Freedom

 Freedom is the ability to be rid of physical, mental, and societal limitations. Emerson, Whitman, and Douglas all have their own definitions of freedom but have the same common ground. To Emerson, freedom from society's expectations was to become a man thinking, someone who can take what they learn from academics and apply it to their own knowledge and way of life. Whitman believed in the freedom of oneself, or the deeper meaning of who we are as people not just by our occupation, race, or class. Douglas believed to be free or emancipated physically, one must be emancipated mentally. When Douglas could truly become himself without mental limitations, he could truly become free.

In "The American Scholar", Emerson critiqued society's way of teaching. To become a man thinking one must teach themselves what to do and learn how to live their own life. Applying knowledge from the books and class room to your own personal views is what differentiates a man thinking from the bookworm. Experience is the best teacher and is the pathway to freedom. Authenticity and creation are the keys to freedom. Mental handicap is represented by doing what everyone else does and living the way books and other people have taught you to live. Playing by the book keeps a person mentally enslaved and to free your mind, you must try new things and create new ideas.

In "The Song of Myself", Walt Whitman writes about the everyday, normal man. He writes about people the reader can relate to and shows us that just because someone is a farmer, does not mean they are just a farmer. People are complex and diverse, with many sides to them. To become free, we must not limit ourselves to accepting our fate of being a farmer. A person is not one thing- they can be a farmer, a father, and a citizen. Labels classify people unfairly and enslave the everyday man. We are much more than labels and to become free, we must fight the label we are given. In "The Song of Myself" Whitman goes out into the nature and lets go of all of his inhibitions and gives into his deepest desires. Whitman honors himself and all of the inhabitants of the universe. By letting go, Whitman became free and by rolling around in the grass that unites the universe he represented everyone who could become free.

Frederick Douglas believes freedom has to do with "slave in fact or slave in form". To be free, one must resist and not accept their fate. Douglas does this by appearing to be an obedient slave but underneath it all he does not willingly serve. This is shown by Douglas learning how to read even though it is forbidden and standing up to Mr. Covey when he attempts to whip him. Even after Douglas is a "freed" slave, he is not actually "free" until he becomes his own master. Once he is paid for his own work he is truly "free". He is now independent through labor. He no longer has to give money for his hard work to his master. He is now no longer a slave in form, or in fact.