Michael Marvosa
Literary Analysis

In the The Count Of Monte Cristo and Blessings both explore the theme of freedom in different ways.  Freedom to me is when you can do anything you want and you're not forced to do anything you don’t want to do.
First, in Count Of Monte Cristo, Edmond learns that even in the darkest of times, there is always light.  When he was dying, he was almost dead when he saved himself and started eating.  He got hope from the sound of scratching, which was actually someone escaping.  Edmond was “full of hope” when he found out it was actually a prisoner trying to escape.  By hearing the noise, he got hope and started to eat.  “The day passed away in  utter silence-night came without the recurrence of the noise.”  This explains freedom because Edmond finds out the noise was a prisoner trying to escape gave him hope.
Second, in Blessings, Jesse and Rene express themselves and free themselves from judgement around them.  “I’ve got to bring my paints up here.”  This textual evidence shows that Rene frees herself by painting.  “Like to cook.  Like poems.”  This shows that Jesse frees himself by cooking and writing poems.  Jesse also frees himself by making mirrors.
In conclusion, I believe both of these stories explore the theme of freedom.