We tend to think of freedom and confinement as polar opposites—like country and rap music, they just can't share the same space. But in The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm, the two are inseparable and intertwined. Before Tendai is kidnapped, he is free… sort of. No one's keeping him locked up, but he certainly doesn't have the freedom that he wants, living under all of his father's strict rules. He can't even go to a Scout meeting. After he's kidnapped, Tendai is confined, but he gains a lot of personal freedom. He has to think for himself and take care of Rita and Kuda in a way that never occurred to him before. Plus he's happier.
The novel makes us think about different types of freedom (mental, physical, spiritual) and asks whether Tendai can ever really be free in one area without being confined in another. Yep, that's a head-scratcher.
Questions About Freedom and Confinement
- We usually think of confinement as physical confinement, stuff like going to prison or being grounded to our rooms. What other types of confinement do we see in the novel? When is Tendai most confined? Least? Back your answer up with evidence from the text.
- What freedom does Tendai gain when he's kidnapped? Why is he happier with the She Elephant than he is at home before he leaves?
- Who or what confines Tendai in the novel? Why?
- Does Tendai gain freedom in the end? Which type—physical, mental, spiritual? How?
Chew on This
While Tendai is confined by various kidnappers for the majority of the novel, his determination and hope help him remain mentally free.
There is no such thing as complete freedom in the novel. Once Tendai's mind is free, his body cannot be, and vice versa.