At a certain point in their existential experience, the oppressed

Host: The afternoon sun slanted through the cracks in the blinds, casting sharp shadows on the floor, like remnants of a world that had forgotten how to soften. The air was thick with the scent of old books and the faint hum of distant city traffic. Inside, the room felt both claustrophobic and strangely isolating, the walls lined with shelves full of unread stories and half-remembered thoughts.

Jack sat by the window, his elbows resting on the sill, looking out at the urban sprawl that stretched endlessly before him. Jeeny sat across from him, her legs tucked beneath her on the couch, eyes fixed on the floor, lost in thought. The silence between them had become a heavy thing, laden with unspoken words, like a storm just waiting to break.

Jeeny: (softly, almost as if to herself) "I came across something today… something that made me think. Paulo Freire said, ‘At a certain point in their existential experience, the oppressed feel an irresistible attraction toward the oppressor and his way of life. Sharing this way of life becomes an overpowering aspiration.’ It’s such a powerful thought, don’t you think?"

Jack: (without turning around, his voice edged with cynicism) "Attraction toward the oppressor? That’s a bit dramatic, isn’t it? It sounds like some sort of theory from a philosophy class that’s never had to face reality. The oppressed just want to survive — they don’t dream about becoming the oppressor."

Jeeny: (with a slight shake of her head, her voice quiet but steady) "No, it’s more than that. It’s about the way the system works, Jack. It’s not just survival. It’s about aspiration, the need to belong to the system that’s kept you down, because that system represents power, status, everything you think you’re missing. It’s easier to identify with the oppressor than to challenge the system itself."

Host: The silence between them grows thicker. Jack’s eyes narrow, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face as he stands up and turns to face her. There’s a tension in the air, palpable, as if their very words are reaching across a divide that neither can cross without changing something.

Jack: (sharply) "So you’re saying people who are oppressed, who are struggling, are just going to turn around and admire the people who keep them down? They’re going to look up to the very system that’s been crushing them for years? That doesn’t make any sense."

Jeeny: (her voice a little more urgent now, as she rises from the couch) "It does make sense, Jack. It’s human nature. When you’re stuck in a cycle of poverty, marginalization, or oppression, the system becomes your reality. It’s what you know. It’s all around you. And when you see people thriving in that system — those who seem to have everything — it’s hard not to desire that life. You want what they have, even if it means aligning with the forces that have kept you down."

Host: Jeeny’s voice has a certain urgency now, as if she’s trying to explain something that runs deep, something that can’t be fully articulated. Jack watches her, his brow furrowing, but there’s a hint of recognition in his eyes, a flicker of understanding he’s reluctant to acknowledge.

Jack: (gritting his teeth) "I get it — you’re talking about how people might just give in to the idea of power, of privilege. But that doesn’t mean they actually embrace their oppressor’s way of life. It’s more of a survival instinct, right? They just want to make their lives easier, not become the people who suppress them."

Jeeny: (gently, but with conviction) "It’s not always about becoming the oppressor, Jack. Sometimes, it’s about the idea of what that way of life represents — security, stability, respect. It’s easier to accept the system than to risk everything trying to change it. When you’re caught in a place where you feel powerless, sometimes the only way to feel empowered is to imitate the people in power. And that imitation can be as dangerous as the system itself."

Jack: (his voice low, almost frustrated) "So what? You’re saying that people are just supposed to stay stuck in this endless cycle? That we should just accept this reality? They should just give up on ever changing anything?"

Jeeny: (looking at him with a mix of sadness and understanding) "No, I’m not saying they should give up. I’m saying that real change is hard. And in the face of that, many people choose to try to fit in instead of trying to break free. They believe they have to become a part of the system to make it, to survive. It’s not about acceptance, it’s about survival. But that’s the trap — when the oppressed start identifying with their oppressors, when they start to aspire to the things that oppress them, they lose sight of what’s truly important. And they forget the power they have to create something better."

Host: Jack stares at her, his face a mask of skepticism, but there’s a subtle shift in his eyes, as if he’s beginning to see the cracks in his own beliefs. Jeeny’s words hang in the air, a weight that’s hard to shake off. The room feels dense, like the tension of a world about to change.

Jack: (pausing, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful) "I see what you’re saying. It’s about the illusion of power, the way the system gets into your head. And it’s not about willingly wanting to become the oppressor — it’s about longing for what they have, for the security they represent. But how do we break that cycle? How do we stop people from wanting to become what they hate?"

Jeeny: (with a sense of quiet resolve, her voice gentle but firm) "It starts with awareness, Jack. It starts with realizing that the system is broken and that true change isn’t about fitting in, but about finding your own strength outside of it. It’s about realizing that self-worth doesn’t come from the power structures that oppress us. It comes from within, from the recognition that we are more than the roles assigned to us. The moment we stop aspiring to what the oppressor represents is the moment we start taking back our own power."

Host: The air in the room seems to shift, the quiet moment hanging between them as they stand there, each caught in the gravity of their conversation. Jack slowly exhales, his mind racing, but there’s a trace of understanding there, something that had been missing before. Jeeny, in contrast, stands still, calm, as if she’s known this truth all along.

Jack: (softly, almost to himself) "Maybe it’s not about just changing the system. Maybe it’s about changing the way we see ourselves within it."

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice full of quiet hope) "Exactly, Jack. That’s where real change begins — in our hearts, in our minds. It’s about knowing that we don’t have to become what oppresses us. We have the power to create something better, something that truly values people, not power."

Host: The room feels lighter, as if the truth has settled, as if a new perspective has been found, even in the midst of a world that still feels so broken. The snow continues to fall outside, a steady reminder that change can be slow, but it’s always possible, one moment at a time.

End Scene.