Final answer:
The kidnapped boy stays with the two men because they have been kind to him and he does not fear them, suggesting a sense of dependency or Stockholm syndrome. The concept of freedom is complicated in the narratives, with characters facing complex motivations and constraints. Freedom is depicted as intertwined with fear, survival, and the human condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The query revolves around understanding why a kidnapped boy would choose to stay with the two men who held him captive, even after being "set free." The provided narrative snippets offer insights into various characters who, despite facing the possibility of freedom, stay due to complex motivations such as fear, loyalty, a sense of security, or lack of resources.
For instance, the boy remains with the two men who kidnapped him because they have been kind to him and he does not fear them, indicating a sense of dependency or Stockholm syndrome. Another character, despite the yearning for freedom and desperation to escape, finds himself grappling with the realities of poverty and the practicality of actually being able to survive once free. Moreover, some narratives show the bitter sweetness of freedom that is coupled with hardship and suffering as one attempts to return to his old life, or the irony of being accused and held captive after escaping danger.
The theme of freedom is portrayed differently in these tales. Some see freedom as a physical escape, others as an opportunity to uplift themselves and those around them, while for some, freedom seems to be a distant, almost unattainable goal, shackled by social and economic constraints. The two men's description of freedom is not directly provided in the snippets, but their actions and the outcomes depict a complicated picture where freedom is intertwined with fear, survival, and the human condition.