wizard’ inspires the students of Edison State College to study the remarkable life of Thomas Alva Edison who was named by LIFE Magazine as the Man of the Millenium.” Thomas Edison is a great inspiration to students because of his direct ties this area and his impressive innovations. Edison’s success definitely sparks a flame that encourages students to continue to expand their minds and build upon their wisdom and intellect.

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“The Wizard” is a full round sculpture. It is intended to be viewed from all sides. It stands taller than the average person, at approximately 7-8 feet. It is located in a very peaceful area of FSW’s campus, across from a koi pond and garden of flowers and other beautiful greenery. The statue’s silver plaque offers an explanation to the surrounding scenery stating, “Edison stands across from the Garden of Inspiration as if he is taking in all the Garden has to offer. Having looked at the silver ball, Edison lifts his eyes to the viewer. With that, he asks, ‘What are you going to do with your intellect?'” I believe the large size of the sculpture helps to emphasize the significance of Thomas Edison and this representation of his great success and impact on FSW, Fort Myers, and the world.

To see more art from D.J. Wilkins, visit his website below: