Free spirit

This article is about the archetype. See Free Spirit for the Ranters or Seekers.

A free spirit is an archetype. It refers to a human being who feels unconstrained by convention; rather, the spirit of liberty is paramount to that person. Such people should be distinguished from libertines who could be considered to carry that spirit to excess.

There is a certain sadness in the characterization of someone as a free spirit, for in the end, we are all constrained, at least by death. But for someone who asserts the right to self-expression, even in the face of coercion or convention, their stance can be viewed as a celebration of life.

The free spirit should be distinguished from the hero, in that a hero can be viewed as a leader, perhaps in a struggle. Rather, a free spirit tends to act alone, without the connotation of moral victory.

The combination of free spirit and winner, for example in the Olympic games has existed for millennia. This can be viewed as the antithesis of the authoritarian or tyrant.

See also

List of free spirits:

• Isadora Duncan
• Teresa Heinz Kerry
• Richard Feynman
• Benjamin Franklin