"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar." -Helen Keller
There's this constant struggle for freedom. Whether we're fighting for it physically or emotionally, it's going on inside all of us. No one is exempt from escaping the urge for freedom. Do we want freedom from prejudice? Or inequality? Do we want free from ourselves or the lives we put on for show? What is it that we yearn for; for freedom’s sake? Why is it that we yearn, but hardly ever obtain? For those who do obtain the freedom they so badly strive for, it’s a relief, an almost palpable “weight off of the shoulders” feeling. But, the question is, how do we obtain this freedom? Do we fight for it? Or do we simply write about it, causing the freedom to flow through the pen and into our lives?
Helen Keller writes about how language set her free. She talked about how knowing language gave her remorse; feelings. Malcolm X talks about the same thing. How his “hustler language” provided nothing for who he really was. These two are perfect examples of how language affects people. How it can provide freedom; even when you’re not expecting it to.
For me, it came at an unexpected time. I’ve always been rather interested in language, but the best memories of how language has affected my life have been when I’m not expecting it. I guess I learn better way. This moment in particular happened in high school for me. I’ve always been an avid reader, but language took me by surprise one day and I’ve never been the same since. You know those moments in life when something you’ve always known about, you suddenly think different on? Language changed for me when I read Harry Potter.
Now, I understand that for some, the series belongs in sci-fi and it’s kind of cheesy, but what people don’t understand is that Harry Potter was my childhood and he taught me a lot. The author, J.K. Rowling, taught me a lot about language and subsequently, myself. She introduced language to me in a way that’s never been before. Vivid imaginings of moving staircases, mountain trolls, good defeating evil because love always conquers; these are the things that language showed me. And, in this revelation, language freed me.
I completely agree with you. To be able to appreciate language sometimes a book will do the right job. A good book can open your eyes to many things, specially a great book like Harry Potter. The imagery the author of these books provide for us is great. He makes you feel like you are there and living what is happening in the book. There are many dull books out there and finding the right one to make you realize something like this is great. I love these kinds of books. I also liked how you said language sets you free and lets your express yourself. I believe that language is the most effective way of getting any point across. To set down your thoughts exactly how they come to you and be able to expand on them should be a good feeling; just knowing you didn’t leave anything out and the full idea comes out just how you want it. In order to be heard in a respectful and well done way, language is definitely the way to go. Once you set down your ideas or even change the way you think by doing so, you truly emphasize how free you are.
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