How to Achieve True Freedom

How to Achieve True Freedom

Brookelynn Brindley

Ellen Burke

GSTR 110

October 1, 2014

The definition of freedom is stated as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint” (Google Search; Definitions), but what is TRUE freedom?  

It is hard to imagine the idea of true freedom, but the possibility of attaining it becomes more real when someone is well balanced within many aspects of life, as opposed to being well developed in one aspect of life. 

In the book Divergent, by Veronica Roth, five factions are created to erase all chances of war and conflict.  Each faction is supposed to hold 1 trait above all others.  For instance, the Erudite faction values intelligence over all other aspects of life, while the Dauntless value bravery, Abnegation values selflessness, Amity values peace, and Candor values honesty.  However, there are those who are well balanced in more traits than one; these people are called Divergent.  The divergent are viewed as dangerous because they threaten the ideals in which this society was built.  The “creators” of this society have not eradicated war; By killing off those individuals who show a divergence within these five traits, the leaders of this society are killing off the most well-rounded, functional people of their world, the people closest to reaching a state of freedom.  Erudite is free intellectually, Candor is free emotionally, Dauntless is free physically, Abnegation is free socially, and Amity is free spiritually.  Notice how each faction is only free within one aspect of life.  Also, none of these aspects overlap into any other faction than the one they are placed in.

In Divergent, on page 2, Tris (the protagonist) thinks to herself “tomorrow, at the Choosing Ceremony, I will decide on a faction; I will decide the rest of my life; I will decide to stay with my family or abandon them.” (Roth, 2011, p. 2)  Tris, because of her divergence, already knows she doesn’t belong with her family.  Also, because of her divergence, Tris has more choices available to her, which leads her to feel that she has more freedom than others.  According to William Cronon in the article “Only Connect” (1998) “In the act of making us free, it also binds us to the communities that gave us our freedom in the first place; it makes us responsible to those communities in ways that limit our freedom. In the end, it turns out that liberty is not about thinking or saying or doing whatever we want. It is about exercising our freedom in such a way as to make a difference in the world and make a difference for more than just ourselves.” (Cronon, 1998, p. 5)  As stated by Cronon, knowledge and power have the authority to make you obligated to be responsible for yourself and your community.  Because of your “well roundedness”, you know there are things that are acceptable and not, things that are legal and illegal, things that any “normal” human should or should not do.  Being a well-rounded, educated person confines you to your own mind and, hopefully, your education makes you want to use your mind as a powerful weapon for good things.  Education can allow you to change the world for the better, or the worse.  Jeanine Mathews, the antagonist of Divergent, wants to use her

Al is a Candor who transferred to dauntless who is nothing but a coward.  Al is not a well-balanced person, so he sees they only way out of his way of life now is to commit suicide.  Four states that “The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy!...A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life.  It has happened before and it will happen again.  You’ve been warned.”  (Roth, 2011, p. 65) Four says this because he has witnessed those poor souls who are not well-balanced people try to show the ultimate bravery, therefore, sacrificing their lives.  This statement is very true though, people who only care about one aspect of life often find themselves subjected to idiocy because of it.  Tris on the other hand, acts differently than everyone else, because of her divergence.  For instance, when everyone is conversing about what is the best way to approach the game of capture the flag, Tris decides it is more beneficial for her to climb to the top of the ferris wheel (despite her fear of heights), and scout out the competition.  No one else thought of doing this, because of their inability to see anything other than black and white.