Summary and Analysis of "Freedom‪"‬

A Few Words
About the Author
Introduction
Plot Overview
Characters
Detailed Description of Characters
Complete Summary
Literary Elements
Symbols and Motifs
Critical Analysis
Critical Essay
Criticism and Admiration
Discuss Personal and Political Freedom
Questions and Answers

The novel's main characters are Walter and Patty Berglund, a couple living in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Walter is an environmental lawyer who is passionate about bird conservation, while Patty is a former college basketball player who becomes a stay-at-home mom after the birth of their two children. The novel follows their lives and those of their children, Joey and Jessica, over a period of several years, as they grapple with their own desires and the pressures of their environment.

As the novel unfolds, the Berglund family's relationships become more complicated and the tensions between them rise. Walter becomes increasingly disillusioned with his work and begins an affair with his assistant, Lalitha. Patty, who is unhappy in her marriage and with her life as a suburban housewife, also begins an affair with Richard Katz, a musician who is friends with the Berglunds.

The novel explores themes of personal freedom, political freedom, and the impact of modern society on the individual. It examines the consequences of people's choices, and how their actions can affect not only themselves but those around them.