Personal Freedom

Despite what some people may think, personal freedom isn’t automatic. It’s something that must be achieved for oneself. This is done in different ways. For example, if someone does what they think is right, despite what everyone else tells them, that person has achieved personal freedom. Also, when someone speaks their mind about something that is difficult for them to talk about, that person has achieved personal freedom as well. Even when someone simply becomes more confident in themselves, they too achieve this freedom.

When you want to do something and everyone around you supports your decision, there seems to be no question that it’s a good idea. Well let’s imagine that same situation but this time, everyone seems to be against you. Your confidence in the decision most likely will be altered. In “The Truman Show”, Truman, the main character, is led to believe he is living a normal life, just like anyone else, when in reality his entire life is a T.V. show. When he starts to get suspicions that something isn't right, he decides he wants to leave town. If he does so he will discover the truth. All of his friends and family (who are aware of the situation) try to convince him to stay. Everyone in the town makes countless efforts to try to prevent him from leaving. In the end however, Truman does what he believes to be the best decision and flees the town. The opinion of others plays a big part in the choices we make in our day to day lives, so when Truman ignores the opinions of those around him and does what he thinks is right anyway, he achieves personal freedom.

When someone who has authority over you is being unfair, it may be difficult to speak your mind and let them know that they are wrong. This is exactly what the character Aibileen, a black housekeeper, does in “The Help”, a film that takes place during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Toward the end of the movie Hilly, a friend of the woman Aibileen works for, wrongly accuses her of stealing silver. Hilly knows that Aibileen isn’t guilty but she makes up the story in order to get her arrested. Aibileen decides to stand up for herself and tells Hilly, “All you do is scare and lie to try to get what you want...Ain’t you tired Miss Hilly?”. By standing up to Hilly despite how difficult it was for her to do so, Aibileen achieves personal freedom.

Obtaining confidence is crucial to achieving personal freedom. It’s easy to look at someone else and notice how that person is attractive in one way or another, whether it be the way someone dresses, the way someone acts or a physical feature. What may not be so easy, however, is acknowledging the same positive things about ourselves. In the book Ordinary People, by Judith Guest, the character Conrad is struggling to overcome depression. After overcoming a boating incident which left his brother dead and after attempting to kill himself, Conrad tries to get his life back together. The narrator explains how Conrad regains his confidence and achieves personal freedom at one point of the story when he says, “He studies his face in the mirror...His hair, clean and decently cut at last; his skin, clear. God, his skin is clear, when did that happen? How long has it been since he looked at himself? He turns a foolish fake smile. Another plus. Straight, even teeth”.

Doing what you think is right, speaking your mind and obtaining confidence, are perfect examples of ways to achieve personal freedom. Be who you want to be, not what others want to see. Be true. Be unique. Be free.