Manipulation is a theme in this passage. They use juxtapositions to make their point and confuse enemies. It's like Yin and Yang but they're manipulating it...if that makes sense and this passage definitely fits into the theme of manipulation.

This text in the passage is an example of the element of water, which doesn't only take different forms, but it's also introspective and reflective. The highlighted phrase reminds one of a mirror, and guess what mirrors are made out of? Water. Water comes out of our eyes whenever our emotions get the best of us. In this context, the leader is using their memories to reflect on the past, solely based of trust and appreciation from his people/ Emotions are caused by memories, causing one to reflect and decide.

Long story short, easy is boring and you will not learn anything nor let your brain develop. This is why my teacher strongly recommended taking notes by hand instead of saving them on a computer, because you won't learn anything. This inspired me to do an entire presentation for my English final on how writing by hand beats typing. Brain connectivity regions are activated when you write compared to typing, since you're learning the material.

This specific text and the "Good & Bad" made me think the very scene before Defying Gravity when Elphaba finds out that the "wizard" could not do magic and was simply just a man of high authority bamboozling citizens into believing he was a God that could fix things if they went to Emerald City, where Oz resides. Wicked also questions what's "good" and what' bad with the opening scene where Glinda asks, "Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?" This makes me also think of the upcoming presidency we're about to ensue and how easily gullible the general public is with their high praises to authority figures. They decided a felon would be a better fit to run a country than a woman who's put her whole life into the government.