A key insight of "Son" has to do with the possibilities for f reedom a11d fulfillment in an unsupportive or even hostiJe world. "My hard-wo11 contentme11t," Solomon w1ites, "reflects the simple truth...

A key insight of "Son" has to do with the possibilities for f reedom a11d fulfillment in an unsupportive or even hostiJe world. "My hard-wo11 contentme11t," Solomon w1ites, "reflects the simple truth that inner peace often hinges on outer peace." Even though we 111jght prefer to think that we hold the: key to our own happiness, to what degree do we actually depend on the support of our whole society? If our happiness depends on suppo1·tive conditions, what might be the social or political implications? In order co make the world a better place, do we have a responsibility to bring our personal search for happiness into public view? Can inner peace: survive without the proper outer conditions?