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What Freedom Really Means

Based on the Movie, 'The Truman Show'

By Kenya CarpenterPublished 7 years ago 3 min read
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What is true self knowledge? Have you ever felt like a unicorn in a field of ponies? I think that we mostly perceive ourselves as different from others. In this case I’m going to give a couple of different hypotheses; the first is that, yes, we are that unicorn in a field of ponies but that's because our self-worth reflects that we recognize ourselves as this unique being. In the instance that this is true, we define ourselves worthy of that recognition. Secondly, maybe we feel that we are a pony in a field of unicorns and we may not value ourselves to a certain degree. In this case, self-knowledge is recognizing who you are because of how you perceive yourself against others.

The best medium for self-expression must be open space and a clear mind this is a space for you to collect your mind, memories, and thoughts. Expression comes out in different forms. I feel that you can't exclusively talk about only art forms. If you think about it, everything is a medium from what you wear to what you say; it's all a medium and it all represents who you are. Open space and a clear mind ends up helping your self-consciousness come to secluded comfort where you recollect the way you choose to represent yourself.

People reside in their caves because it resembles comfort, safety, and familiarity. They rely on their comfort place to reside in a cave is in its definite form and people don't really want to leave that consistency because we as people become used to the things around us. The downfall to this cave is that we learn nothing new. There is a blank air in which no knowledge is being filled. You are confined in a place where there is no light and nothing informing or even inspiring change in the world we live in (that being the cave). Being uninformed about reality takes a toll on a person because nothing is arguing against the normal conformity and comfort of the cave and all the limits it holds. There will always be a way out of the cave. Some form of enlightenment bestowed upon you. When the cave-monger finally admits that there is a world outside of the cave, the enlightenment will unwind itself and the cave monger will be overwhelmed with the amount of knowledge of the outside world. So many more possibilities outside of the cave and all they had to do was open and accept that comfort itself is not always a gaining experience and leaving all things familiar makes way for growth.

As far as personal caves, I would like to believe I have none even though it's idealistic, it is unrealistic. Everyone has demons that confine them from wanting to see the truth. The other part of that is that they are not given the chance to choose if the truth exists. A person could break out of their cave honestly any time they want to. We all can break off the chains but it must have to do with our willpower. Are we ready to give up the life of slavery from our cave of confinement?

Truman wasn't given the chance to determine right from wrong because the world he lived in was so perfect; wrong does not exist. He is physically in a cave represented as a dome. There's an innocence in Truman not knowing anything but in the same sense, as I stated before, there is comfort in ignorance. How different would Truman's life have been if his world was a dystopia, say a Big Brother type of world, and all he knew was violence and mysterious disappearances would it make a difference? Probably not, so let me explain. Truman, just like the prisoners, escape into the light. Truman gets slow hints until he finalized the picture of the pure world he lives in and so do the prisoners when they are given the chance to see the light and become more awakened.

For someone who has experienced the freedom of worldly knowledge after being confined in a cave of limitations, the cave then now represents setbacks. I believe that if you find that there is a world outside of the one you live in you would want to explore that realm. I think that most, if not all, would believe that being confined in a world that is supposed to represent perfection is not realistic or sane in that matter. There are so many lessons to be learned. One is that confinement breeds ignorance. Two is that being separated from knowledge is inhumane and problematic. A third would be that the way in which a person is exposed to the world is crucial to their well-being.

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About the Creator

Kenya Carpenter

To be sexual is to be filled with art.

I also write about other things.

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