Layers Within Freedom Freedom is such a relative term that it is immensely difficult to ascribe it to any single thing. For one, it can be freedom of movement, for another it can be freedom to be truthful to oneself. Discrepancies in freedom extends to how it is found or achieved as well. Certain individuals may be more strong-minded, thus adjusting the difficulty or process in which one obtains their “desired” freedom. Others may not, and the journey to finding freedom can sometimes lead to an undesirable and unpredictable end. Yet, despite what an individual’s desired freedom is or how it is achieved, everyone is inflicted with some absence of freedom despite their status. In The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov, whether it is freedom to love, …show more content…
Nina meets Trigorin for the first time in the backyard of Sorin’s estate after her performance in Treplev’s play. Following after, there are multiple occasions where they engage in one-on-one conversations. They speak about life, art, and eventually about each other. One meeting after another Trigorin and Nina grow romantically closer. However, their romance comes to a halt as Irina grows suspicious of Trigorin’s interaction with Nina. Through a heated conversation, Trigorin is persuaded by Irina to promptly leave the estate together. In the meantime Nina makes an active effort to search for Trigorin before his leave. Trigorin spotting Nina, excuses himself from Irina. They have a tryst: Nina reveals that she will leave and rendezvous with Trigorin in Moscow. Here she achieves her complete freedom as realizes the sacrifice she needs to make: abandoning everything and beginning life anew in Moscow where she will go on stage (3.1). This pivotal moment in her life, where she bravely pursues her dream, is a demonstration of her completed self-reliance. She places trust in her capacity to survive without the comfort of Treplev and his family, and learns to deny her father’s wishes without concern. This ultimately results in her achieving her freedom of freely pursuing her ambition as an actress and becoming