This essay examines freedom as essential to human flourishing, arguing that it enables individuals to express themselves, elevate their social status, pursue their own destinies, and experience fulfillment. Drawing on literary analysis of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, and Shaffer and Barrows's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the paper demonstrates how lack of freedom leads to desperation and conformity, while freedom catalyzes personal growth, artistic creation, and happiness. The essay contends that societies built on freedom thrive, whereas those that sacrifice personal liberty for security inevitably spawn tyranny and human suffering.
Anna Julia Cooper stated, "The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of human kind, the very birthright of humanity." All of humanity yearns for freedom; the right to live as an individual being a constant goal. Freedom is a necessity for cultural development in a society. Without it, art and literature would cease to have meaning or symbolic worth. Individuals would be oppressed into conformity, stuck in their position in life forever. People would be unable to seek their own desires and create a future appealing to them.
The importance of freedom is not lost in the literary and dramatic works of the past. These works express the importance of freedom in everyone's life. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows shows the importance of freedom in literature and the sharing of ideas. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen uses a tragic story to portray how a lack of freedom could lead people to desperate measures to achieve fulfillment. Paulo Coelho's novel The Alchemist shows the importance of having the freedom to follow your dreams to achieve fulfillment and true happiness. Freedom is the most important aspect of life because it allows people to express themselves, elevate themselves from their current position in society, mold and pursue their own destiny, and learn from experience.
Expression is one basic tenet of freedom. Having the right to express one's emotions and beliefs causes the spread of ideas to the betterment of all society. Allowing one to be an individual opens the way for art and literature to be created and the ideals of that individual to be heard by a free society. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, "Why not let the majority's morality and taste dictate what others can look at or listen to? The answer is simple, and timeless: a free society is based on the principle that each and every individual has the right to decide what art or entertainment he or she wants—or does not want—to receive or create."
For art to truly express the ideals of an individual, they must have the freedom to do so no matter how fringe the subject might be, or risk losing that freedom altogether. In the novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, books are used to provide an escape for the people on Guernsey Island from the horrors of World War II and the Nazi occupation of their home. The people of Guernsey are often amazed by the quantity of books available to them and how there always seems to be a story to fit their tastes. As the characters observe, "Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." This abundance is due to freedom, which allows any story to be expressed, causing the spread of ideas too numerous to count, allowing anyone to find the creation best suited for them.
Freedom allows expression, leading to the rise of individuals who seek to share their thoughts, ideals, and beliefs through the use of art and literature. The freedom to create art freely benefits an entire society along with the individuals. Since the beginning of human culture, people with the freedom to do so have used art to develop and record the history of their society. Without the freedom to create, human existence would stagnate. As philosopher Susanne Langer argues, "Art is the epitome of human life, the truest record of insight and feeling, and that the strongest military or economic society without art is poor in comparison with the most primitive tribe of savage painters, dancers, or idol-carvers."
Art is the physical manifestation of humanity's free will and creative ability. With it, society as a whole has a chance to thrive when it develops around these ideals. For a society to prosper, it must implement the freedom of expression into its core or risk dehumanizing the people within it. As Index on Censorship explains, "Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It also underpins most other rights and allows them to flourish. The right to speak your mind freely on important issues in society, access information and hold the powers that be to account, plays a vital role in the healthy development process of any society." With the freedom of expression, all other freedoms have a catalyst from which they can gain a foothold and create a thriving society.
Freedom does not just give an opportunity to create; it also gives the opportunity to grow. With freedom, people can rise from any position in society, given that they work toward that goal. With the freedom to do so, anyone can break free from the social class they were born into and elevate themselves to any position they work hard enough for. Class systems in many nations, such as England and India, outright refused people many rights and the ability to move up in social standing based on the family they were born into. As historian David Cody notes, "The old hereditary aristocracy, reinforced by the new gentry who owed their success to commerce, industry, and the professions, evolved into an 'upper class' which tenaciously maintained control over the political system, depriving not only the working classes but the middle classes of a voice in the political process."
Other class systems were built upon the color of one's skin, as was the case in Spanish colonies in the New World. Without the freedom of upward social mobility, the people of these nations were forced to live their lives as society dictated. In the drama Hedda Gabler, the main character Hedda and another woman, Mrs. Elvsted, feel the stain of Victorian values throughout their lives, forced to act as the society of the time demanded women to behave. When a party is being thrown, the customs of the time dictated that the women must stay home while the men leave. Though the men have all left, Mrs. Elvsted must wait for a male escort before she would be able to leave Hedda's home due to her status as a woman and society's belief of what women should and should not be allowed to do. Because of their lack of freedom at the time, neither Hedda nor Mrs. Elvsted would be able to rise above their predestined path as women in Victorian Europe.
Unfortunately, many people see themselves as unable to change their social status and believe that the role they were born into will forever dictate how they will live their lives. Even when people only think they lack the freedom for upward social mobility, they often cease to improve themselves. This belief means that many would not even attempt to gain a higher social standing, thinking the goal is futile despite having the means to accomplish it, making their perception of the future very bleak. According to Carol Morello's research in the Washington Post, "While slightly more than half of respondents, 54 percent, say their standard of living is better than that of their parents, just 39 percent believe their children will have a better life than they have." This mentality stems from the people's belief that they are slowly losing the capability to make a better life for themselves due to loss of many economic freedoms.
However, some still believe hard work and persistence open opportunities for social mobility. The experience of a neighbor who was born in Communist-led Croatia illustrates this truth. Before emigrating, he described his life as severely regulated: "You would work, go home, and that's it. We were not allowed to use the generators for anything other than lighting, no TV, no Christmas lights either. Our opportunities were limited. You could go to school and learn a trade but no one would 'make it' as they do in America." After coming to America, his story changed dramatically. "I didn't know what to do at first, I didn't speak English but was able to get a job at an air conditioning manufacturer. I worked hard for years, learned English, and sure enough opportunities began to arise. I went from low level employee to on-deck supervisor to floor manager, and now I manage one of the major distributors and I got here with nearly nothing."
This example demonstrates how a determined attitude can raise social status in a free society. In the novel The Alchemist, the main character Santiago is born to a poor family with almost no means to elevate their status. When Santiago expresses his desire to travel, his father shows his belief that there are few options in the life of a poor man: "Amongst us the only ones who travel are the shepherds." However, almost as if in defiance, Santiago takes the role of a shepherd, believing that he can experience more and live a better life as he elevates himself to what he perceives as a better station. Santiago takes the opportunity presented to him that many in his position would ignore, never believing they were stuck with the position life gave them, unable to experience the freedom to rise beyond their social standing.
Similar to elevating one's social status, freedom gives the ability to make, mold, and pursue one's own destiny. When a person is given the freedom to pursue their own destiny, become who they want to be, and live their life to the extent that they strive for, they experience a true level of happiness. Nearly all humans have an ambition to live life to the fullest extent of their imagination, but this is only possible if they have the freedom to do so.
From the beginning of the novel, Santiago from The Alchemist pursues his destiny despite the many obstacles in his path. Early in his quest to find the treasure he dreams of, Santiago comes across an old man claiming to be the king of Salem. In their discussion, the old man tells Santiago of the world's greatest lie: "At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie." This truth is vital—many people begin to seek the life they wish to live but in the end fail to fulfill it. However, when one is free to make their own destiny and never loses sight of their goal, they have the opportunities to become who they want to become and be happier as a result.
When people are denied the right to pursue their own destiny, many often seek drastic measures to fulfill their dreams. While some resort to crime, believing they have no other alternative to live the life they want, others seek to live their dreams through the lives of others, most commonly their own children. In the case of Hedda in Hedda Gabler, she feels that the life she wishes to live is unattainable to her. Therefore, she seeks to live out her fantasies of a beautiful death and her dream of controlling fate. When confronted by Mrs. Elvsted, Hedda admits, "Yes, I have. For once in my life I want to feel that I control a human destiny." Her confession reveals her desperation—she has never felt this power in her own life.
In her desperate quest to control her own life, Hedda seeks instead to control the life of another, believing her own destiny may forever be out of her reach. She continues to seek this control through the life of Eilert Løvborg, attempting to manipulate him into committing suicide. When she learns of his death, she reveals her motivation: "Oh, what a sense of freedom it gives one, this act of Eilert Løvborg's." When Brack asks what she means, she clarifies: "I mean for me. It gives me a sense of freedom to know that a deed of deliberate courage is still possible in this world—a deed of spontaneous beauty." Hedda feels that she is unable to live as she wants and believes that suicide is a great act of independence that she can never obtain. Therefore, by living vicariously through Eilert, she obtains the "freedom" she craves from his death, a dark testament to the dangers of constrained freedom.
As someone is given the opportunity to pursue their own destiny, so they are given the opportunity to go out into the world and experience it. Beyond finding economic success or creating art, freedom enables one to use their free will and feel the simple joy of experiencing all that life has to offer. From traveling the world to acquiring knowledge through education, freedom allows one to enrich his or her own life and grow as a person.
In The Alchemist, Santiago is told a story by the old king about the secret to happiness: "The secret to happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon." The parable told by the old king explains that while one should always seek a fulfilling life, they must never forget their responsibilities. For someone to choose their own destiny and experience life, they must know what their desires are, what they want and what they don't want. Having the freedom to choose the course of your life is an integral part of experiencing happiness.
In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, choosing the right person to marry becomes a symbol of this freedom to decide one's own path: "I don't want to be married just to be married, I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with." The ability to make important life decisions on your own is essential to experiencing a fulfilling life. It is only through experiencing life that one can become truly happy, and it is only when we are free that we are given the opportunity to experience life.
"Refuting claims that freedom breeds anarchy"
Communist nations rise when the people are promised a fair economic system where everyone is treated with equality. In actuality, they destroy individualism for the sake of maintaining order and the superiority of the governing party. Likewise, the Nazis in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s promised the people the reign of superior races and nations over the lesser kind. The dangers of this ideology are shown in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, with the Germans' orders: "Work them hard, don't waste valuable food-stuffs on them, and let them die. They could, and would, always be replaced by new slave workers from Europe's Occupied countries." This order shows their complete disregard for human life, seeing the people of occupied nations as things to be used then discarded. History has shown that nations who sacrifice their freedoms for promises and security almost always spawn tyranny to the detriment of human life.
I have personally experienced an amazing life and truly believe it is due to the freedoms I have in this nation. I have been given many opportunities to succeed or fail based on my own merit. Rarely have I ever felt pressured onto one life path or another. I have experienced many things already in my short time alive, from family gatherings to traveling the nation, and feel I am on course to leading a fulfilling life. With very supportive parents, I feel that my freedom is a gift I should exercise by receiving an education and pursuing my own destiny in this world. Only with the freedom to do so would I be in the position I am now, with an entire future right ahead of me, only waiting for me to seize the opportunity to succeed.
The importance of freedom has not yet been lost, whether in history or in literature. Its necessity in the arts is preserved forever. Its greatest appreciation comes from those who once lacked it. Its indispensable role as the catalyst to happiness must be understood if it is to remain a part of society. Without freedom, the right for people to express and share ideas will be trampled. The ability to elevate oneself from their current position in life would be nonexistent. Someone following their dreams and creating their own destiny would be unheard of. Anyone seeking to live a fulfilling life would be greatly disappointed. Freedom allows us to act and be treated as human beings, able to seek out a life best suited for us.
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