Close your eyes and imagine that you live in New York City. In the summer. In a tiny apartment. In the 1930s. That's pre-air conditioning, people.
Okay, now imagine walking up to the rooftop. You're up high, where you can catch the breeze. You take a deep breath of the soft summer night air. That feels better, right?
The thing is: freedom and confinement isn't just about being indoors or outdoors. It's also about how you live life.
Cassie is living during the Great Depression. Her dad left home (and had been out of work before that), so her family probably doesn't have a lot of money. And on top of all that, the Lightfoots are African American, so they have a particularly strong connection to the idea of freedom. They most likely have not-so-distant ancestors who were slaves, and although they are legally free themselves, they still have to face the oppression and adversity that existed because of their race—especially before the Civil Rights Movement.
Still, there's a sense of lightness in everything she does. She seems excited about the future. That's what it means to feel free.
Questions About Freedom and Confinement
- Which characters seem to feel the most free? Who feels trapped?
- At which point in the story do you think Cassie feels the most free?
- How does Cassie use her imagination to escape from dark problems?
Chew on This
Tar Beach is a story about experiencing freedom.
Tar Beach is a story about feeling trapped.