Emotional Studies of Prison

In 1944, the existentialist Sartre uttered a paradoxical statement: "We were freest when we were under German occupation." His point was that under the extreme conditions of the occupation, where individual choices could lead to death, everyone truly understood what freedom meant. While the literal meaning is easy to grasp, its practical significance is only now being felt.



Imprisoned in prisons of all sizes, isn't it often the time when our emotions are at their most sensitive and richest? Anger reveals sharp teeth; fear widens eyes; tension causes rapid breathing; pain causes muscles to tense and cramp; hunger causes stomach churns; and excitement leads to uncontrollable desires. In short, it's the body that's imprisoned, but it's the emotions that can't be imprisoned.



Joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and surprise all at once ignited the prison cell. The prisoners had to control their emotions in order to control everything.