The Statue of Liberty
Anyone entering New York harbor will take note of a giant monument standing before them: the Statue of Liberty. The figure is a huge monument representing a woman holding a torch. It is associated with liberty and freedom from oppression and represents hope for millions of oppressed people across the world. This paper analyses the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most important cultural monuments in the United States, representing and emphasizing the American values. One of such values is freedom. Lady Liberty, as the statue is often referred, reminds the immigrants that their search for freedom and a better life has reached its destination. Democracy is the other American value that is clearly evident in the statue. At the time of the assembly of the statuette, the Americans had been under British rule for long. In a democratic country, people should be allowed to decide on who will lead or rule them, and their views must be respected. Other countries need to intervene when the people of one or more countries are suffering from oppression, just as the French intervened and helped Americans to expel the British and restore self-rule.
The statue has its origin in the 19th century, and a French citizen named Laboulaye is credited with its establishment. Standing at a height of over 110 feet equivalent to a 22-storey building, and weighing over 225 tons, the Statue of liberty has special significance in the United States. One of the defining aspects of the figure is the broken shackles and chains that lie at the feet of the stature. Chains represent suffering and oppression. The torch represents hope and light in the midst of gloom and uncertainty. The torch is covered with various layers of gold, implying the value that freedom has to the progress of the world. With regard to the crown and face of the statuette, there are seven rays on the crown. There are seven continents in the world. The rays represent the seven seas and a bright future for the seven continents hence the entire world.
The statue has artistic, historical, and philosophical significance to not just the immigrants and oppressed people, but to the rest of the world. From an artistic perspective, it is skillfully and carefully designed, and its parts are well assembled and fitted with specific meanings for each part. Its historical significance is meant to remind the world never to retreat into colonization and suppression of freedom.
In the 19th century, the French helped the Americans when the latter was at war with Britain. The British were determined to continue colonizing America hence Britons represented oppression. The French supplied Americans with ships, arms, money, and other necessities during the struggle for independence. The decision by the French government to establish a statue for remembrance of the French-American collaboration places major artistic and historical relevance to the figure.
In the modern world, subjugation exists in various aspects. African-Americans have struggled and fought against racism for ages, while other categories of people such as those exploited by various political regimes across the world continue to suffer. The Statue of Liberty seeks to encourage such individuals and assure them that the future is bright and the chains of tyranny holding them down will soon be behind them.
In conclusion, the Statue of Liberty has special significance to not only the United States and its residents but the entire world. The values of freedom and democracy are to be upheld and protected. Lady Liberty is a symbol of unity and a prosperous world, and the well-being of the world is dependent on the people’s social, political, and economic stability.
