Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
No, Mandela does not think the oppressor is free. He believes that a person who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred, locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
He explains that no one is truly free if they are taking away someone else's freedom, just as a person is not free when their own freedom is taken away. Both the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. Therefore, the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed.
Explanation
In the chapter 'Long Walk to Freedom', Nelson Mandela emphasizes that freedom is indivisible. The context clearly shows his realization that the oppressor is also a prisoner—bound by hatred, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness. Taking away another's freedom strips the oppressor of their own humanity, proving that true freedom cannot exist while suppressing others.
Solution Steps
Step 1: State Mandela's view that the oppressor is not free.
Step 2: Explain the reason—the oppressor is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness, and both oppressor and oppressed are robbed of their humanity.