ipl-logo

The Soloist By Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr.

920 Words4 Pages

Imagine being so scared it is no longer possible to function in society. Imagine giving up everything in order to keep from hurting loved ones. Imagine pushing belongings around in a shopping cart because trying to treat an incurable disease is worse than living alone on the streets. In Steve Lopez’s The Soloist, an unlikely friendship sparks between a homeless schizophrenic and a journalist for the LA Times. The former Juilliard student, and the subject of Lopez’s articles, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr., uses music as his escape from the mental anguish and confusion in his daily life on the streets. Music is powerful. It connects people. Music is both a medicine and a passion. It can communicate feelings and sensations, and can heal the mind …show more content…

“He doesn’t appear to be playing for money, which seems strange for a homeless guy. He plays as if he’s a student, oblivious to everyone around him, and this is a practice session” (3). Lopez illustrates Ayers’ dedication to his music. Ayers plays out of a pure love for classical music and does not feel the need to prove himself to others. Ayers gets more out of a single note than most people get out of an entire song. He uses his music as an escape to temporarily reclaim his sanity from the chaos in his life.
Lopez emphasizes Ayers’ special connection with classical music. He also shows how much he has learned from his friendship with Ayers:
One hundred and twenty-five years after Tchaikovsky created this music, Nathaniel has given it to me, making it new again. I understand the peace it brings him, a constant amid the chaos in a language he speaks. I know the opening phrase and the way it humbles and inspires. I know the neat footwork in the second movement’s waltz, and I see Nathaniel dancing to it with his bass, up in the window of the old hotel. (251)
Ayers shares his love of music with Lopez, which allows their friendship to grow stronger. Lopez learns a lot from Ayers. He is able to appreciate music in a new way. Ayers’ music helps him, and now that he has someone to share it with he can enjoy it even

Show More
Related
582 Words | 3 Pages

In the words of Steve Lopez, “You're only as good or bad as your latest attempt to make some connection with the world.” The novel, The Soloist, by Steve Lopez is an insight to Lopez’s time helping and connecting with Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless schizophrenic. When Lopez meets Nathaniel he is awed by his musical talent and soon discovers he once attended Julliard, a prestigious school of performing arts. Lopez’s story was transformed into a film produced in 2008. Lopez’s character in the book and film share similarities and differences in his personal life, attitude towards Nathaniel, and struggles that contribute to the overall theme of the novel.

Read More
532 Words | 3 Pages

Hunger of Memory is a memoir of the educational experience of Richard Rodriguez and his journey as a first generation Mexican- American citizen. The book is compiled of a prologue, in which he states his reasons for writing, and six chapters with no specific chronological order. Richard Rodriguez grew up in a white, middle-class neighborhood and attended a Catholic school. He describes his early childhood as a war between his “public” and “private life”: a war between school and home. He struggled when he first started school, because English was his second language and he felt insecure about his shaky ability to communicate through it.

Read More
713 Words | 3 Pages

George Lopez once said “I had a very difficult childhood. I was surrounded by people who had parents, which made me feel different. Having a bit of a rougher existence early on, it made me appreciate the work ethic that my grandparents instilled in me.” Grit, courage and resolve; strength of character. George was born on April 23, 1961 in Mission Hills California.

Read More
1025 Words | 5 Pages

Duke Ellington was a renowned personality in the music industry, as he was a very successful and notable composer and pianist. He also was a band leader of jazz orchestra throughout his professional career of fifty years; he had been the leader of the orchestra from the year 1923. He was born in 1899 and passed away in 1974. He was a notable figure in the music industry and had an active professional career in the field. That is why his personality is worthy of study so that lessons might be drawn from his life.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

In the beginning of Staples’ essay we learned that he was a broad, six foot tall, young man. We also learned that on many occasions he was judged by his outside appearance. He also told us what he did to cope and help to ease his problems. For instance, he would “whistle melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi” (Staples 30) to make him seem less threatening to people as he came in contact with him.

Read More
141 Words | 1 Pages

It was March 1963 at Mississippi State University. I was going to class early to get in some last minute cramming before the test over chapter 14. Even though my friend Eric Swan and I study all night. Eric was my best friend from high school. Eric and I did everything together, except when he was with his racist friends.

Read More
1129 Words | 5 Pages

The above described change in the narrative approach allows the filmic narrative agent to develop characters who are perceived as secondary in King 's novella. For example, Brooks Halten, the librarian whose place Andy takes over. Brooks is mentioned briefly in the book and his story represents the theme of institutionalism. Red believes that Brooks will be able to survive in the outside world: ' ' In prison, Brooks had been a person of some importance.

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

In the last few years, the representation of people suffering from mental illness in popular culture has greatly increased, showing actual teenagers that characters and idols have real problems in everyday life. One of the literary leaders in this psychological revolution is the novel, and recent film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Throughout this story, the viewer learns about different types of mental disorders from depression, to post-traumatic stress disorder, to schizophrenia. The events that occur throughout this storyline show real-life situations and struggles that teenagers go through. Stephen Chbosky expertly handles the topic of mental illness in the novel and film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Read More
1583 Words | 7 Pages

Discuss the innovations in the music of Stravinsky’s ‘Russian Period’ with specific reference to The Rite of Spring and at least one other work. Igor Stravinsky, born in Russia 1882, is widely know as one of the most influential composer of the 20th century. Most notably, his composition The Rite of Spring is considered to be where his innovations in music come into perspective. I will discuss these innovations in detail using The Rite of Spring(The Rite) as a main reference and comparing it to some of his other works. Stravinsky’s compositions can be divided into three periods during his life; Russian Period, Neo-classicism and Post-war/Serialism.

Read More
494 Words | 2 Pages

One event from American history that I wish to have experienced would be the opening night of Carnegie Hall in 1891. Carnegie Hall has been important in the development of American History; it is one of the most significant venues for classical as well as popular music in America. Musicians from all around the world come to Carnegie Hall to perform for its renowned acoustics and beauty. This exquisite concert hall, drawing the world’s greatest artists, has set the guidelines for excellence in music since it opened in 1891. It was Andrew Carnegie, himself, who said, “It is built to stand for ages, and during these ages it is probable that this Hall will intertwine itself with the history of our country.”

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

“A true friend accepts who you are and helps you become who you should be.” Steve and Nathaniel proved that friendship and happiness can be real in the novel The Soloist by Steve Lopez. The way friendship is portrayed in the novel is unexpected in such a way that we don’t see it happen often in our daily life. It is important to our society because finding a true friend is really difficult to find. True friendship is hard to find now in days because we expect many things in return from other people.

Read More
592 Words | 3 Pages

In The Soloist (2009), the beginnings of Ayers’s symptoms were shown immediately, so his prodromal stage was never portrayed: the active phase was shown first. As a child, Ayers experienced loose association and hallucinations. His loose association first appeared at his cello lesson. Nathaniel went on and on about Beethoven and his love for music, hopping from one subject to the next, merging the separate statements together (The Soloist, 2009). Still a child, Ayers’s first hallucination was seeing a burning car roll passed his window (The Soloist, 2009).

Read More
1616 Words | 7 Pages

“The Rite of Spring” was certainly the most controversial piece of orchestral music of its time. The piece, composed by the Russian Composer Igor Stravinsky, included a great deal of uncommon musical elements. But was it really that uncommon? The world-changing ballet, “The Rite of Spring” was so controversial when it debuted in 1913, because it completely contradicted the common rhythmic and harmonic languages of the music at the time. The choreography and costumes were a main part of the reason why the audience reacted with negativity and riots.

Read More
1839 Words | 8 Pages

The post 1945 period saw a considerable amount of changes in music. Different styles emerged, such as serial music, electroacoustic music, minimalistic music, and many others. Minimalism originated in ‘downtown’ New York City ring the early 1960s, and was initially considered to be a form of experimental music, as it was a totally different style of music as to what Stravinsky or Shostakovich wrote. Richard E. Rodda’s view on Minimalistic music was that it was based upon multiple repetitions of slowly changing chords. Minimalism evolved due to the ambitions of composers during that time.

Read More
799 Words | 4 Pages

Music has always been a part of my life. In definition, it is “vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” Ever since I was a young child, I have loved music. The strong, steady beats, the entrancing melodies, and the lyrics that vary between heartwarming and heart-wrenching have always had an unexplainable effect on my life. Music seems to have the ability to change certain aspects of my world.

Read More

More about The Soloist By Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr.

Related Topics

Open Document