Question and Answer
1. What are the links between natural, jobs, labour and slavery?
2. What ought to be the object of all governments, and what do we actually find it to be?
3. What causes the master class to be more deluded than the enslaved classes?
4. According to Aristotle, what are the conditions to be fulfilled for the common people to accept law and order, and government, and all that they imply?
5. How can reasonable laws, impartially administered, contribute to one’s freedom?
6. What are the ways in Which individual freedom gets restricted?
7. Why do most people find it easier to conform, imitate, and follow a self-appointed grun?
8. What is the inward struggle that the author refers to?
Answer:
1. What are the links between natural jobs, labour and slavery?
Answer:
Natural jobs are the basic activities that every human must perform, such as eating, sleeping, dressing, and moving around. To satisfy these natural needs, we must perform labour—like producing food, making clothes, and building houses. However, instead of sharing this labour equally, some people try to avoid their share by forcing others to do it for them. This leads to slavery, where one person enjoys comfort at the cost of another’s hard work. So, natural needs lead to labour, and unfair distribution of labour results in slavery of man to man.
2. What ought to be the object of all governments, and what do we actually find it to be?
Answer:
The object of all honest governments should be to protect people from being exploited—that is, to prevent one person or class from shifting their burdens onto others through force or deceit. However, in reality, most governments do the opposite: they support and maintain the system of slavery, pretending it is freedom. They enforce long working hours, uphold the power of the rich, and offer meaningless rights like voting that do not improve real freedom or reduce exploitation.
3. What causes the master class to be more deluded than the enslaved classes?
Answer:
The master class is more deluded because their education, typically received at preparatory and public schools followed by universities, teaches them a falsified version of history, dishonest political economy, and snobbery. This education convinces them that they are superior to others and deserve their privileged position. As they believe in this system wholeheartedly, they become more thoroughly taken in than the working class, who experience the harsh realities and are less likely to be fooled.
4. According to Aristotle, what are the conditions to be fulfilled for the common people to accept law and order, and government, and all that they imply?
Answer:
Aristotle believed that for people to accept law and order and government, those in authority must appear superior—beautifully dressed, robed, uniformed, speaking with a refined accent, traveling in luxury, and never doing menial tasks themselves. This appearance of godlike superiority must be maintained to impress and control the minds of the common people, making them obedient citizens.
5. How can reasonable laws, impartially administered, contribute to one’s freedom?
Answer:
Reasonable laws that are impartially administered contribute to freedom by protecting individuals from assault, robbery, and general disorder. They create a safe and orderly society where people can live without fear, thus enhancing their actual freedom even while imposing certain restrictions.
6. What are the ways in which individual freedom gets restricted?
Answer:
Individual freedom is restricted in several ways:
- By Nature: It demands basic survival actions like eating and sleeping, taking up half the day.
- By Law: The legal system imposes rules and consequences enforced by police and courts.
- By the Landlord: A landlord can impose conditions for tenancy based on religion, politics, or profession.
- By the Employer: Employers can control dress, behavior, working hours, and job security. These forces exert more control than even political dictators, limiting true personal freedom.
7. Why do most people find it easier to conform, imitate, and follow a self-appointed guru?
Answer:
Most people find it easier to conform, imitate, and follow a self-appointed guru because they lack the energy, inclination, and courage to think deeply and discover the truth for themselves. Thinking for oneself requires alertness and constant inquiry, which many people are not willing to undertake. So, instead of questioning, they choose the simpler path of following someone else who claims to know better.
8. What is the inward struggle that the author refers to?
Answer:
The inward struggle refers to the conflict within a person between their own thoughts, feelings, and desires, and the pressure to conform to the ideas and traditions imposed by parents, teachers, and society. While a person may feel one thing inwardly, they are often forced to act differently outwardly, leading to confusion, pain, and a lack of true freedom.
Understanding the Text
1. Point out the difference between the slavery of man to Nature and the unnatural slavery of man to Man.
2. What are the ways in which people are subjected to greater control in the personal spheres than in the wider political sphere?
3. List the common misconceptions about ‘freedom’ that Shaw tries to debunk.
4. Why, according to Krishnmurti, are the concepts of freedom and discipline contradictory to one another?
5. How does the process of inquiry lead to true freedom?
Answer:
1. Point out the difference between the slavery of man to Nature and the unnatural slavery of man to Man.
Answer:
Slavery to Nature is natural and unavoidable — for instance, humans must eat, sleep, and eventually die. It is part of life and cannot be escaped.
However, slavery of man to man is unnatural and man-made, such as exploitation, oppression, and dominance by one class or group over another. This kind of slavery is imposed and maintained by social structures, tradition, and power — and it can and should be questioned and removed.
2. What are the ways in which people are subjected to greater control in the personal spheres than in the wider political sphere?
Answer:
In the personal sphere, people are often subjected to control through tradition, family expectations, religious beliefs, and social customs. For example, they are told whom to marry, how to dress, what to believe, and how to behave.
In contrast, political freedom may allow voting and some expression, but personal choices are often restricted due to social pressure, fear of judgment, and conditioning from a young age.
3. List the common misconceptions about ‘freedom’ that Shaw tries to debunk.
Answer:
Shaw challenges several misconceptions:
- That freedom means doing whatever one likes without responsibility.
- That obeying a master or law automatically makes one free.
- That authority and law are always in the interest of the people. He argues that true freedom means living without being dominated by others and being able to think and act independently.
4. Why, according to Krishnamurti, are the concepts of freedom and discipline contradictory to one another?
Answer:
Krishnamurti believes that discipline involves resistance, conformity, and imitation, which prevent real freedom.
Discipline is imposed either by oneself or by others and builds a mental cage. In contrast, freedom requires the ability to question, think, and explore without boundaries. Therefore, the structure of discipline contradicts the openness needed for freedom.
5. How does the process of inquiry lead to true freedom?
Answer:
Inquiry leads to true freedom by encouraging active thinking, questioning traditions, and discovering truth for oneself. When individuals inquire deeply, they are not bound by blind acceptance or imitation.
This freedom of thought leads to clarity, intelligence, and authentic living, rather than being trapped in fear, conformity, or societal conditioning.
Talking about the text
1. According to the author, the masses are prevented from realising their slavery, the masses are also continually reminded that they have the right to vote. Do you think this idea holds good for our country too?
2. ‘Nature may have tricks up her sleeve to check us if the chemists exploit her too greedily.’ Discuss.
3. Respect for elders is not to be confused with blind obedience. Discuss.
Answer:
1. According to the author, the masses are prevented from realising their slavery; the masses are also continually reminded that they have the right to vote. Do you think this idea holds good for our country too?
Answer:
Yes, this idea does hold good for our country to some extent. While citizens in India do have the right to vote, which is a symbol of democracy and freedom, many people are still bound by social, economic, and educational limitations. Often, lack of awareness, manipulation by political propaganda, illiteracy, and poverty prevent people from truly understanding or exercising thei r rights meaningfully.
People may believe they are free because they vote, but they may still be enslaved by casteism, inequality, corruption, or misinformation. So, voting alone does not guarantee true freedom unless it is supported by informed choice and equal opportunity.
2. “Nature may have tricks up her sleeve to check us if the chemists exploit her too greedily.” Discuss.
Answer:
This statement is a warning about the dangers of overexploiting natural resources through science and technology, especially in fields like chemistry and industry.
If humans use chemicals irresponsibly—like pesticides, plastic production, pollution, or deforestation—Nature might respond with disasters like climate change, health crises, extinction of species, or natural calamities.
So, while scientific progress is important, it must be balanced and sustainable, respecting Nature’s limits. Otherwise, Nature has her own ways—”tricks”—to restore balance, often at a great cost to humanity.
3. Respect for elders is not to be confused with blind obedience. Discuss.
Answer:
Respecting elders means valuing their experience, wisdom, and guidance, but it doesn’t mean we must follow them blindly.
Blind obedience means doing what we are told without questioning, which can suppress individuality, curiosity, and growth. Every generation faces new challenges that may require new thinking.
True respect allows room for dialogue, reasoning, and even disagreement, while still being polite and considerate. As Krishnamurti suggests, freedom of thought and inquiry are essential for intelligence, and this includes questioning traditions or instructions—even from elders—when necessary.
Appreciation
1. Both the texts are on ‘freedom’. Comment on the difference in the style of treatment of the topic in them.
2. When Shaw makes a statement he supports it with a number of examples. Write down the man statement and the examples.
Notice how this contribute to the effectiveness of the writing.
3. Notice the use of personal pronouns in the two texts. Did this been you identify yourself more with the topic than if it had been written in an impersonal style? As you read the texts, were you able to relate the writer’s thoughts with the way you lead your own life?
Answer:
1. Both the texts are on ‘freedom’. Comment on the difference in the style of treatment of the topic in them.
Answer:
While both texts explore the theme of freedom, their styles and approaches are quite different:
- George Bernard Shaw uses a rational, analytical, and satirical style. He discusses freedom in terms of politics, economics, science, and social structures. His tone is more formal, and he uses logic, wit, and examples to question society’s superficial ideas about freedom.
- J. Krishnamurti, on the other hand, takes a more philosophical, introspective, and emotional approach. He focuses on inner freedom and encourages personal inquiry and self-awareness. His style is conversational and personal, making the reader reflect on their own conditioning, fears, and traditions.
In short, Shaw deals with external freedom (social, political), while Krishnamurti focuses on internal freedom (mental, emotional).
2. When Shaw makes a statement, he supports it with a number of examples. Write down the main statement and the examples.
Answer:
Main Statement by Shaw:
“Political slavery is comparatively unreal, and economic slavery is the real slavery.”
Examples he uses to support it:
- A person can vote but still be starving and jobless.
- Chemists are free to experiment, but their work can cause harm to nature and society if not checked.
- Modern man is controlled by commercial interests: e.g., what to eat, wear, or use is decided by advertisements.
- People’s lives are driven by market trends and social expectations rather than real choice.
Effectiveness:
This style of presenting a clear claim supported by relevant examples makes Shaw’s argument powerful. It helps the reader see how abstract ideas like ‘freedom’ can be deceptive if not examined carefully in real-world contexts.
3. Notice the use of personal pronouns in the two texts. Did this help you identify yourself more with the topic than if it had been written in an impersonal style? As you read the texts, were you able to relate the writer’s thoughts with the way you lead your own life?
Answer:
Yes, the use of personal pronouns like “you”, “we”, and “I” in both texts makes the writing more engaging and relatable.
- Krishnamurti often uses “you” directly to address the reader, making us feel personally involved. For example: “If you are constantly told what to do, what will happen to your intelligence?” This draws the reader into self-reflection.
- Shaw, while more formal, still includes pronouns like “we” and “us”, especially when making general social critiques, which helps create a collective awareness.
This personal tone makes the ideas more accessible and thought-provoking, encouraging the reader to compare the text’s insights with their own life experiences, such as how much freedom they actually have and how much they conform.
Language Work
A. Grammar
I. Sentence Types
The smallest meaningful unit in language is the word. Words combine to from phrases, clauses and sentences.
a sentence consists of one or more clauses
a clauses consists of one or more phrases
a phrase consist of one or more words.
Look at these examples
(i) Nature is kind to her slaves.
(ii) As we must eat we must first provide food.
(iii) You are all young but I don’t think you are too young to be aware of this.
In example (i) you find only one verb. is There is only one idea expressed. It is a single clause sentence known as a simple sentence.
In example (ii) you find two sets of verbs, must eat and must provide. It is a two clause sentence.
(a) As we must eat
(b) We must first provide food.
You can see that (b) is complete in its sense This is the main clause. The meaning of clause (a) depends on (b) This is the subordinate clause. Sentence with a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses are complex sentences.
In example (iii) you again find two verbs: are and are
(a) You are all young.
(b) But I don’t think you are too young to be aware to this.
In this case (a) and (b) both make sense independence of each other though there is a link. There are the tow main clauses joined by the conjunction but. Sentences with more than one main clause are called expressed in the main clause.
Answer:
💡 Basic Structure:
- Word → smallest unit
- Phrase → group of words (no subject + verb)
- Clause → group of words with subject + verb
- Sentence → one or more clauses that make complete sense
🔤 Types of Sentences:
1. Simple Sentence
- Definition: Has one independent clause and expresses one idea.
- Example (i):
👉 Nature is kind to her slaves.
✅ Only one subject (Nature) and one verb (is)
✅ One idea → simple sentence
2. Complex Sentence
- Definition: Has one main clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses.
- Example (ii):
👉 As we must eat, we must first provide food.- Clause (a): As we must eat → subordinate clause (can’t stand alone)
- Clause (b): We must first provide food → main clause
✅ Together they form a complex sentence.
3. Compound Sentence
- Definition: Has two or more main (independent) clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (like and, but, or).
- Example (iii):
👉 You are all young but I don’t think you are too young to be aware of this.- Clause (a): You are all young. → main clause
- Clause (b): I don’t think you are too young to be aware of this. → another main clause
✅ Joined by but, both can stand alone → compound sentence
🔁 Summary:
| Sentence Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | 1 Main Clause | Nature is kind to her slaves. |
| Complex | 1 Main Clause + 1 Subordinate Clause | As we must eat, we must first provide food. |
| Compound | 2+ Main Clauses | You are all young but I don’t think you are too young to be aware of this. |