Cigarettes and Freeedom

Freedom has been understood in various ways under different circumstances, yet the greatest freedom one can have is the freedom to make choices for oneself, above all, the choice to make a mistake. Human beings, driven toward success, often try extremely hard either to avoid mistakes or to undo the mistakes of the past. They are guided by a society that condemns or looks down on errors. Even though mistakes are sometimes appreciated, they are valued only in relation to perseverance and eventual success, rather than as a sign of exploration or personal agency. Contrary to this, a person holding a cigarette does so with a sense of achieving freedom, stepping away from society’s control, ready to bear the consequences himself.

A child, controlled from birth, when told not to touch fire, may still reach for it, out of curiosity, rebellion, and a desire to assert authority over himself rather than obeying the voices that restrain him. As they grows older, holding a cigarette in his hands becomes a similar symbol of curiosity and reclaiming control over his body, even in the face of consequences. They may feel the freedom to make mistakes, knowing the harm, as an act of defiance against a society that dictates virtue, health, and an endless list of dos and don’ts.

A person might get into the habit of smoking because of pain or peer pressure. Peer pressure, encourages the idea of exploration and gives a false sense of freedom. The pain caused, makes the person lose hope and affects them mentally, and a cigarette gives the person a sense of control over the pain.

In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Augustus holds a cigarette in his hand but never lights it, making it a symbol of self-control and personal choice. Despite cancer stripping him of most choices, he reclaims agency by holding the cigarette yet refusing to smoke it. He creates his own boundary rather than accepting the ones society imposes. Here, freedom is seen as transgressing societal boundaries while simultaneously establishing personal ones.

One can argue that the essence of freedom is not the absence of boundaries but the ability to create our own, rather than having them dictated to us. Hence, cigarettes symbolizes taking control over oneself and redefining personal limits.

P.S. Nicotine is addictive and harmful to health—choose your boundaries for freedom wisely.