Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains

Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains

Human beings are born free as their natural state, where they have a lot of freedom and choice on what they feel like doing. In the time of human history prior to firm social structure formations, people exercised free will. According to Rousseau, people were born without societal restrictions. However, as society developed, people gave up their sovereignty and free will, and modern society obstructed the ability of people to live freely in the state of nature.  Rousseau believed that people had forfeited their natural freedom for a state of living without freedom. People should be free to choose what they have to do and the laws as well as the government to rule them. Rousseau believed in freedom for man, but that freedom, which is naturally given, was taken away due to the actions of the society.

In Rousseau’s statement, it is clear that he tried to mean that people should be free, but on the other hand, they are chained by the societies. He believes that a community may legitimately coerce its people when they allow society to rule them. In the society, people are in “chains” since the society put s all rules on them, and which in turn limits them their freedom. Therefore, Rousseau’s statement “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains” means that man is sent to the universe free from any fetter. But after some time, he learns after developing consciousness that there are things that he has to follow, such as time management and discipline. Through the initiation of life, he realizes that society has deprived him the freedom as a being.

In the process of growing, a child feels pressured by the many rules that deprive him of the freedom he or she desires.  The rules, including being respectful to others, attending school, and observing time among others, make the child feel he is not free and wants to attain youth age in which he expects to be free from these “chains.” However, this turns out to be different as the child approaches adulthood. Immediately, he realizes that he is enslaved in poverty or is lonely in a good home place. At times the “chains” of his society restrict him from mixing with the others, and at other times, his sect enslaves him and feels that everywhere he is in chains. Even though man is not chained in the real sense, the kind of things that man feels he is bound to do is what makes a man think that he is enslaved or does not have the freedom that he wishes to have.

The chains of the society shackle man and some of these chains hurt while others restrict him from causing destruction. The reasons as to why man is in chains can be depicted as resulting from poverty, inequality, racial discrimination, and violence people had and which is still in the societies today. Man has surrendered his freedom to poverty, slavery, sect, and class.  Slavery has been in existence a long time ago and seems to extend even in the 21^st century. Being a slave means that you are deprived of your freedom. You are expected to act based on the instructions given by those you are under them. A slave is exposed in any condition and is likely to work for the benefit of another person. Therefore, no freedom is enjoyed in slavery; it is a chain in which some individuals find themselves in society.

Those individuals or society below the poverty line are bonds by the chains imposed by this state of being in poverty.  Poverty shackles the mind of man, and he is restricted from enjoying his life. He has to work under all conditions to ensure that he earns something for a living. Some other times, the hierarchical formation of the society is the chain in which man is enslaved in even to date. The society can let a young growing child in penury where he cannot deliver himself. Therefore, it is right to say that man is born with freedom, but he loses it when he is subjected to economic disparity. In the current society, racism (racial discrimination) is another kind of chain in which man is enslaved. Despite being born free, the so-called civilized society oppresses man to inferior or even superior race consciousness chains. The kind of division based on race may result in hatred and deaths among people.

The society can concur with what Rossoeue stated that “man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” It should be noted that not all chains imposed by society are unacceptable. For instance, the chain of relationship is, without doubt, the beauty of life. Family is the heart of social life. Therefore, parental relationships embellish human life with love, discipline, and devotion.  Law restriction is also another kind of a chain in society that prevents the man from bringing destruction. If the implementation of laws is not in place, the rule “might is right” would prevail in the society, and there would be inequality emerging mostly in resource sharing.

In conclusion, according to Rossoeue, it is true that “man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” The chains of slavery, racial discrimination, poverty, and inequality, among other social evils, should be eliminated from society. The man should be let free from bondage from fellow human beings since it is not according to humanity’s dignity. Since man is born free, he should as well be allowed to enjoy his freedom to the limits of not exceeding the evil activities. Also, the chains that prevent man from evil should be upheld.