What does Freedom Mean? Dictionary describes it as ‘the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants’. Yes, we all have advanced and have broaden our limits, thoughts and actions but are we still free? What does true Freedom mean? Freedom is to feel comfortable and safe in whatever space one is in.
Freedom is diverse to different individuals: Feel Comfortable or Safe to act, speak and think as one wants. What does freedom mean to a woman? Freedom for a woman doesn’t mean just to talk and act freely, it means much more. She wants to feel comfortable and safe wherever she is. Be it a place where she is taking her education, a place where she is living her dream Job, a place where she has taken birth or a place where she wants to loosen up her hair and have fun.
Below is a story which really struck me. Let me know your thoughts on it by commenting below.
Young King Arthur was trapped and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighbouring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur’s youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.
The question was: What do women really want?
Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch’s proposition to have an answer by year’s end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.
Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer.
But the price would be high as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.
The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table, and Arthur’s closest friend!
Young Arthur was horrified. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur’s life and the preservation of the Round Table.
Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur’s question thus: “What a woman really wants,” she said, “is to be in charge of her own life.”
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur’s life would be spared.
And so it was, the neighbouring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen, lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.
The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.
“Which would you prefer? she asked him. “Beautiful during the day … or at night?”
Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch! Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments with?
Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
Now … what is the moral to this story?
If you don’t let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.
A woman will be able to enjoy her space only if she feels comfortable and safe in the space she is in..
