Write a note on the essay ‘Freedom’ by Bernard Shaw

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 [] Write a note on the essay ‘Freedom’ by Bernard Shaw.

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         Bernard Shaw is a versatile genius. He is famous for his work in satirical literature. In this essay ‘Freedom’, he talks about the concept of freedom, and how it has been meant by men through the ages. Actually he wrote this essay for a radio lecture. It is a reflective essay; it falls in the category of expository type.

       In this essay, he wants to inform us that man is actually a slave. He makes us understand this thing step by step with logical help. Though he uses some exaggeration and overstatement, he uses them only for fun and irony.  To him, men is a slave of necessities. To him, there are two types of slave. One is the slave to Nature, and the other is a slave to man. He prefers a slave of Nature to the slave of man. In addition to his own statement, he makes his statement strong,reasonable and supportive by taking the quotes of famous philosophers like Marx and More. He cites a division of class : Master class and Working class or common men. Fun and serious in the essay, he shows us many historical instances that man is befooled by master class, whether politically or economically.

Ironically, he says that master class has allowed the common men or working class voting right. In this context he provides an ironical statement, “the revolutionized State grows into a first-rate military power.’’ He makes the irony clear by saying that English diplomats who have hated revolutionary leaders as villains and tyrannies, invite them to dinner. He makes this statement because Russia joined England and America in World War II. Shaw also talks about the conceitedness of master class and a pagan type attachment of common men. Common men meekly abide by the decision of the master class. On the other hand, the master class believes that they are educated at the aristocratic public school and the best and therefore have the right to mastery over the common men or the working class. It is no wonder to think that common people like and have a strong belief in the Napoleonic deeds. Doubtfully, he wonders whether such an attitude would come to a change.

         After that, Shaw refers to the productivity that is increased by use of machines. Modern machines produce more and its use is fully controlled by the master class. They make an artificial crisis and the working class goes beyond buying power as prices soar higher and higher. Thus unsustainable development is hindered. The freedom of equality has been barred.

       There is another thing that works against the freedom of common men is the power of landlords and employers. A landowner never allows you to go to a chapel instead of going to a church. Similarly an employer never allows you in his office without a uniform. Shaw does not agree with the trade unions’ general strikes. In general strikes, small concerns are closed and the working class has to suffer and starve.

        Illusioned, freedom is asked by the working class in another way. They made a demand for more leisure and more money. They desire leisure because they become tired by working eight hours a day which needs to be curtailed into four hours a day. If they have leisure time they need more money. Shaw quotes a remark that is made by Iago in “Othello” , “Put money in your purse.’’In this capitalistic society, it feeds and fits because freedom of working class or common men is a dream. Master class knows that if they are allowed more leisure and more money, they must get into sinful activities. Lastly he ends his essay with a riddle that people are asked to consult their wives how many hours they should work. If they should work eight hours a day and retire in their forties, or if they should work four hours a day till seventy. 

         The essay has been structured finely. The language has been used lucidly , but thoughts have been instilled deeply. The essay has a unique quality of combination of laughter and seriousness, and philosophy with fun. It must be enjoyed by a laity and must be analyzed by a scholarly man.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

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