Stone walls do not a prison make
Nor iron bars a cage – Richard Lovelace
What is true freedom? The concept of life that many have fought for. Is freedom a positive or negative influence on us?
Some say that freedom is to act in accordance with one’s own true self or value. Others say that it is to be unburdened of threats and imprisonment or slavery. Yet some beg to differ. They believe that freedom is the conquerance of fear, lust and anger. Many echoes that it is to do things by your own free will.
I believe that freedom is acting according to your wshes, and let things be in the way you want them to be. However, not all freedom is valuable, not al lis worthy for us to fight for.
What I regard as truly worthy freedom is our soul’s freedom. Like what Richard Lovelace wrote. Physical liberty does not demolish our heart’s elbowroom. If we are drudges in what we believe, or slaves in our ambience, we are genuinely lacking freedom no matter where we are. They say that children are the freest of all. Even though their parents have nearly total control over them, their hearts are rid of pain and trepidation.
There are numerous definations of freedom but if we cannot even decide what freedom is, are we not totally lacking the mentioned “concept”?
I have seen a lot of my peers, complaining that their parents do not allow them to do as they please. I have seen a lot of maids accusing their employers of abuse. I have read books where people enter civil wars, for the sake of liberating themselves. I have known of birds to deprive themselves of drinks to e allowed free, to fly in that faraway sky. I have known of people who say that Singaporeans are utterly impoverished of freedom. I have read news of North Koreans escaping their country for freedom.
Is freedom really so important?
A lie told often enough becomes the truth. Maybe it is just a faux concept that lasted through times, a faux concept to lie to ourselves that doing whatever we want without considering about its consequences or the welfare of others is not wrong.
It might be just a wish, the reflection of a ‘better’ life, life without worries or burden. Perhaps, it is a strong burning heart’s desire. But it might be a good thing to aim towards. Or maybe it is truly different for each and everyone of us and somehow, we can all achieve our own concept of ‘freedom’.
“A free man is not hindered to do what he hath the will to do” – Thomas Hobbes, a classical camptbilist.
Can that really happen? Would we be hindered by our other desires, to be free, isn’t it to have no bonds, no responsiblities, nothing? Or else, we would still have worries, wouldn’t we?
Freedom…
Liberty…
Be it a concept, a kind of success, or just very simply, a desire, we should know that we should work towards that kind of ‘world’.
Many things are human-oriented but they turn out to be essential for us to make a living now, like Money and Time.
Like how many slaves bought their freedom, some day, freedom might also be valued due to the amount of money it comes with, like how you can buy an hour of a person’s time just to hear him deliver a speech. This, however, would decrease the moral value of Freedom. We should treasure it morally with mordernization at bay as in this modern world, Money talks. Hence, we should not let the idea of freedom wear away with time and age.
Word count: 617
Hui Li starts off her essay with a quote, a very apt one which talks about how physical freedom does not equate to mental freedom. She has probed the reader with many rhetorical questions (meaning questions that do not need answers) but she does not overdo it.
Hui Li has given examples from her daily life as well as real-world examples to substantiate her idea of freedom. This variety of examples is good as it tells the reader that you’re considering the idea of freedom from many aspects of life.
In her last paragraph, she states the value of freedom, how one day, a price tag may be attached to it and that is very relevant considering how the value of time is now given a price tag. Her essay questions the true value of freedom and what does it really mean in today’s world and I find that it is displays the workings of a matured mind.
Well done, Hui Li!
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