The concept of freedom can mean something different to everyone. The concept stems from the level of freedom you feel you already have in your life. When people think of freedom they think mostly of liberty which includes freedom of speech. The definition of liberty is being able to do things of your own will as long as it does not affect someone else from doing the same. (Websters Dictionary). James Mcbride the author of The Good Lord Bird introduces two characters named Pie and Sibonia. Mcbride portrays Pie to be better or of higher rank and social status than Sabonia. While Sibonia is presented as a mentally ill outside slave. Pie runs a “whore” house and would be considered the “main whore” but she has someone with more authority than her as well, Ms.Abby. Ms. Abby is Pie’s owner and has the power to take away the material things that Pie cherishes. While Pie is held on a silver platter by onion the reader is to think Sibonia is only a mentally ill slave, which of these two women is actually free? Pie may be in better living conditions than Sibonia but Sibonia has everyone fooled about her mental illness which is to her advantage. Without Ms. Abby Pie would be a regular slave being subjected to sexual abuse and manual labor making Sibonia ultimately more free than Pie.
Pie is described as a beautiful mulatto woman who got to live in a house with nice clothes and authority. Pie was the “main whore” which explains why she has so much authority. Pie did not have full freedom of speech because she always watched what she said around Ms.Abby. How could she possibly be free if she does not feel she has freedom of speech? Pie is also putting on a disguise for herself as a woman who fears no one and is happy with the way she is living. Pie shows fear throughout most of her introduction, she became on edge when she found out that Onion was indeed a boy posing as a girl, “You gonna get me hanged” she says. ( 152). She shows fears by knowing the type of punishment she may receive if Ms.Abby finds out what she knows. Pie fears for her life because she knows she can be replaced.
Pie is now holding onto a secret about someone’s true identity just like Sibonia is holding onto Pie and Onion’s secrets. Pie is portrayed as the type of woman who would do anything and hurt anyone to keep her social status and material possessions which shows she is very materialistic. She tells Onion when he is hiding under her bed, “Git outta here, cow face. And if any of my money’s missing while you’re in this town, I’ll cut your throat so wide, you’ll have two sets of leps working at the top of your neck.” ( 151). She threatens and uses her authority to intimidate people as a defense mechanism. It is a defense mechanism because she is afraid to even seem as if she is showing weakness or compassion. She has to put on a facade of security when she knows that one wrong word could end her perfect world as she knows it.
Now Sibonia on the other hand was faking mentally ill for protection. She needed to be protected from manual labor and sexual abuse while plotting her rebellion. Sibonia although has freedom to speak and use her knowledge but she is confined to being in a pen because of the color of her skin. Meanwhile Sibonia is described as a dark-skinned woman who lived outside in a pen wearing rags and seemed to be mentally ill. Freedom is having the ability to be your true self and not be limited or have to conform. Freedom is being able to be acknowledged by your personality and character rather than your skin color. Mcbride does show freedom of speech from Sibonia. When Sibonia is asked about plotting the rebellion she responds, “I am the woman,” she said and I am not ashamed or afraid to confess it.” (175). Sibonia is strong willed and brave for standing up for something she believed in.
Furthermore, Pie does not know the meaning of freedom because she will always have to rely on someone else to keep them safe. Even though being treated well she does not know the feeling of making her own decision other than the choice of who she sleeps with. While given the choice the fact is that she still has to sleep with someone. Ms.Abby wouldn’t keep her there if she was not working as well. She always has to look over her shoulder because just as she may double cross someone it could also happen to her if she did not keep up the facade she needed in order to keep her decent life. Yes, Pie and Sabonia are both being treated as slaves but Sibonia was no one’s slave because she was able to speak for herself, and once given the chance she was able to be herself. Without Ms.Abby Pie would be nothing because she is the source of the life she lives.
To bring back the definition of freedom, freedom is the ability to be independent, fearless and have your own identity. Sibonia make an identity for herself in order to pursue life in a way she felt would benefit her. Sibonia may have not been happy but she was content with life. She had nothing to lose, she was brave and took full responsibility for her actions. Pie will always hesitate because her social status is more important to her than actually being free. Sibonia can stand on her own while Pie would not even open her mouth to jeopardize what she had. Sibonia had the chance to live a live that she wanted and do something she wanted which was use her knowledge to plot a rebellion. The ability to stand on her own fearlessly and speak freely, That is true freedom. 
Thank you Stephanie.
ReplyDelete