what did being free mean to Mandela as a student
Answers
Explanation:
In his student life, Mandela enjoyed every freedom. He was free to run in the fields near his mother’s hut or to swim in the clear stream that ran through his village. His sense of freedom was limited to his own enjoyment. As long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, his freedom wasn't restricted by the laws of man or God. Gradually, he learnt that his boyhood freedom was an illusion.
As a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family
Answer:
As a boy, for Mandela 'being free did not have much meaning as he thought he was born free. He was free to do what he liked.
He believed that as long as he obeyed his father and the rules of his tribe, he was free in every way.
As a student, Mandela realised that the freedoms that he enjoyed as a child was an illusion and he was actually not free. Then, he wanted the temporary freedom that existed only for his own self.
He wanted freedom to stay out at night, read what he pleased and wherever he wanted. Mandela contrasts these 'transitory freedoms with the basic and honorable freedoms'.
Now, he wanted to achieve his potential, earn his money, marry and start his family. These freedoms unlike the transitory freedoms revolved around himself as well as the people of his community. This freedom existed without any racial discrimination.