In his “Four Freedoms” speech, President Roosevelt described a vision that he held for America. Emerging from the Great Depression, he identified freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. It represents the ability to speak your mind without fear of punishment, the ability to worship in unique ways, economic security, and to live without fear of physical, mental, or spiritual aggression. Of these, ‘freedom from want’ can be the most confusing. The phrase may sound like the freedom from desire, but Roosevelt defined it as the right to a healthy, peaceful, and secure life. It is a freedom from the want of basic necessity.

In Norman Rockwell’s famous painting, Freedom from Want, is Roosevelt’s idea conveyed. It is part of his series which showcases each of President Roosevelt’s Freedom. This particular paining depicts a Thanksgiving dinner, with a family gathered around a dinner table. They are just getting ready to eat as the staple traditional food, the turkey, is placed down in the middle of the painting. Yet the real focus is not the food – it is the people. Take a second to look at each person’s face. Each of them look happy, glowing, and healthy. This is the lived experience of freedom from want: sitting with friends and loved ones, celebrating all we have and all we can be grateful for. It is quite iconic, inspiring countless parodies. It ranges from Disney characters to superheroes to even Sesame Street characters. First created in 1942 and published in a newspaper in 1943. It remains Rockwell’s most recognizable works.

Freedom from Want not only inspires feelings of contentment and joy, but also frees us to follow our passions, discover our talents, and cultivate our skills. No longer bound by the burden of want – of making ends meet, or meeting basic needs – we have the freedom to enjoy our lives and each other. We are liberated to reach our highest potential as individuals and as members of society. That is why it remains such a compelling and desirable ideal even today. Rockwell’s painting reminds us – especially in this time of Thanksgiving and season of gratitude – to acknowledge the blessings around us. It calls us to appreciate the freedoms we are endowed here in America and to avoid taking them for granted.

Here is a link to a few parodies of the painting:

https://www.ifitshipitshere.com/37-best-parodies-rockwells-freedom-want-aka-thanksgiving-dinner/