The idea of absolute freedom warrants the freedom to define freedom; so long as one's freedom is predefined, they can never claim to be free. Yet, the previous sentence already confines absolute freedom to a certain meaning. Freedom is an ideal, we are all captives going from one prison cell to another. Mercy Lewis, a descendant of enslaved free men and free women is nothing else but a slave to her African heritage, her past, and all the stereotypes associated with her personality. We all are Mercys to a certain extent.