Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it

Opening Scene

The sky is a deep shade of blue, tinged with the last remnants of sunset as the city begins to settle into evening. The air feels cool and fresh, a slight breeze rustling through the trees outside, but inside, the room is warm, almost too quiet. Jack sits in a chair by the window, staring out at the world below, his thoughts distant. Jeeny, standing nearby, is flipping through a book, her eyes catching snippets of words but not truly reading. The stillness between them seems to hold weight, as though something important is just beneath the surface, waiting to be discussed.

Host: The silence stretches on, and it’s Jeeny who finally breaks it, her voice calm but inquisitive, as if a question has been waiting to be asked for some time.

Jeeny: “Do you ever think about what freedom really means? I mean, in the world we live in now. Everyone talks about it, but does anyone really have it?”

Jack: “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately, especially with everything that’s going on. We all claim to live in a society where we’re free, but sometimes, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels more like we’re still just following rules set by someone else, and those in power just keep tightening the grip.”

Jeeny: “That’s exactly it. It’s like what Vladimir Lenin said: ‘Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in ancient Greek republics: Freedom for slave owners.’ It makes you think, doesn’t it? Are we really free, or are we just given the illusion of freedom while the few at the top get more power?”

Jack: “So, you think Lenin was right? That capitalism, even today, is just a new version of old systems of control?”

Jeeny: “In a way, yes. Think about it. In ancient Greece, only the wealthy citizens had true freedom, while everyone else — the slaves, the poor — had no real rights. Fast forward to today, and it’s almost the same. The rich and powerful still get to make the rules, while the rest of us are left to play along within the system they’ve created.”

Jack: “That’s a harsh way of looking at it, but I see what you mean. It feels like we’re living in a society that’s designed to make us think we’re free, but in reality, only those who own the means of production get the real freedom — the freedom to control, to exploit, to make choices that the rest of us don’t.”

Host: The air in the room seems to grow heavier as the conversation deepens. The flicker of the streetlight outside illuminates their faces, casting long shadows across the room, adding weight to the moment. Jeeny places her book down gently, her eyes locking with Jack’s, her thoughts clear and deliberate.

Jeeny: “It’s the illusion of freedom, isn’t it? The idea that we have choices, that we can control our own destinies, but we’re still locked in a system that benefits the few. The wealthy, the powerful, they get to decide how things work, while everyone else is just caught in the grind, doing the work but never reaping the benefits.”

Jack: “It’s like we’re all just participants in a game that we didn’t get to choose. The rules are already made, and even if we play by them, we’re still not winning. The ones who control the game are the ones who own everything. We’re just laborers, no matter how much we’re told we have a say.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And that’s why Lenin’s point is so powerful. We think we’re living in a free society, but in many ways, it’s no different from the ancient world where only the wealthy were truly free. Today, freedom is just for the owners — for those who control the resources, the labor, and the economy.”

Jack: “That makes me wonder if we’ll ever really be free. If freedom means the right to choose, to control our own lives, then most of us don’t really have it. The more we work for other people, the less freedom we have.”

Host: The weight of their conversation lingers, each word sinking in deeper as the room feels filled with an unspoken understanding. The world outside moves on, but inside, Jack and Jeeny are caught in the realization that freedom — in its purest form — is elusive. It’s a concept that’s promised, but for the majority, it remains out of reach, controlled by the forces that have always held power.

Jack: “So, what do we do about it? If capitalism is just another version of slavery for the many, how do we change that?”

Jeeny: “It’s not easy. We can’t just wake up tomorrow and expect everything to change. But we can start by questioning the system, by seeing the reality of what’s happening and understanding who really benefits. We have to resist the illusion and demand a system where true freedom is available to everyone, not just those at the top.”

Jack: “I guess it starts with awareness, right? The more we recognize the truth of our situation, the more we can begin to shift the power. It’s about understanding that freedom isn’t something that’s given to us, it’s something we have to take.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Freedom isn’t just about choices. It’s about the ability to create a world where everyone has the same chance to thrive. And to do that, we have to start with recognizing that we’re not really free under the current system.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, as though their conversation has left behind a stillness that’s almost tangible. The world outside, with its fast pace and its constant demand for attention, feels far away now. Inside, Jack and Jeeny share a moment of clarity, one that acknowledges the complexity of freedom, the illusion of control, and the power of awareness in shifting the status quo.

Jack: “It’s a difficult truth, but it feels like the first step toward understanding what we need to change.”

Jeeny: “It is. But recognizing the truth is always the beginning of change. Once we see it, we can decide how we want to move forward.”

Host: The night outside deepens, the city lights flickering softly in the distance. Inside, the conversation lingers, a reminder that freedom, in its truest sense, is not something easily given or maintained under systems that favor the few. But in understanding that truth, there’s hope — hope for a future where freedom can be truly shared by all.