Man: A Natural Prisoner in the Prison of the society

MAN

A NATURAL PRISONER IN THE PRISON OF THE SOCIETY

It was Aristotle who asserted that man is a social being as he is bound to live in the society. If not, he is either a spirit or a beast. He said this because he believes that it is only among people that man can live a fulfilled life. This social aspect of man’s life is more or less a prison for man. This is true because wherever he finds himself, he is bound by a natural provision-a responsibility.

From conception, he finds himself in the mother’s womb. As he develops into a foetus, he itches to come into the world but he cannot do that until it is the ninth month. If he attempts to come out before this time, he is put into another prison- incubator, where he is made to pay for coming out before the normal time or he dies. And so, it is only in the ninth month that he comes out much matured. While in the womb, he is not free to choose what he wants. His food, rest, etc are mostly dependent on the mother. If the mother is hungry, he is also hungry. If the mother is running, he is also running, etc.

Being born into the family, he becomes automatically a freeman from the former prison (mother’s womb) to the new prison- the family. As a child, he is made to obey both the parents and siblings. He cleans the house and helps in the house chores. When he tries to rest and he remembers that he has not fetched water or firewood, he begins to attend to that. He wants to eat but cannot eat until the mother or the one in charge provides that. He is playing with his friends and in the middle of the play he is called upon to come and go for an errand.  As a mother, she is equally a wife too. As a mother she makes sure that the house becomes a home. That is, she makes sure that the children and the husband are comfortable. She makes sure that the house is well kept and that everything is in order. She obeys her husband and does her best to make him happy. When she is with her friends and remembers that she has not prepared food for the family, she begins to rush home. When her child or husband is sick, she is equally “sick” as she can never rest until he recovers. If she is resting, it is because there is no pressing need on her at that moment. While at sleep, if she hears anyone cough, she immediately wakes up like a dog to know what the problem is.

As a husband, his income is channelled to the needs of the family. All the time, his thoughts are towards the family’s good. Sometimes drinking is the opportunity cost of the children’s school fees. He is never free.

Outside the family, there is another prison called the extended family. Here he is the grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, Niece, etc. In each of these persons, he has a duty which he must fulfil. He buys Christmas gifts for the grandparents, tells stories to the grandchildren, plays and stays with the cousins, etc. He is bound to play all these roles even when he does not fell like doing them. That is why when the grandparents are sick he must take care of them.

Apart from the foregoing prisons, there is another important prison called the kindred and community. When there is a community work, he must come out to work with others. He must contribute to the community’s developmental levy even if it means borrowing. If there is any meeting, he must be present; for his absence is already a reason for his apology no matter his reasons. Remembering that he is supposed to be in the village meeting, he exclaims Hee! Chee! Etc. This is because he knows that he has not done what he is supposed to. Very early in the morning during the harmattan, as he enjoys his sleep, the town crier informs him of the day’s meeting, and you see him, getting up to prepare for the meeting.

Another important prison is the State or country. This prison is almost the toughest as so many things are demanded of him. He is expected to pay the PHCN bills whether there is electricity or not. If he refuses, the wires he bought will be cut and seized and sometimes he is sued. He is made to pay for the sanitation levy even when the environment has not received sanitation by the Government. He will like to make some transactions with the bank, but he is not allowed as the bankers are on holiday. He will like to leave before 6am whenever he is travelling from Ibadan to Aba, but on reaching to Ijebu-Ode, he is stopped by Government officials as that day is a sanitation day and movement is restricted until 10am. He manages to reach Asaba by 3pm and the road is blocked because a presidential campaign is taking place in that area, and he is meant to stay on the traffic for hours. This prison is really the toughest. He wants to build a storey building but he is not allowed as the estate where he lives as a pattern of building houses.

Furthermore, there are other important prisons that are very significant in his life such that he cannot run away from. These prisons are friends and Association.

He must help his friend at all times. He must share whatever he has with his friend. No matter the situation, he must stand by his friend. That is why he must visit his sick friend. If he does not, he has committed a crime and an apology is called upon. In fact, he is almost part of his friend’s life.

As a member of an association, he is in prison too. He must participate actively in all the activities of the group. When there is a meeting, he must be present. If not, he forwards a letter of explanation/apology for his absence. During lunch, as he plans how to observe his siesta, his group is having their practice and he must be there. During supper, as he plans to study that night, his group is having a meeting or his floor is having a meeting. In fact the more the groups he belongs, the more he is in prison. He wakes up in the morning and plans his programme, but from lunch, he begins to adjust and re-adjust them. Hence, if at the end of the day, his group is not having any meeting, it is a testimony for him. After the strenuous lectures, he is called to work hours under the scourging sun, and he must do it. With so much tiredness that requires not less than eight hours of rest, he retires by 11pm only to wake up by 5am  to prepare for prayers. Any environment he finds himself is already a prison where he may not do what he wants all the time.

But why these prisons? These prisons are existing so that there can be harmony and peace in the society. Without them, there will be conflicts/problems in the society.

But there are problems in the society. Yes there is so many problems in the society at various levels of human relationship and in different manifestation. These problems arise because some people do not want to be natural. That is, they do not want to belong to the natural prisons as they break away from them. They feel that they are above the prisons and it is no longer for them. Hence they exploit and marginalise people, embezzle public funds, kill people, etc. Again these problems arise because one prefers to serve the interest of one prison at the expense of other prisons. That is why they are after their family at the expense of the state or community, or after their personal interest at the expense of their group’s interest. All these bring about conflict in human society.

What can we do? The only thing we can do is to accept our fate and continue to belong to those prisons. For it is only by so doing that we can receive ultimate happiness. NO prison should be attended to at the expense of the other prisons. All the prisons must be affiliated to. It therefore lies on our reason to always go for the highest priority at all times.

Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains. In these chains his freedom is made possible; outside the chains, he can never be free. For to belong to  these prisons in natural  and whoever refuses to belong will be forced  or be taught to be free at the short  or long run. Only in these prisons can the social man gain ultimate fulfilment/happiness.

Nwanyanwu Christopher