Privacy and Social Freedom - Essay Example

Freedom Freedom is a diverse term, which has drawn different definitions hence controversy in setting in onedefinition. One of the definitions drawing controversy is perceiving freedom as the right to do wrong rather than the right to be wrong. However, many scholars define freedom as the exercise of ones whishes and actions without restriction. In this definition, culture influences the manner in which people exercise their freedom by forming general rules and directions whether consciously or unconsciously through which external pressures exert control. In the story passed by Eric Fromm in his literary piece ’The Fear of Freedom’ and other literally pieces, this assertion is however challenged through the actions of the main character as opposed by the fellow characters. This opens up the idea of freedom for discussion to establish its core meaning as applicable to individuals pursuing diverse goals in different social settings. In reference to Eric Fromm’s The Fear of Freedom, this paper will discuss freedom as a human experience. Psychologists describe freedom, as a pursuit that relies on social character, a concept that plays a determinant role in understanding they way people make decisions in a given society. Defined as the dynamic sense of analytical psychology, character is the way in which humans direct their energy because of their adaptation to a specified mode of life in a society, which in turn determines thinking, acting, feelings and general behavioral patterns of the individual (Ferdinand 1992 79). This is a however not easy to analyze within a society due to the general assertion that decisions result from thinking, which is purely intellectual and free of psychological influences of personality structure. However, as depicted in the entire book, thinking and the resultant decisions and actions are capable of influence by environmental factors of politics, religions, economics and social problems that affect daily lives. This is particularly true in considering individual concepts of love, justice, hate, equality and sacrifice, which have an emotional aspect deeply rooted in personal character. In the text, Fromm brings to points out two kinds of freedom namely negative and positive dimensions. Negative freedom seemingly is the common form and refers to emancipation from conditions and value systems imposed by people on an individual within a society, while positive dimension refers to the exercise of individual will and preferences in decision-making. Negative freedom is according to Fromm dangerously destructive due to its attempt to impose ranks in decision-making based on prescribed social codes. He asserts that unless one exercises creativity in dealing with social institutions, this kind of freedom is detrimental in personal realization and meeting of one’s goals and aspirations. This he portrays in the manner in which Catherine’s brother whom she regards as degrading and wicked man tries to influence her decisions. This brings the realization that not only ones character structure that determines thinking and feelings, but also the actions that one undertakes to meet his/her goals. In the sense of neurotics, determination of actions through observing dominant trends of a person’s character is out rightly expressed. Rational evaluations and reality of things are the determining factors in reaching personal actions as determined in the relationship between the characters. A close read of the passage provides a short description of Catherine’s character that is the turning point of the novel with Heathcliff leaving Wuthering heights after over hearing Catherine identifying him as degrading. The passage gives a deeper insight into Catherine’s character; showing her as affected by social statuses and the belief that two people in love are opposites, as portrayed by her assertion of a love theory that Heathcliff does not fit into at all. Although the entire script focuses on Catherine as the main character, there is presence of the other characters as mentioned above, including Edgar Linton, Heathcliff, and Catherine’s brother described in her words as a wicked man. She acknowledges loving Heathcliff whom she describes as handsome but still has doubts whether her true feelings for him are genuine considering that he is not consistent to her goals. Within this passage, Catherine refers to a dream ‘I’ve no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven’. Being one of her friends, she explains her dream of being in heaven and the angels pushing her out; out onto the roof of Wuthering heights to Nelly. Expressing confusion, she explains that the same way she has no reason to be in heaven, she has no reason not to marry Edgar Linton. She aspires to be the wealthiest women in the neighborhood and in doing so she will marry Edgar Linton to make it all happen. She does not care that she is not in love with Edgar Linton or that she will hurt Heathcliff during the process, the only thing important to her is status in the neighborhood, which depicts her as a selfish person. She describes her relationship with Edgar Linton; ‘Linton’s is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire’, mentioning that he is her complete opposite and that she believes the two different characteristics within a relationship are a good thing since it signifies success. She believes that her soul and Heathcliff’s are the same and that they are as one although feels threatened that Heathcliff is more like her than she is and he knows her better than she does herself. Whereas Edgar Linton is the complete opposite he does not know her more than she does, which gives her some relief in being with him emotionally, since financially she feels secure with Edgar Linton. Catherine, who is in the centre of this story, finds herself in a tight sport where she has to choose between the two. With a goal of becoming a powerful, wealthy and influential person in her society, and her emotional feelings for the less wealthy Heathcliff whom she considers degraded, Catherine is in a difficult situation of choosing between following her life dreams or following emotional attachments. In the process, her brother tries influencing her in favor of his friend who is far from what Catherine considers a perfect match to her long life goal of becoming rich. Eventually she chooses to follow her goal defying the social pressure that tries to focus her life in a certain manner. Concerning the concept of society in influencing freedoms, the passage asserts that in adapting himself to the society, one develops the prevalent traits that determine his or her actions. Catherine however seeks to defy this norm by following her dream of becoming powerful and ends in the hands of the financially endowed Edga, who she acknowledges will help in meeting her ambitions in life. The society has a distinct way of influencing personal freedoms through set ways that members follow in making decisions through unconscious intuitions. An example of this assertion is the way the brother tries influencing choices by proposing a preferred option for her. Catherine’s behavior is consisted with that of the patriarch in the famous piece of literature known as hundred years of solitude. Here, the patriarch leaves his native home in pursuit for better living conditions and modernization. Leading the entire family through the generations, the patriarch’s desire for freedom as depicted by the manner in which migrations into secluded islands take place, is his sure way of assuring independence and freedom of action (Gabriel, 1970:117). Similarly, in the movie ‘A bout de souffle’, the narrator uses Michael the main character, to describe how the urge for personal freedom can be sometimes destructive. In his criminal dealings in pursuit of being wealth, he commits several murders against his friends and allies on lousy basis for selfish maneuvers. In the end, the character flees to Italy as an immigrant to escape judgment for the many killings he has committed in chasing his goals. Catherine’s story is no different from these two in that she places her goals way above the generally accepted social norms and her own feelings. The goal of becoming rich and influential in her neighborhood completely overtakes her and chooses to follow the seemingly unpopular path that assures her of freedom and attainment of her aspirations. In conclusion, the narration contained in ‘The Fear of Freedom’ by Eric Fromm concurs with the other two narratives in displaying the concept of individual freedom as being a human experience that is prone to influence by other external factors imposed by the society in which one lives. However, there is repeated defiance of this assertion by individual actions geared to achieving personal goals hence portraying the concept of freedom as an inherent desire to human nature. Several times in which the leading characters in all three passages defy social pressure and expectations is an indicator of perceiving freedom as a unique conception in different people, often exhibiting variance according to the degree of individualism in a society. Ultimately, absence of external pressures does not define freedom; rather it is the existence of great resolve on the individual part to pursue goals and aspirations regardless of these external pressures. Work cited Ferdinand D. S. 1992. Privacy and Social Freedom. Cambridge: Cambridge University press. Gabriel G. M. and Gregory R. 1970. One hundred years of solitude. London: Perennial Classics. Read More