Charecteristics of Freedom: Context

This particular section of the book is filled with insights on "freedom" and what it truly means to be "free." These charecteristics are not limited to slavery, age, race or color, however are more dramatic in some cases depending on the circumstnaces.

In the beggining of the book, leading up to the pages where Octavian is no longer bound by the house of Gitney, the charecters were identified as numbers. These charecters have histories, emotions, backgrounds, and cultural diversity from one another; they lack the freedom of identity only in that they are identified by the symbol of numbers as opposed to the symbol of words (names). In a way Octavian is given the freedom of identity through symbolism (his name as opposed to a number) however is denied any real freedom of identity due to the fact that he has been completely socialized by the members of the house. As we see Octavian leave the house he is given the ability to establish his own ideas and actions, while retaining the same symbol of identification. People ask about his upbrining, his culture, his values and so on. We see Octavian develop immensely over these chapters as he explores a new "freedom" of life. We can infer that because the symbol of Octavians identification has not changed, however the freedom portrayed has, that freedom is not based on the symbols of society rather the context that those symbols reside in.

Context is all too important in regards to freedom. The way it is shown, spoken, and interpreted. Many countries that are far less strict in legistation, taxation, and citizens rights are not considered "free" countries, yet exercise much more "true freedom" than the United States; the greatest free country in the world. This is because in the context of democracy America is technically a free country, yet we have displayed far less evidence of being "free" than some areas of the world. We can create this double standard by associating freedom with democracy, aka slaves denied the freedom of any sort of normal life, yet still retaining the ability to be a free-country with the signing of a democratic piece of legislation. Even though a large part of the population was enslaved and denied any freedom, the country is still free because it falls into the context of free-democracy. Freedom is only a symbol, and the context in which that symbol is placed is directly related to how "free" a being or group really is.