FREEDOM BY George Bernard shaw

About the author George Bernard Shaw was born in 1856 at Dublin. In 1884 he become one of the founder of the fabian society. Shaw was awarded the Nobel prize in 1926 for “his work which is marked by both idealism and humanity, its stimulating He was died in 1950.

Dictionary meaning of Freedom The power or right to act, speak,or,think freely. A special privilege or right of access, especially that of full citizenship of a particular city given to a public figure as an honour.

Theme of the Essay In the topic “FREEDOM” the writer pleads for an original and stimulating attitude towards the concept of freedom-individual,social and political,and skilfully analyses the difference between the natural slavery of man to nature and the unnatural slavery of man to man.

Summary In the essay “FREEDOM”, G.B.Shaw makes a plea for a right type of individual,social and political freedom. G. B. Shaw is of the view that no one can be perfectly free. there are certain natural jobs that cannot be avoided. Man has to eat and drink. Therefore, he must produce food. He has to sleep. so, he must have beds and bedding. He must have clothes to cover his nakedness. So ,man has to work hard to get food, shelter and clothes.

What is called a perfectly free person………? A person who can do what he likes,when he likes and where he likes, or do nothing at all if he prefers it.

He also analyses the difference between the natural slavery of man to nature and the unnatural slavery of man to man. Man’s slavery to nature is joyful. We feel greatest pleasure in fulfilling our natural needs. it is pleasant to eat, drink, to sleep. But the slavery of man to man is unnatural. It is hateful both physically and spiritually. It leads ton class war between the rich and the poor, the slaves and their masters, the workers and the capitalists .Obviously there cannot be any peace in society unless this class war ends.

“Slavery: The state of being a slave. The practice or system of owning slaves.”

Continuation with the summary……………… Now there is every danger that clever and cunning people may have an upper hand .They may exploit others that take away all fruit of their labour. The task of every honest government should be to prevent this exploitation. Bernard Shaw points out that most of the governments do not do so. They only regulate this kind of slavery by putting limits on the greed of the exploiters.

In this situation, government play the fraud of elections Only the rich exploiters win these election. the common people have to labour as before. but they are forced into believing that they as free citizens have voted the government into power. G. B. Shaw says that the rulers talk of many others act and steps taken to protect the rights of the people. But ,the fact remains that the common people has to labour like a slave and has no real freedom .

The sons and daughter of the rich and ruling classes get a false notion that the social and political system in which they are living is the best. But the large majority of workers are not convinced by the views and true freedom. All this shows that the dream of perfect freedom is false. Man can not be free from the slavery to nature. He must satisfy his necessities otherwise he cannot be alive .

Historical Facts Our poets do not praise it ;they proclaim that no man is good enough to be another man’s master. The latest of the great Jewish prophets, a gentlement named Marx, spent his life in providing that there is no extremity of selfish cruelty at which the slavery of man to man will stop if it be not stopped by law. Man like Rousseau , Karl Marx and Lenin whom raise their voice against this slavery are called atheists or scoundrels. A ban is put on the sale and purchase of their books.

Conclusion One can enjoy real freedom if one has leisure and money. Therefore, the common man must stand up to claim these two element of freedom. Such a candidate should not be voted into power who talks of freedom but lives by exploiting other . Those who fail in this respect lose their health, happiness and even their lives. The common man has to decide whether he has to drudge himself or to live long and freely by the right use of leisure.

PRESENTED BY O. MOMOCHA SINGH BA 1st YEAR ROLL NO :5439