Throughout the book, it may seem to others that Hayes does not appear to be "free." Being free does not mean having someone control you and having power over someone. Although Nate freed himself from slavery at the age of sixteen, his vision of freedom was different from that of his father. For Hayes, freedom doesn't really exist beyond paper, and Nate believes that freedom should be more than a piece of paper, it should be moral. Both Hayes and Nate had different views on what it meant to be "free." Hayes Shaw was a couple shades darker than Nate Shaw, his son. At the age of fifteen, Hayes gave up his freedom. “I didn't know what it meant to give up…those were the days of freedom among black people” (7). Hayes beat his wife "My father was a free man but in his deeds he was a slave" (26.) He wasn't afraid to beat his children, but when it came to talking to the white man himself, he didn't say that who thinks. Hayes not speaking for himself may contradict what freedom is, he still obeyed the white man since he was a slave. “He was not a slave but he lived like one” (33). Hayes was always afraid to speak up for himself and because he had trouble getting out of the mindset that he was no longer a slave. Hayes showed his actions in anger and couldn't let go of the past. He wasn't really free, but Hayes thought her name was Hannah and she was the prettiest woman he had ever seen. Nate prepared all week to ask her for the privilege of taking her home, and later proposed to Hannah. In 1907 Nate began producing a good amount of cotton, made baskets, and cut stoves for people so he could provide a mule for himself. Nate married the prettiest woman and was free to do so. Even though he had to work hard and provide for his family. He was satisfied with his surroundings. As Nate worked hard, he managed to get two mules on his own, and that made him feel accomplished. Hayes and Nate had different views on what freedom is. Although Nate's lifestyle was different from his father's, he was still not free. Nate worked to provide for his family, and his father did the same. Hayes had the mentality of a slave and clung to the past, and this showed in his behavior towards people. Nate, however, was not free, but still worked to provide for his family, was happily married, and worked hard. Hayes was free, but still had the mentality of a slave. Beating up his family, dating multiple women, was his way of expressing his freedom. He was still afraid to talk to the white man