Final answer:
The provided texts discuss themes centered on contracts, obligations, and autonomy, depicting individuals' struggles with commitments that have serious implications in their personal and professional lives. Key terms include 'contract', 'obligation', and 'autonomy', with the concept of 'hiring one's time' being a recurrent theme reflecting a quest for self-determination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpts provided all touch upon themes related to contractual obligations, personal responsibilities, and the pursuit of autonomy within the constraints of societal or legal frameworks. They highlight scenarios where individuals enter into contracts, sometimes under pressure or necessity, and the repercussions of adhering to or failing these contractual obligations.
The narratives underscore the struggles faced by individuals, such as financial independence, unwavering commitment to work, legal complexities, and the yearning for freedom amidst contractual binds. Notably, the concept of hiring one's time, as mentioned in the LibreTexts excerpt, draws a compelling parallel between economic autonomy and social status, especially in historical contexts where this arrangement was common for indentured labor or enslaved people seeking a semblance of self-determination.
Key terms such as 'contract', 'obligation', and 'autonomy' stand out as they encapsulate the core struggles of the characters dealing with commitments that often have significant personal and professional consequences. The idea of 'hiring one's time' resonates as a focal point of these narratives, reflecting a deep-seated desire for self-reliance and control over one's destiny.